Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19

pushing skyward stupenjous, irre0ul.r
groups terminating in two lofty pinnacle.
the highest of which reaches an altitude 81
TO feet.
A WILD SPOT.
1t is said that the ocean soundinps
around it are far deeper than those in any
| part of the English Channel; and at no
other point upon the Atlantic are witnessed
such awful battles between wave and stone.
The base of the only Lighthouse now in use
upon Great Skellig stands upon leveled
rock 14O feet above the sea, and the roof Of
this lofty structure was few years ago
crushed in and partly carried away by the
assaults of the waves, which must have been
lifted upward Of 1S0 feet above the sea level
to have been dashed upon it.
The only human beings now living upon
Great Skellig are those having charge Of the
lighthouse. But more than thousand
years ago hundreds, if not thousands, passed
their entire lives in religious deVotlons
upon this wild sea mountain, for this place
was then the st. Michael's Mount of Ire.
land. Its history was luminous even in
the earliest days of Christianity in Erin.
majestic monastery once stood in the
little valley between the two lofty peaks Of
the island. From the single landing place
ozO stone steps, many portions Of which re-
".
eashel, the oratories, the stone cells. the
ancient burial place, and many unrecorded
structures which the incalculabls toll
and Jealous conservation of a remote
age grouped within this sacred SPOT. Easily
traced remains of nearly all these structures
still exist; and fragments of gigantic crosses
here and there push through the strange
debris, whose contemplation cannot but send
thrill through the least impressive heart.
Far, far above this tens OF thousands OF
pilgrims in the intervening centuries have
climbed Near the top of the highest pin
nacle one must squeeze through a narrow
orifee called the Needles Eye, in order to
follow their olden painful way. Just beyond
this is narrow ridge or saddle of solid
rock. One must get astride this and work
along with legs and hands until an ascend
ing shelving rock is reached.
BETWEEN SEA AND SKY.
The danger here is terrible. One false
movement, and you are plunged headlong
into the sea from either side. From this to
the highest point any fairly sure-footed man
may pass securely to the slender yard-wide
summit, along which are found rudely
sculptured crosses, or stations. have been
In some eerie spots in nv travel, but never
before have stood where such sense of
sublimity mingled with awe-inspiring inse-
curity possessed me. On three sides you
look down black straight line of over ZOO
feet into the ocean. Behind and below YOU
are the solemn ruins of remote ages.
Far to the north and east is the weird, sea-
walled coast. Your own land is 2, 900 miles
beyond those white specks of fsher-boats to
the west. Around and above you are onIy
the palpable clouds, and ghostlY whistle Of
darting sea-bird's wing. The solemn gran
deur and awful impressiveness OF the place
are apalling.
The descent was more dangerous than the
climbing; but We accomplished it safely.
re-entered the boat and made for Port Ma
gee. 1 never wish to see Great Skellig
again-unless from the deck of an Atlantic
steamer, when sight Of it as the first
glimpse of Europe is occasionally had; and as
we rounded the reef into the safer channel,
while night was softly descending, and the
lights from a thousand mackerel-6shers'
boats cleaned along the western horizon, L
turned with sigh of relief from this tre-
nendous and desolate terror of the deep, to
welcoming land, as from some hideous
phantom of unhappy dreams.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.