202 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

sance of the New River bars and of the river above the obstruc-
tions. In making this reconnaissance, 5,870 soundings were
made, 481 angles measured, and fifty miles of soundings run.

With reference to the social life of these gentlemen, Mrs.
Maffitt says: ‘When Lieutenant Maffitt visited Smithville its
citizens were composed of the best people in the Cape Fear
region. Its residences, generally deserted in the winter months,
were filled during the summer and early fall with the élite of
Wilmington society, then in its zenith of culture, refinement,
and that open and profuse hospitality for which it has from
early colonial times been distinguished. The officers of the
Coast Survey and their families were domiciled at the barracks
in the garrison grounds. The residents opened their hearts and
homes to them and vied with each other in rendering their stay
a pleasant one.

“Like most small communities having few interests outside
of themselves, there was at times a tendency to indulge in un-
pleasant gossip, and in order to quell this by giving a new
source of interest, Lieutenant Maffitt proposed organizing a
dramatic company; and, to insure the actors against unkind
criticism of amateurs, he made it a condition of entrance to the
plays that all who desired to witness the performance should
sign their names as members of the company before receiving
their tickets. And this proved a perfect success.”

Dr. W. G. Curtis says: “The old residents of Smithville,
before the season was over, gave this troupe the credit of driv-
ing out the gossips or closing their lips. In a word, the whole
society became a mutual admiration society. Harmony pre-
vailed everywhere. Sermons were preached every Sunday at
the chapel and the services were well attended; but the mem-
bers of the church often said that the good feeling of all the
attendants, brought about by our troupe, put them in a better
frame of mind to listen to the teachings from the pulpit.”

Of Captain Maffitt of the Confederacy much has been written.
Of this intrepid commander, it was said by a distinguished
visitor in 1868: ‘Amongst the many interesting men I met at
Wilmington was the well known Captain Maffitt, whose adven-
turous career upon the high seas, as commander of the Florida,
excited so much attention at the time.

“T found the captain a cultivated and gentlemanly man,
small-sized and spare in figure, but with a finely-cast head, a
dark, keen eye, a strong tuft of black whiskers on his chin, and

Early Years 203

a firm little mouth that seemed to express the energy and de-
termination of his character. I remember very well his digni-
fied appearance as he stepped about in his short military cloak,
with his keen and somewhat stern look. He was in reduced
circumstances, having staked his whole fortune and position
upon the Lost Cause; but, like so many of his old military and
naval associates, he was trying his hand at business and striving
to reconcile himself to the new order of things.”

In The Life and Services of this remarkable man of the Cape
Fear, his gifted widow, Mrs. Emma Martin Maffitt, has con-
tributed to our history a volume of intensely interesting and
instructive literature.

Well may we say of him, as was said of the gallant Ney,
‘He was the bravest of the brave.”

CAPE FEAR COAL.

I am informed by Mr. Joseph Hyde Pratt, State geologist,
that coal was found in two sections of our State, one in Chat-
ham and Moore Counties, the other in Stokes County.

Mining was done on the deposits of Chatham and Moore
Counties, and for many years a small amount of coal was gotten
out; but the industry was not profitable because the coal basin
is not extensive. The seams are thin; and the few wider ones
are cut up with slate, and so mixed with sulphur that the qual-
ity has always been bad.

The use of this North Carolina coal during the War between
the States led to the capture of several fine blockade-running
steamers, whose supply of Welsh coal had been seized by the
Confederate officials and “Egypt” coal substituted. This was
so worthless that it was impossible to raise and keep steam,
and consequently these unfortunate and valuable ships fell an
easy prey to the Federal cruisers.

With reference to my further inquiries on this subject, Dr.
Joseph Austin Holmes, late director of the Bureau of Mines at
Washington, says: “Coal was opened up between 1855 and
1858 in Chatham County at a place called Egypt, under the
advice of Dr. Ebenezer Emmons, then State geologist. The
coal was at that time regarded as of considerable promise.

“During the year 1858 an examination was made of the Deep
River region, one of the principal tributaries of the Cape Fear,

ee > ae se —

a