It is always flattering to a news paperman when other newspapers consider some of his writifigs worth reprinting. Perhaps a fellow serib- bler is, in truth, a poorer judge of journalistic excellence than the aver age reader, but there’s no denying that every writer appreciates recog nition from his own kind, Victor Meekins, who turns out such interesting pieces for the Coast- land Times at Manteo, has been kind enough to pick up some of our past columns and pass them along to his enthusiastic readers. This week it’s a pleasure to borrow the following from his column—“Then and Now.’’ “I do not know of any memories of boyhood that stand out more clearly and which never grow dim nor lose their appeal, than my recollections of the big white passenger steamer which used to ply Croatan Sound at the beginning of this century. “They passed nearly two miles off shore from my home, and they were fascinating indeed at night with their iights burning bfilliantly, and on still nights one could hear the sound of the rhythmic movement of their machinery. “Soon it would fade in the dis tance, but the lights might be seen long afterwards. These steamers were operated by the Old Dominion line between Elizabeth City and New Bern. Travelers could make the night trip, renting a state-room, eating in the boat’s dining room, just as now on the Baltimore steamer. “News has recently been released that after Labor Day the Old Bay Line woih'J"atscontinue its passenger business, and a historic and roman tic service which has operated 121 years ends. “Just a few weeks ago, anticipat ing such, a move as not far away, J took my six-year-old grandson on this boat down from Baltimore to Norfolk . at night. We took the train from Washington over to Baltimore. “He was quite fascinated with roaming around the boat, and with sleeping in an upper berth, and I equally enjoyed the journey while watching his delight. I wrote a col umn about this trip shortly after ward. “I had many trips on this boat; also many on the boats which ran between Washington and Norfolk un til 1958. Air travel has about taken all the business which formerly sus tained these boats. It was a delight ful journey, particularly eating in the ship’s dining room, with appetite whetted by the salt air. “When I was a boy, there were boat lines everywhere. la was the most comfortable way to travel. The Old Dominion Steamship Company ran in addition to its North Carolina boats, night boats each way between Richmond and Norfolk—the Brand on and the Berkley; it ran passen ger ships to New York. “Passenger boat lines operated be- tween Elizabeth City and Manteo and to Hertford, and to Edenton, and up the Roanoke River, and down the Alligator River to Fairfield and to Columbia. Boat lines ran up the Roanoke as far as Hamilton in Mar tin county. “Other Norfolk boats ran to Suf folk and to Smithfield, to Old Point and many other places on Chesa peake Bay and the James River, as well as down to Currituck Sound and Pasquotank River points. “There used, to be passenger serv ice by boat by sea out of Norfolk for New York, Boston, Providence, Charleston, Savannah and Jackson ville. Many of these lines were ac quired by railroad companies and operated as auxiliary services, or otherwise in their owner’s interests. “All of us who enjoy the boat trips between Nags Head and Eliza beth City and Manteo will hold them in cherished memory as long as we lit'e. I am glad that the little boy got his boat trip in time.” (Continued on Pago 7) The NEW I PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE HEART OP FERN NORTH Mr, Mrf. A. H. aROLINA 2000 Arondall St • jter City, Hc »er Copy uu VOLUME 4 NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1961 NUMBER 26 ' 1 TRULY AN INFERNO—Nothing in the categ^ory of un bridled fire is more vicious and destructive than, blazing oil. Death and devastation rode the waters that lapped at Morehead City’s shoreline Tuesday night in the wake of this tanker explosion. The holocaust lasted for hours, and endangered many persons and property worth millions, —Photo by Billy Benners. - i I; A NIGHT TO REMEMBER—Coastal Carolina’s story of the week was the explosion and ensuing fire that turned a tanker at Morehead City’s Radio Island into a mass of madly surging flames. The Mirror was there to bring its readers the dramatic scene you se^Js^i was snapped, it was risky to be arf" tion was out of control.—Photo, -i* J Tien thisplh and the confT Benners. .

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