Connecticut western news., 1890-10-15
1 GLIMPSE OF BLOCK ISLAND.

Week by week you bring me greet ing, telling me of friends and neighbors. I would gladly return the compliment, could I find as much of interest to write to you. Perhaps you would like few words regarding Block Island, the Manisses of olden days It must be al- ready familiar to many of your readers, for we met some of them there in the summer. Also, the largest private resi- dence on the Island belongs to Mir Searle of Ct Burlington. As l am writ ing of well-known ground, I realize that it behooves me to keep strictly within the bounds of truth.
 Block Island is of triangular form, about nine miles long by three miles wide at its southern end. It lies about 15 miles south of Rhode Island, and equally distant, little north by east, from the eastern point of Long Island. It is said to have the best beach in the United States, and has become, of late years, noteworthy resort of those who wish their vacation time to bring them rest and communion with nature. The Island has great number of ponds and lakes. The Great Pond is very large and affords an excellent place for fishing and sailing
 The natives of the island live for the most part near the town of New Shore ham, which lies along the Block Island bay. Here is the postofice and the one pretty little millinery establishment. Here also are the numerous grocery and dry goods stores, which supply the needs of the thousands of summer visi- tors. By the steamboat landing there is fine breakwater, 1900 feet in length. It is needed, for the waves can be very rough around Block Island, and in former times there were many wrecks. There are pleasant walks along the white sand of the beach, or across the fields and on the bluffs. Two excellent lighthouses guard the shore, and fog horns give hoarse cries of warning, when their voice is needed. From hill a little inland, one can see the entire island, with it's buildings and lakes, the surrounding seas, and the mainland shores beyond. r'
 We miss the shelter and shade of trees In clden days It is said there were forests here, but now there are only few fruit trees and poplars on the island. The land, enriched with the coarse seaweed, is productive of grain and vegetables. There is also mineral spring to add the invigoration of iron to the water. The hotels are numerous and fine. Boarders are accommodated we'll at most of the private houses, where they are fed on the best of sea food, cooked as only islanders can cook it.
 The boats come and go daily. The fishermen are glad to take passengers at a dollar a trip, and providing them with oiled clothes, hooks, lines and bait, allow them to fish to their hearts con- tent. Bluefish abound. Swordfish and codfish are also caught Lobsters are plenty. An excursion boat goes around the island on each fair day. The view of the island from the boat is very pie turesque. The clay bluffs reach up like steep walls of rock, and the white-cap- ped waves dash and break against them A quiet stroll along the white sand beach is delightful Here one can gather a dozen or more varieties of the finest and most delicately tinted seaweed for card mounting. It is wonderful to see the little, stringy mass spread out be- heath the water into thousands of min ute branches of beautiful tints and fairy outlines. There is plenty of Irish moss and kelp. The white sand-feas spring before our steps upon the sand, so protected by their sand-like color that only the observant folks take note of them. The little crabs bury them selves in the sand or steal some vacant she'll The shells are small and not plentiful. Occasionally pretty little star fish are found. This beach is the great resort for swimmers. There has not been sufficient protection in the past Perhaps all have relied too much npu n the safety of the sloping beach. But there is strong undertow While we were there sad accident happenel. A l 4 down, while his wife and crowds of 1 people were watching from the shore No appliances for saving him were at hand, although there are two govern mental life saving stations on the island, and there must be many there who understand all the best methods of re- suscitating the drowning. There was great delay in obtaining a boat. When it was ready, drunken man jumped into it, overturning it and nearly drown ing himself. There was added delay. and the swimmer was drowned. Hia poor wife, nearly distracted with her grief, tried in vain to bring him back to life. The next day she left the island with her dead. Hereafter, she eill sllud- der even at the thought of the fair island that might have brought beautiful memories for her if only the beach had been properly protected, and all neces. sary precautions taken for saving life. In a day or two, hundreds were swimming again in the sunlight, apparently as happy as if no blight on any heart had fallen there. But now strong rowe1 was there with his boat, among the