Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-03-30

Company" etc. Here all was ST.
lent; no coal; no vessels-betoken-
ing too timely the quiet which reigns
over our great industry at home.
Further down the grain elevators rear
their lofty proportions, and through
which the North South and West
pour their munificent contributions to
commerce. Finally we reach Fort
Carroll-an unfinished abandoned
structure, reared at immense expense
before the existing style of destructive
marine projectiles was devised. We
landed and surveyed the huge pile Of
solid masonry, and reluctantly accept
ed the statement that "it was a mere
shell" supplemented, as it is, by i'm
mense guns apparently ready for &C
ton and equal to anything that might
be brought to bear upon the fortress.
On board again, the boat sped on
to "Seven-Foot Knoll Lighthouse
an octagonal structure built upon
huge iron pillars. Here we found a
family of seven persons living thirty
feet above the water and several miles
from the shore-in a dwelling shaken
increasingly by the wind and surf
where the roar Of the sea is eternal
and nature, altogether unaided by ar
tifce or handwork, rocks the badly to
sleep. No schools, no churches, af-
ford their advantages, and no borrow
ing neighbors vex this saline hermit
ages. The inmates seemed content in
all save one particular-they desired
improvement of condition except to
be removed to - another ght-
house. No home for them save upon
"the rolling Deep"
Again We embark and are at once
invited into the spacious and elegant
ly equipped cabin, were we circle
around board laden with the rarest
delicacies of the season. Our host at
the head dispenses the hospitalities Of
the occasion in lavish style, his guests
sit upon the right, left and in front,
responding in most appreciative man
ner. The strong salt breezes have
stifened our appetites amazingly and
the edibles disappeared with a vim.
The lively jest passes round and the
hilarious laugh echoes the general
and sincere enjoyment-all tending
to invigorate and strengthen the "in-
ner man." Our host and his guests
were evidently never happier. After
dinner the cigars were distributed
and we sailed on deck while the boat
was now nearing the Thomas Point
Lighthouse" Anchoring several hun
dred yards away, small boat was
lowered, and Collector Thomas, Treas
urer Negley, Mr.. Healey and your
correspondent, set out over rough
sea. We had not gone far without a
stroke of resistance for the venture.
The little boat rose and fell with the
swells, sometimes like it would go
straight to the bottom. However, we
went over and returned safely. The
building is much more substantial
than the former in materials and con-
struction. Certainly as dwelling it
is far superior, and this is the reason
why the family occupying the other
expressed a desire to move hither.
We were glad to note that the Collec-
tor entertained the proposition with
favor.
We go on board for the last time
and speed swiftly toward the city.
Our host abates not iot of his deter
mination to make US comfortable, and
the members Of the party, now well
acquainted, are thoroughly at home
with themselves and the pleasant,
interesting surroundings. On shore
We part. hoping, aye, determining to
meet again, with all human probabili-
ties against any reunion which will
surpass in interest, in pleasure and
entertainment, the occasion we have
so iuadequately depicted. "In the
sweet by -and-by" of the social future
the chances OF the same party joining
in "lead-head trip to Niagara" are
one in thousand. Be this as it may,
one thing is sure: wherever Hon. Jno
L. Thomas's name is mentioned in
presence of any one of his seven
guests, his kindness and hospitality
on this occasion will be spoken in
memorial Of him. REDO.
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