The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-09
EXECUTION ROCK LIGHT.
How Mariner Are Guided Along the
Sound to Hell Gate.

About the arst thing traveller sees
after passing between Throggs Neck
and Willets point the entrance TO
Long Island sound, ID Execution Rock
hight, which towers into the air from
the surrounding waste Of waters
Here it has stood, II the tales OF the
He'll Gate pilots are to be believed,
nigh onto half century, warning the
mariner at night of the dangers OF Ex-
ecution rock, and guiding him on his
true course over the long stretch OF
waters. The rock on which the light
house is erected derives its name, SO
the story runs, from the fact that dur
ing the Revolution vessel of which
the crew had mutinied ran ashore
there through bad management of the
mutineers, when they were overcome
by their rightful officers and hanged
on the rock.
The rocky inlet lies about four
miles below Larchmont, and south
east of New Rochelle and Glen ISL
and. It is also about two miles
northeast of Sands point, on the Long
Island shore. The tower, which is
built Of white stone, is circular in
form, and is forty-seven feet high. It
has an iron top which is painted black.
The ground floor is used for the stor-
age of the mineral oil used in feeding
the lamps and various odds and ends.
On the second floor is the double boil
er, which supplies the fog horn with
bot air, and also the machinery for
forcing the air into the horn. The
horn is situated on the floor above,
and is Of brass, the end projecting
about six feet beyond the building.
II sounds blasts OF seven seconds du-
ration, with intervals Of forty.three
seconds. In case OF an accident to
she signal. the lighthouse 10 supplied
with an Anderson fog horn, which is
then sounded.
Tho light il situated in the upper
story. The wall OF this floor ID form
Cd Of plates Of glass Of about four fest
square. Tho light is white and fixed
and il visible It . distance Of thirteen
miles. A large, bras circular lamp,
with q foot and half glass chimney
about three inches in diameter, fur
nishes the necessary Illumination.
Tho light u surrounded BY q glaGi
globe . foot in diameter.
On the west side. adjoining ths tow
a., II two story granite dwelling In
which the keeper, his family and a.
Gistant reside. Tho house u neatly
furnished. It u built on . foundation
Of concrete and rock. Tho oommuni
cation with the shore 10 BY Q whale.
boat and . small rowboat The keep.
srs take turns in watching, each Be.
ing on duty alternate days from 1 ..
m. till ! q. M, q period Of twsnty-foul
hours. .,.
A small library has been furnished
by the lighthouse department. Dur
ing the summer months there an
many visitors, but during tho white,
the only persons seen are the Hell
Gate pilots, who mako this thsil
boarding station. Supplies are OBJ
tanned from this city and the light
house tug. The keepers residence
according to the date under the caves
was built in 1867. Previous to tina
time the second and third floors o.
the tower were used as q dwelling
but this place being needed for tn,
fog horn, the house was erected
About a quarter Of q century ago i
was necessary TO enter the station b,
crawling through a window on tn
east side, up to which the rowboet
were hoisted.
The nearest light to Execution rock
ct the extreme end Of Sands point, L.
This is flashing white light, visibl
thirteen miles. The interval between
its flashes is thirty seconds. The tow
er, which is forty-six feet high.
built Of white stone and is at the on
trance to Cow bay. Adjoining tn
house is q dwelling Of free stone occu
pied by the keeper. A short distanc
up the beach on the bay is tho Sand
Point pavilion, and back Of this, o.
the high ground, it the Sands Poin
hotel. On the edge Of the salt meadow
u the old Sands house. i was a plac
} Of some importance during the Rsve
luton in tho secret service Of passin
money and news from Long Island :
the American army on The mainland
J The place rendered another impo,
Ant service, mors elos.ly rslatsd I
the present day. Capt John Sand
bought the estate in fees, but he cor
tinued 10 follow he - and m
trading schooner bstvsa NV Yos
, and Virginia. On enc of theD TIP
be brought home quantity of youn
locust trees and PLANTED them alon
this shoF& They grew % wsll, ~
the timber was recognised - % YAH
able, that othar psGp1s 500 paanAa
thGm from h1 alssk. nSp Lsne i
and New England derived tAeir suppl
q DIS woo9 ban 0andGpoint
Among NE ofh~ hGA6 y lsaa
IN the way tgn VT ~ - e0s,
BY boat ~ NaokvSliS 1assA M
otAsrs HAtonk n1AgspA% o.
Hiek, IN La No. -
Gull, New Haven. New LosAoA ~
Rock, Long Beach, Point Jv1t]
DavR ~, AroGlb - -
, pll, 0esf1~k 2ae1 d ~ -
~ ~ X11es1A
, Vvt1 -. ~
Aoutauk, 9tonington, W1tsA II
and Block Island north ~ sanA
New Yssk 1GaAgsan.
Ussou1s 1ssDsooA
Rs.>~,Aa No. pntA -