The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-29
From the Plymouth Memorial.
Minots Rock LIght-House In q Gale OF Wint

~
went last Saturday, t2sth ultl by invitation of
Mr. Bennett the keeper Of the Light on Minot's
Ledge to visit that celebrated structure in which
so deep interest is taken by the mercantile COM
munity.
We pulled off just in the edge of the evening"
with every prospect of quiet and comfortable
night; the was smooth with a light breeze
from the Northeast, affording a favorable oppor-
tunty for examining the house as we approached.
Itsiands upon nine wrought iron pillars nine inches
in diameter, which are sunk FIVE feet into the rock,
which though only twenty feet across, has de-
stroyed more ships than any other single ledge
upon our coast Its appearance was truly majestic,
as it stood there solitary and sill, towering to
the height of eighty feet the grim sentinel OF the
sea with forehead Of flame, apparently so firm
and strong, that might safely bid defiance to the
winds and waves, and laugh while they beat
against ii.
Thesecond section, where the edifice, weighing
thirty ons rests upon the pillars, is forty feet from
the sea, where is platform called the deck, on
which the boat is kept; fifteen feet more bring you
to the room, the lowest sheltered part fifteen
more 10 the residents room, which is octason
in form, IL feet each way-ten feet more to the
lantern which consumes the remainder of the ex-
treme height, eighty.seven feet.
From the lantern deck cable runs to buoy
moored outside the breakers upon this guy is a
large wooden box called a chair, which is slipped
up and down. being the only means of communi.
cation between the boat and house. In this
dangled for five minutes between sea and heaven
before reaching the landing, where / received, a.
was told should, the toughest and warmes
welcome" ever had
The evening was spent in examining the Ian
tern, the best IN this country consisting OF twenty
burners with silver plated reaectors, two
feet in diameter-and in listening to the tales and
adventures Of Mr.. Bennett, whose twenty five years
of sea life in all parts of the world, (much of the
time as first lieutenant in the British navy,) has
given him fund Of information such as is pos
sessed by few.
OF the lighthouse was coolly told it very
doubtful if it stood through this winter, o
the iron supporters had split the rock, and when
sea struck the house, it shook as to take maj
off his feet, and only week before, one Of the as
sistants was thrown from his berth by the shock o
sea, and barrel of water was emptied OF two
thirds of its contents by the oscillation, the nara
tor ending with the comforting remark, "Well lie
you see her kick it will blow gale Of wind il
the morning"
Going out upon the terrace beautiful spectac,
presented ITSELF The northeast storm had begun
and the as it flew past the lantern glistene
in the intense light like so many pieces OF silver
while the water to leeward was a sheet Of milk!
foam, which the streaming rays crossing eac
other from their different foci above us, produce
perfect mirror of dazzling brilliancy which at on
point showed ourselves, as we looked upon
from an elevation OF seventy feet.
The distant grumble Of the ocean could alread
be heard while the wind began to roar as with COZ
Stantly increasing velocity IL rushed past us IN
tide, which was at an early flood, brought its ses
with it, which thumped at intervals at our bas,
giving premonitory and unmstakeable symptom
of what was to come.
During the night the gale steadily increased, an
the structure, under the combined force Of the win
and the surges of the Atlantic, vbrated and tren
bled with every shock, though this was but for
~ taste. The sound beneath us and the sensatio
can be compared to nothing aptly as to what "
should imagine would be the movement of stea
engine of a million horse power, and the throb SUI
as is felt when lying in the berth Of a steambos
in like proportion Add to this the noise Of 4
blast and the incessant thunder of the breakers
around us, relieved only by the crash which accoI
panied the strokes they dealt US, and you can ha
some idea OF the sounds which greeted our ears
this battle of the elements.
But it was at day break, when the gale was at
height, that got my reward for going there. Ne,
shall forget the sublime and thrilling scene whi
the dawn unfolded-it had been heard and felt
fore, but now it was to be seen. No pen can {
scribe 1.-THE best have attempted it in the delii
alton of storms at sea, but if this was fair spe
men, land was assured by Mr.. Bennett that
had never the like before, save there,) | c
safely say they have all failed. Probably there
no place in the world, which affords equal facilit
for an ocean view Such view can be seen fr
no ship, or if seen, man ever came away to
the tale; neither is view from the beach or a j
ting cliff similar for here you stand directly O.
the breakers, up from their very centre, and look
down behold them almost within yoar arms rea
0rom the lower deck,) where their size and pov
can be best estimated.