The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-07-10
The Island of Sark.

Seven miles from Guernsey, is Sark,
onetof the smallest, most curious, most
interesting, most elusive, most dcsolate,
most beautiful, most dangerous, and
most sublime, of tho Atlantic islands.
The old legcnd-makcrs, who have sung
such weird tales of phantom islands. now
appearing close Mt hand, then vanishing
like enclhantment, must have drawn their
inspiration from watching Sark from
Guernsey! On some days it is so dis.
tinct and looks so near that cliffs and
houses and even men can be distinguish
cd with tho. naked eye, and the soft play
: Of light and shade and color on the rocks.
The next day one shall look in the same
direction, and he will discern with diff
+, Guilty the faint hnzy outline of what seems
!; an island forty miles AWAY. The M
pronclI TO the island is almost ALWAYS
hazardous, and except in the best weather
no'boat can land or leave, owing to the
maelstromlikc velocity and turbulence of
the tides, which rush raging in nil dircc-
tions around the shore, and fill the hollow
caves with melancholy dirgcs, MS if for
tho many wrecked on that mcrcilcss
coast. Tho late Scigncur of Sark was
lost of Point Neg, and the present Seig.
ncur and his family have had m cscanc
bordcringon tho miraculous. Sometimes.
oven in summer, weeks will pass without
the possibility Of communicating with
the island. In winter one must dcpcnd
entirely ON Sark boats, of seven or eight
tons burden, strong and wcatlicrly. In
summer n small steamer plies in GOOD
weather between Guernsey and Sark, but
it can not enter the port, which is doubt
less the smallest in Europe. 1t is formed
: by n breakwatGr thrown across n minja-
ture bay, called the Crcux. a little beach
extends around the base of the vertical
cliffs, and the interior Of the isIund is
only reached by an artificial opening nc
tually pierced through, the surrounding
wall of granite. .
Sark is nbout three miles and n half
long, and is divided into Great and Little
Snrk, tho Inter being u small peninsula
ut the southern end, united to tho main
portion by II curtain Of rock some two
hundred yards long, called The Coupe,
.. II Is three hundred feet above tho sea, on
II side literally vertical, Oh tho other
nearly so. The path Mt the top is moi
over five feet wide. 1t is said one pcrsnn
who lived on Little Sark never dared
huringn lifetime TO cross over the Cuupc.
Another old fellow, who used To like 10
take his grog of IN evening in Great
SaTk, would, OF returning TO Little Sark
ut night, wink several times over u log
that lay near tho Coupe. IL tho result
was satisfactory to his equilibrium, he
would then venture 80 reel aCross the
Coupe. Tho cliffs surrounding tho island
furnish IN incxhaustiblo supply of the
grand, tho wild, the picturesque. The
rocks arc clothed with highly cOlorcd
vines md lichcns; the magnificent caves,
seemingly the abode Of sea-fairics, trcm
with varied and beautiful submarine veg.
citation and diverse forms of life, she'll
fish, mollusca, algir, and tho like. Our
limits forbid moro than allusion To such
spots ne tho Antclcts, the Crcux du Der.
.riDlc, D'Ixcnrt bay, etc.
The interior Of The island il devoted 10
agriculture and pasturagc, and although
not generally wooded, md destitute of
streams, presents many choice bits Of ri.
raj underwood. The avenue leading 10
the ScignGurio is exceedingly beautiful,
and the building itself Is q very pleasing
object. Tho htits Of the pcnsnntry arc
often Of the most massive: construction,
having walls six feet thick.
Those who suppose Monaco, or AndOr.
IN, or San Marine Ia bc tho smallest state
in Europe must awake from their tlcl,i-
sion. SaIk has, by tho last census, only
. inhabitants, and it IL practically nm
independent state, owing only n fciIdal
allegiance. TO Great Britain iy way Of
Guernscy--Horpcr's Magazine.
MADAME RornscniLD expressed n desire
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