Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-21
LFrom our Special CorresDondcnt.
The Isles OF Shoals.
NORTH HAMPTON, n. H., Aug.

North HAMPTON, n. H., Aug. 10.
Editor Of tie Rutland Uerald -
These islands were discovered by Cap
tain John Smith in the year 1914. The
abundance of fish in these waters, and
the large profits to be realized by these
| fisheries, was the first inducement to
emigrants TO settle upon these bleak and
desolate islands. The fish were shipped
to England and found a ready sale, espe-
cially among the Catholics, whose re
ligion has ever been favorable to the in
terests of the fisherman.
These islands derive their name from
the shoaljng of the fish in their vicinity.
The group consists of seven islands, and
beginning on the south, may be named
in their order as follows: ''White Is
land, Londoners, Star, Cedar, Smutty
Nose, Appledore and Duck Island. OF
these Appledore formerly Hog Island)
is the largest, containing about 400 acres.
There was formerly quite a settlement
here, but not one of the former houses
remain-the only house at present on the
island being the Appledore House, kept
by the Messrs. Laighton. This house
has received additions and improvements
from time to time till it is capable of ac-
commodating about 800 guests 1t is
three and four stories high, has music
room nearly 100 feet by go, furnished
with piano and splendid Mason &
Hamlin cabinet organ. This answers
the double purpose of dancing hall of
evenings and church on the Sab
bath. There are spacious billiard rooms,
ball alleys, reading rooms, ladies par
lors, etc.
Until hepresent year the steamers and
sailing vessels anchored out several rods
from the shore, and passengers and
freight We're landed by means of dories,
which was not always either safe or
agreeable, especially in rough weather.
Now there is a convenient wharf, at
which the steamers and other boats land
The house is lighted by gas made on the
premises.
There are boats in readiness to take
parties out for a sail among the islands
or to the main land. We are awakened in
the morning not by the hateful gong, but
bya bugle, sounding its melodious calls
through the halls and corridors.
In our bill of fare, not only the fishes
of the sea but the fowls of the air
and beasts of the earth are well repre-
sented
There is little attempt at display at
Appledore. Young ladies many not
young-wear constantly the blue flannel
suit, without hoops or corset.
There are no roads on any of the is
lands. There is no more opportu-
nifty fol drives than in Venice or mod
ern Jerusalem. There is not even foot
path, except the irregular one leading
from the wharf to the house. All these
islands are as bare, bleak and desolate as
anything we have any knowledge of on
our wild New England shore. They con
sist of rugged masses of granite rock,
with here and there patch of soil, in
which weeds and grasses struggle for
precarious foothold. 1t would seem as
if creative power, in its journey west
ward to establish the North American
continent, commenced at the Isles Of
Shoals, with a view to make the main
land, but the materials worked SO badly
and the job was so unsatisfactory, that
it was abandoned in disgust, and the