The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-29
What Nlr. Sargent Has 10 Say
A DESERT ROCK.
How Life is Spent ON a Ledge Far Out at
Sea.
Qockland courier-Gazette.)

Matinicus Rock is situated out at sea some
fifteen miles from the nearest main land, and
about twenty-three miles from Rockland, where
the inhabitants do their trading. 1t is but
rock in the midst of the sea. 1t has two light
towers which formerly had two fixed white
lights of the Sd order. The island is in 10
cality dangerous to shipping and in the direct
track of the International line OF steamers.
Hardly season passes without several wrecks
in the immediate vicinity. The Rock has
been known for years by its two fixed white
lighTs and was always prominent beacon to
mariners. A few months ago, about the first
of July, the lighthouse board, from motives OF
economy, discontinued one of the lights and
changed the other to a fixed red light The
change was not regarded favorably by sea-far-
ing men, as it is liable to cause accidents to
craft which, acquainted with the old estab-
lished arrangement, might be utterly ignorant
of the new. The dissatisfaction has increased
and now petition Is in circulation to restore
the old arrangement of the two white lights.
The island is inhabited by twelve persons in
cluding the four keepers, two women and Ave
children.
Life in the summer time is monotonous
enough; but frequent visitors and the daily
passage of craft of all descriptions help drive
away 6uDul anu Hi up bu6 olOW uOrllR uOUfSs
At that season of the yesr daily passing steam
ers bring papers and letters, and at times fruit
and other welcome gifts. Then the islander can
reach the mainland when he desires, and COM
munication with the outer world is comp ara
lively easy. But when winter with its hurri-
canes and cold, ice and snow, hold sway, then
indeed life becomes monotonous For weeks
there is no communication with anyone out
side the rocky island. There is no mail no
news. No new faces are sseD, but the same
rfoA. ,nfr 0f 6rT-
ties and attempts at pastime fill out the day.
The lights are kept trimmed. The one watch
man is constantly at his post during the long
nights, and in thick weather the regular blast
of the steam fog whistle rolls over the waters
as If striving to drown the mournful cade noes
of the ocean beating in vain against the rocky
shores. Reading is the all-sntficient consumer
OF time and many Is the book read and Ie-read,
discussed and digested, during the wintry days
nights. Here Dickens, Scott and Cooper
furnish food for thought. Here in the midst
of the ocean Sam Weller walks and talks, and
and the verbose sin short of Mr.. Micawber is
heard above the shrill cry of the sea gull.
1vanhoe scores. many chiyalrous victory and
the Deer Slayer performs again and again his
self-sacrifciDg mission.
After being shut up within the island by a
four-weeks storm the boat sets out for Matin-
icus about five miles distant,t to get the mail of
which they have been deprived SO long by the
storm. With what anxiety the return of the
boat is awaited. Soon it is seen returning and
reaches the shore. How eagerly letters from
relatives and friends are read. With what
avidity are the papers perused and the news
discussed. Only those who have been thus de-
prived of news can appreciate it.
During the long, tiresome, wintry evenings
many ingenious ways are devised for passing
the time. At times an old fashioned spelling
school is held and the occupants of the two
dwelling houses, gathered In one large
room, arrayed in opposing columns intent on
photographed glory. At times the propound-
er Of the sesquipedalian words will be COM
PEELED to speak louder than common so as to
be heard above the shrieking of the wind and
the hoarse pounding Of the surf, the elements,
like the irrepressible urchin, ignoring COM
pletely the fact, that disturbances Of any sort
are detrimental to the success of any such ex-
ercise. And SO the days pass on, eating, Sleep
ing, working, reading and spelling being the
ever repeated programme.
Frequently q storm OF unusual violence
arises and the island is almost submerged by
immense waves. Storms have been. so violent
in times past as to drive the waves up on the
island and wash off some of the buildings.
After great storm the sea is so rough for
days as to render approach to or departure
from the island extremely hazardous. A few
years ago party of young men from Matinicus
attempted to land on the rock while the sea
wasrough and the boat was overturned and one
ofthe number, young man named, Theodore
Condor, was drowned.
Frequently a wreck in the vicinity breaks in
upon the monotony, and the efforts to save the
wrecked or render assistance requires every
energy. The present season has been remark
ably free from wrecks, which is due to the fact
that there have been no great storms. Fewer
vessels have passed the rock this winter than
for many previous seasons. The steamers of
the International line pass by weekly, gener-
ally at night
In fair weather, hunting furnishes an agree
able diversion. Loading the boats with provis-
ions and paraphernalia of all kinds, the hunt
ers set forth. The Ball or the Seal Islands is
the place of destination. Camping here in
fshermen's hut, decoys are set just off the
shore, and sea ducks, coots, black ducks and
old squaws are shot in abundance, the dogs
bringing them to the shore. After staying
here for week or fortnight, the sea-faring
nimrods return home with their boats loaded
down with 100 or 150 birds. This is true pic
ture of life ON this barren isle of the sea- To
many, such life would be insupportable. The
idea of being penned up for SO long and shut
out of the busy world in such a way, would be
to them synonymous with living death. But
the islanders are happy and intelligent, have a
work to do and do it, and their little communi-
ty is miniature world by itself, with this I'M
portant distinction, that it is characterized by
the Utopian idea of harmony and happiness