The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-06-30

lnuGulht6 lelHuDOEHOOu WE UuOIutI uNPb
with party headed by Rne Mr.. Crane, u
wealthy iron man from Cincinnati. They
had been on the ground an hour or two
before ourselves and we left them there,
and II was some comfort TO know that
though they had more patience their luck
was no greater than ours. Thelad and
children did better than this at the boat
house. But then, Of course, the fishing
was only the excuse. The sail was the
real thing after all, aud going out we
had rs much of this rs We cared
for. We had TO sail in the teeth
of the wind (how nautical one gets
after few hours on the waterO anu
Ii took IN infinite deal oil lacking to make
any Roadway. Every time tho boat
tackled the sails would flop across to the
other side and all hands had TO duck
heads to keep from being knocked into
the lake by the spar. This was rather
comlcal at first, but in an hour or so 1t
got 10 be stale and Improbable. The
skipper enjoyed it, however, and that
rather rcconCiled the rest Of us to the inflic.
ton. The run back TO the Bay before
stiff wind was delightful enough, though,
to atone for the trials Of the outward
voyage.
AS TO the bathing, l cannot speak from
observation, but am told by disintcrcsted
persons that the beach and bottom on the
other side Of the Island arc oil that could
be desired, there being q floor Of smooth
solid sand sloping gently out to deep
water. 1t is true the water is not salt,
but it is also true that there is no danger
Of being carried out to sea by the under
tow or converted into food for sharks.
Visitors complain that the bathing suits
Furnished are not suitable, being too
heavy. This will Doubtless be remcdicd.
Il not, visitors can provide themselves.
Besides these things, there Is livery
establishment with fine drives about the
island, on which there arc vineyards, a
vine cellar and other places where the
native wines are kept on sale, "native
wine cobblers" being the seductive notice
posted up on them. There are billiards,
dancing, croquet, counting Tor those in.
clined, and cave where you so down in
the ground until you come to uniathom.
able water and then come back. A favor.
ito expedition is across 10 Wehrle's wine
cellar, with dancing hall and billiard
rooms above It, on Middle Bass, less than
a mile away. A ferry boat runs every
half hour and steamers two or three times
a day. And there may be other facilities
Tor dissipation yet unknown TO me. Then
there is Jay Cookies island, Gibraltcr, be-
lore referred to. 1t lies just across the
bay, perhaps q thousand yards distant.
A friend and l rowed over there this
morning and captured the great bankers
stronghold without the firing Of a gun,
The only living things VIC saw about the
place were woman and COW. AS my
friend was not afraid Of tho one nor l Of
the other, We went ashore and explored
the island. 1t contains seven acres. The
formation, like that Of all these islands, is
limestone, which shows q white line
around the shore, rising into PERCEPTIONS
cliffs on the side next the entrance
10 the Bay, and cropping out into occa'
slonal rough boulders on the surface.
II Is carpeted with grass and sufficiently
though not densGly overhung with trees.
Mr.. Cookies house, an English cottage
with turrett, is built Of this white lime
stone, fitted in square blocks with rough
lace. It is large and elegant. 1t was oc-
cupied by MIR. Cooke two or three weeks,
this spring during the fishing season, but
has no occupant now except the house
keeper. Owing to nn accident by which
this lady broke limb the house will not
be opened TO cIcrgymen this summer as it
usually Is. This island is noted as the
lookout from which Commodore Perry
watched the movements OF the British
fleet before the engagement. A mOnu-
ment to the Commodore has been erect
cd by Mr.. Cooke on this spot and near il
Is an ancient piece OF ordnance labelled
"RecOnstruCtor of Put.in.Bay," which
looks US il it might have had part in
Perry's memorable victory, The natural
beauties Of this little island have been
greatly improved by art. There arc white
gravel paths leading from the house to
all parts Of II; the loose boulders have
been artistically disposed Of, in some cases
forming pretty grottoes; there is small
dock and boat house for utility and rustic
arbors for effect, while the trees and
grass arc trim and clean as picture. In
some places the shore is PERCEPTIONS,
in others paths slope down to the waters
edge. Approaching from the Bay these
beauticsare taken in with their harmoni-
GUS effects as whole and the beholder feels
not unlike he might il he were spectator
in some tale OF the Arabian Knighta
and as il this were all some creation Of
cnchantment, l certainly never saw nor
conceived any place more beautiful than
this island looked 10 me this morning as
we mounted its shaded grassy slopes with
blood and nerves tingling from the excite.
mcnt Of our row across the white caps Of
the Bay. It is said Jay Cooke paid an
enormous price for this miniature Eden,
and certainly its acquisition and improve.
ment show him 10 be q gentleman OF ele-
gaut tastes % well as Of money.
There is one thing that may DO
worth speaking OF in connection with
these Islands, and that is their Vineyards
Kelley's Island most famed for its vintage,
Is only ono OF half dozen Islands Of this
group chiefly devoted to grape culture. A
large area is also in grapes on the adjacent