other boats in the canal were cut up by order of General Peck,
commanding the United States forces at Suffolk, Va., and carried to
the Black water river to be used as pontoons across that stream. But I
doubt if they were ever used for that purpose. After the surrender so
great was the demand for boats by strangers that wished to visit the
Lake of the Dismal Swamp that Capt. Busby, an energetic citizen of
Nansemond county, Virginia, had erected near the Lake a hotel known as
the Lake Drummond Hotel, and to invite visitors he had built a
beautiful gondola, which was run daily to the Lake during the season.
That old trojan, Capt. Jack Robinson, being in charge of the hotel,
caused it to be well filled. It was very frequently the case that
parties would come from Norfolk to go on from Suffolk, they having
heard that the gondola left her wharf every day for the Lake. I
recollect a party of three young gentlemen that came from Norfolk who
wished to visit Lake Drummond. They stopped at the Exchange Hotel and
made known the fact. The polite manager, Eddie S. Riddick, Esq., soon
saw Capt. Busby, and his gondola was chartered to carry the party to
the Lake. Mr. Riddick made every preparation necessary for them, but
one of the parties heard that an alligator was on exhibition near the
hotel, and thinking that it was brought from the Lake, at once
provided himself with a rifle and a large quantity of fixed
ammunition. All were then ready and they left for the canal, where
they would take the gondola. She was then at her wharf, and everything
being placed in, Capt. Busby took his stand at the wheel and gave
orders to the first mate to have the gondola cast loose, which was at
once obeyed, and, like a swan, she was gliding on in the canal at the
fearful rate of about two miles an hour. To prevent any confusion if
attacked, one of the most daring young men of the party, being one of
the three from Norfolk, Va., placed himself in the bow of the gondola
with rifle in hand and a box of ammunition conveniently nigh, awaiting
an attack from any quarter. When passing what is known as "Paradise
Old Field," one of the party cried alligator! The young man at the bow
at once opened fire, and it was not until he had shot away a whole box
of ammunition that he discovered the supposed alligator to be nothing
more dangerous than a floating log. Quiet having been restored the
captain struck two bells, and the gondola was on her way again, but
unfor