The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-17
FISHERS ISLAND.
A Breezy Summer Resort at the En-
trance of the Sound.
THE OLD WINTHROP ESTATE,
It's Situation, Topography
and Attractions.
FrsER,s ISLAND, July Is, 1878.

deHgntul watering place cOnnfms mo III INC oeHoi III
the great possibilities Of It's future one of the most
popular and celebrated summer resorts on the sound
So little known Of this island, its situation and MS
tory that af,or describing the method Of reaching
from Now York an account OF these will not DO found
uninterestIng. The outside wsrld has hardly ever
heard OF IT, except as the land which the ilIfated
passengers of The steamer Atlantic cast ashore
many years ago; where several propelers and
schooners have been wrecked. and whi,h the
steamer City of New Bedford went ashore In q log In
the early part OF last spring. In order TO reach the
island from New York The steamers OF the Norwich
line from the loot Of Desbrosses street the trans
OF the Shore line taken for New LONDON. From
that place the Cygnet, small steamer makes several
trips daily.
Fishers Island though but four miles from NoanK,
the nearest point the Connecticut shore, is,
strangely in the township OF southold, in Suffolk
county, Long Island, State OF New YORK, fate WI ich
is shared by the Island Of Mystic, few miles of.
which hugs the land oil tho Nutmeg State still closer
II lies al the head OF Long Island Sound, slightly
southeast OF ana nine miles from New London and
SIX miles from Stonington. Montauk Light, the ex-
treme eastern end OF Long ISLAND, Is twenty miles
distant and lies IN direction somew hat east OF south
OF It, Watch Hill, In Rhode Island. 10 three miles
distant from the eastern end Of the island, and Block
Island many miles TO the east, be sometimes
seen q clear day.
DESCRIPTION THE ISLAND
Tho island belongs TO the estate OF tho late Robert
Ralston Fox; Is nine mics In length, from half a
mile to mile and quarter IN width, and cor
tains some eight thousand acres OF land. II
has three narbors, all opening TO the north,
the largest OF which, at the western end is
known as West Great Harbor. An East
Harbor lies that end and Hay Harbor mile to the
westward OF Great Harbor. The shores are much in
denied by bays and there several fac beaches on
side. There is chain of eight fresh water
lakes, covering about one hundred aud 1ity acres.
These are flied with exceedingly pure water. In
some they are only separated from the sea by
beaches narrow strips of lard. rbs tour largest
ia the middle OF the island, between East Great
narbors The rock OF tho island Is granite ana the
soil u fertile, sandy loan with subsratum Of clay.
The granite distributed over tho greater part OF the
surface the form OF powders, some OF large size,
which form picturesque additions 10 the landscape.
Here and there, chiefly under the hills, which
the rolling country ot tho island, are forests Of
Short hardy trees. chiefly OAKS which run toward
the sea. At the west end, mile from the shore, 10
lighthouse OF the first order On the shore ut THIS
point = life saving station, which, though nxed u;
most importan. ponh is mosa wofuy 1sglsc,ed.
never been q crew or even Keeper
THE STORY OF wRkcKs.
There have been many wrecks this dangerous
reef Of rocks, on the outermost OF which the hight
house now being built. rhe energy OF Mrs. Fox
some ten years ago saved the lives OF Two
scEooners which had gone on shore on a sQuaily,
snowy day January. Mrs. Fox, accompanied by
several nar 10 So. sr ou
Race Point On arriving there she found the two
vessels on the rocks wits fourteen o the sixteen men
OF the crews half frozen the rigging. Two OF the
had succeeded Ia reaching tue shore with the
loss OF their boat Mrs. Fox sent the boys for assist
ance and shovels; some OF tho tenants came with
oxen ana oars, tor hose OF the hieDoat had been
stolen, launched the boats aud brought on the crows
There have Ucen several wrecks since, but the crews
have succeeded IN landing.
On visiting the station few days ago found the
wheels or and lying by the frame, as thoy we're lett
by the OF the CITY oil Now Bedford last sprpg.
The OF the station wore unlocked, the oars OF
the boat had nearly ali disappeared; there WAS NO
rope powder Tor The mortar, in which u shell Was
rusted, and none for the lite saving car.
Al the entrance 10 Great Bay, on little island In
Fishers Island Sound, is the North Hummock Lignt,
10 which Is attached = log Dci which Is o,en heard
through The morning logs and inists. Due west of
this light rs Nortu Hill, tho rocky point VI whicn
tho Sound steamer Atlantic OF the Stonihgton lac,
was lost some twenty years ago IL wii be remem
bcred that the great disaster, by which SO many
lives were lost anu from which so low Of the
passengers The ilated vessel escaped took place
on Thanksgiving night Tho shalt broke about tho
middle OF Fisher's Island Sound They tried to
anchor, but The anchor dragged and the vessel came
on shore. Before leaving Stonington the weather,
being very threatening, tho captains friends tried TO
persuade HIM not to start. He sad:-"l would like
take nv vessel through.n On striking tho rocks the
vessei split two and went TO pieces. Over hun
bodies wore washed ashore here and laid out IN
old barn and aiterward put ON Tho lawn IN front o
the mansion Tor recognition. Tho Isabella Blake
Deacn, Gne stretch Of sand under the cliffs the
south shore, derives Its name from tho wreck oi
schooner OF that me tome ten or Twelve years ago
THE MANSION HOUSE,
The hotel, known Az the Mansion House be-
cause Il " as the old manor mouse oil Tho winthrops
descendants oil the Colon al Governor OF thai
whom n wa, granted by James the then ID kc of
York and Albany, becs me on his acquiring the island
the nome OF MI Fox IL IS keDt by Professor Charles
do la Vergne, well Known IN New YORK by his hume
ia ErAn IN h.o
ana Erench chsf ADDS TO the attractions Of cellar
which leaves nothing to be Desired Tue Mansion
House, when was largely added to by Mr.. Fox and
whero widow anu Two daughters remain AZ guests,
has some lofty rooms, Is picturesque, high gable
rooicu structure, and stands al the foot of Boil H
which Is sumuer house From tnis Hill nne view
may had Fisher's Island Sound TO Watcn HILL
stoningion. hysuc, Mystic Island Noank, New Lon
don say orooK. over the Long Island sound to Plum
Island. Gull Island, Race Rock, Gardiners Island,
Montauk Point aud Block Island AMI over the broad
cxp.nsc oil the AtiAntio 10 The east.
The Mansion Is situated u level terrace, In front
OF which IL lawn OF sxtythrec acres, stretching TO
the dock Great Harbor rhis bay affords anchor.
age the argcs class OF steamers and yachts,
perfect roaust cad. Around The harDor Gu Tue hills
ARE Inc cottages ol Mr.. r. q. Murdoch OF Bfooki,u
sunny sde AIRS. j. Il. iyies, OF BrooKiyn; Crescent
Cottage, daughters OF the properties OF the island,
Mrs Fox; Co oneI Thomas .. Alien, OF New York; ST.
Jopns Cottage, Mira HonaId, Vt Middletown, Conn;
wilnam A. Hedge, Miodetown, Conn. Bay View, Mr.
d. &. lazi, Of Cormwc, Conn., aud captain l.. N. bar
low. OF New Merden, Conn. Around The Mansion
House are spacious barns anu ouibuildngs built ny
Tue iate owner when he bought the island for stock
ON the Mansion House farm. Flat Plans iarm IN SIT
uated tho midule OF the island 10 very productive
pssu res many cattle and sheep as does East End
farm which includes that eud oil thu island. At thesc
two irms hne grade OF horses OF a trotting stock
are raised.
MOUNT cHUcKAMouNT.
Tho highest iand Is Mount ChuckamounJ from
whch the view Is had the hills and dalcs, lakes
| and shores OF the Island.
The lakes covered in the winter to the Depth In
good season, OF eighteen inches oil clear ice An ice
house has been erected Great Bay with capacity
900 tons. IL ~ directly IN tue course OF fishing
vessels coming from the East and bound TO New
| York with fish, The owner Ofihe cc house, Captain
| Barlow, drives u thriving trade, and vessels con.
stantly put Ia Tor ice They formerly used 10 10 10
| New LondoD. This trip mad for them many dissd-
| vantages; the current was usually against them up
| the ruamcs, the winds werc battling, or there was
| calm; aud the men once shore amer cruise oil
several weeks we're hard TO got back ON board This
often made delay OF two or three Gays, and mean
while the nsh spoiled. The establishment OF an ice
house Ftshers Island obvlates all this. and the