Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-08-19

channel lies. On the left side Of the
channel, which is not more than six
rods wide, is floating buoy, upon
which is marked the number of feet of
water in the channel, and between this
buoy and Cedar Point Light House
vessels must pass in order to enter the
harbor. However insignificant it may
appear, 1t is very essential to lake nav
igation; and when its lamps ere not
lit, vessels cannot enter, for it is i'm eds-
sible for the best seaman in the world
to strike channel as small as the one
which leads into lake Erie from San
dusky bay, during "heavy gale' in a
dark night. without the aid of beacon
lights. The residence of the light
house tender stands on the main shore,
some distance from the lake, and is a
twenty feet of Cedar Point Light House,
as we cleared the bay.
THE VIEWS ON THE LAKE.
We had now passed the narrows, and
were floating o, er the dark-blue waters
of Lake Erie, tranquil as a summer
heaven.
We looked around, and noted our po-
sition, and the scenes in view. In our
wake lay the quiet waters of the bay.
dotted with fishing-smacks and small
sail vessels moving in all directions,
while still beyond was the city of San
dusky, gradually fading away in the
distance. On the right was the south
ern shore of the lake, with its rocky
beach. covered with forest trees, wind
ing away as far as the eye could see.
On the left to the westward was the
eastern shore of Johnson's Island, with
it's low sandy beach, here and there
dotted with clumps of trees, that broke
the monotony of its desolation; to the
northwest Marble Head Beacon loomed
up through cluster of trees in the
dim distance, standing upon a rocky
promontory; to the nOrtlward rose the
faint outlines of Kelly's Island. Just
above the horizons verge; while to the
eastward lay thesblue eNpanse of Lake
Erie, undisturbed by the roll of a single
wave.
The scene was grand-even sublime.
The lake was unusually calm, which is
generally the case after gale, as one
had occurred day or two previous.
Scarcely rifle rolled over its quiet
waste of waters. 1t reposed in its sub
Unity like a heaven of blue, dotted
here and there by vessels lying at an
chor. and under sail, endeavOring to
make their way to distant ports before
the light breeze that swept gently down
| from the north.
All on board enjoyed the scene, and
seemed to have no fear of disaster.
! They were too much engrossed with
the pleasures of the moment, to think
of the perils that an hour hence might
develop. Many OF them, too, did not
know that they were afioat upon wa
! tiers. in latitude, that might, in a very
briefspace oftime, be lashed into noun
tain billows by the fury of a ''driving
storm," however fair the present indi-
cations of calm. pleasant, and pros
porous voyage. 1t is well that they
we. e ignorant Of this fact, as it might
have married their pleasure.
MARBLE HEAD BEACON
In short time this structure, which
lights the tempest-driven bark to the
haven of safety and rest, began to loom
up more distinctly, gradually growing
larger in appearance, as We passed it
some five miles to the eastward. 1t is
a huge tower of solid masonry, nearly
two hundred feet in height, round in
form, and painted white. 1t stands in
| front of a fine grove, upon projecting
head-land. and its rocky base is washed
by the waters of the lake. The top of
the structure is gained by a winding
staircase inside the tower, and is con-
structed of glass. whore 4 hundred
l
burning nightly to illuminate the brak-
ers around, aud light The entrance to
| the harbOr.
In the rear of this structure, back
from the shore in a grove of maple
trees, stands the lighthouse keeper
residence, constructed of blue lime
stone, and is fine building bearing all
the outward indications of a pleasant
| home.
! KELLY'S ISLAND.
| We had scarcely passed Marble Head
Beacon, before kelly's Island came in
view. away to the northward. At first
nothing was visible to the naked eye
but the forest trees upon its shore, that
had the appearance of garden foliage.
But soon the outlines sofciviliZation and
refinement lit up The distant scene, and
it stood forth like an oasis in u desert OF
waste, with its fine residences. thriving
vineyards, and beautiful groves.
The island is owned by Mr.. Kelly,
whose name it bears, and contains an
area Of twenty-nine hundred acres. 1t
is in a state of refined cultivation, and
principal production. 1t is favorite
place of resort, and affords 4 large brick
mansion, for the accommodation of Wis
itors, and several other buildings ol
note and elegance. 1t contains two
large caves, which are annually visited
by hundreds of people, and is favorite
place for fishing and sporting general
ly.
We did not touch at the island, but
passed it short distance to the west
ward, standing away towards Putin.
Bay, the place of our destination.
i AMONG THE ISLANDS.
Hitherto our course had been nearly
north, but it now lay two points to the
westward, with Put-In-Bay far away
across the larboard bow.
Several islands were in view, which
we will briefly notice.
Il On the right there were two island
uninhabited, rocky, desolate, and COW
J cred with scrubby trees. They belons
to Canada, and lay away to the east
ward, eleven miles distant. They arr
known as Maddee and Pt. Au Pelee
: the latter embracing an area OF thir
/ teen thousand acres.
: On the left away to the westward. .wer,
Rattle Snake and Green Islands. They
J lay in American waters, and are cover
) ed with forest trees.
BEYOND these two. just above the ho
rizon, is Desolate Island. 1t is social
ed OH account Of its barreness, as it j
vast field of rocks, several acres il
extent. In the centre of this islant
there i a huge pile of rocks, upor
!, which u dozen forest trees are grow
ing, and stand like lone sentinels hold
y ing vigil over the desolation around.
: In the southwest, far down the no
rizon, lay the broken outlines of tn
beach OF Ottowa county. There wa
, nothing visible to the naked eye bu
/, the tops of the trees. We viewed i
with glass, and could see only tn
forest and the rocky shore.
II On the right to the southward wa