New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-08
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
FIRE ISLAND.

Is 1T FIT PLACE FOR 4 QUARANTINE STATION 2
TO tho Editor Of Tie Tribune.
Sir The time has arrived when the question as u
the practcabiity OF Fire Island quarantine station
may be calmly considered Having been born with
In sight OF Fire Island Lighthouse and being. as
suffolk County man. somewhat familiar with the loca
ton. ! was astounded when heard OF It's selection
for quarantine purposes. In The preparation OF thi:
communication. however have relied exclusively
upon statements OF pilots who have been familiar
With Fire Island Inlet from lifelong experiences. and
upon other reliable authorities OF an official nature
In the commercial there Is no harbor at Fire
Island The inlet at that point Is Of such char
acter as TO render Its passage extremely dangerous
TO the entrance OF vessels OF moderate draugh
The following Is correct description Of the inlet
Tho bottom Is composed Of fine shifting sand. The
depth OF water In tho channel varies from eight Il
sixteen feet. The location Of the channel Is alsC
changeable. During single storm It's position has
changed fully half mile. The Lighthouse Esiab
lshment OF the National Government Is obliged L
change the inlet buoys every spring and also after
severe storms.
The following General Directions for Approaching
and Entering Fire Island Inlet found page l.
Of "The Atlantic Local Coast Hot-Sub-Divslon No
49," published by the United states Coast survey
Strangers should not attempt to enter the inle
without pilot. The bar across the entrance shifts
and channels form frequently. No reliable di
rcctl0ns can be given. In July, 1850, the depth o.
water over tho bar was fifteen fect.' This Is Tho
official description Of what Is regarded by pracca
AS OF tho most dangerous, II not the most
dangerous gable inlet on the Atlantic Coast Of The
United States.
Let II be remembered that the depth OF water on
tho bar Mt Fire Island considerably exceeds the
draught Of vessels which It Is possible to take across
the bar, for the reason that there IS almost always
swell, or heavy sea- mt that point; so that vessel
drawing only eight feet might strike tho bottom
where fifteen feet Of water would be found IL the sea
were perfectly smooth. The people on board TN,
Cepheus and the Pcrses, In crossing and In attempt
ing to cross Fire Island bar, encountered greater
peril than did the cabin passengers on board The
Normannia from cholera. The nautical characters
ties OF Fire Island Inlet as follows:
l. No transatlantic steamer or sea-gOing vessels
OF even 500 tons burden can enter the inlet ut ans
time.
o No vessel OF any description can safely enter
rlc inlet at night, even with Fire Island Hight clearly
In view.
.. During oastcrly storms vessel OF any de-
scrpon can enter the inlet. At such tunes Inc
waves break on the bar Just they do on the Sh9re
and would destroy the strongest vessel IN lew
hours. During such storms even the small tiiu "
vessels OF Isp are prevented from crossing the ban
for two and three weeks according ID inc uu''
ton OF the storm. . . ,.-
L. The bar Of Fire Island Inlet projects out Int
the sea: hence n wreck that bar would prODlpiy
be attended with much greater loss Of life thah 4
wreck on the beach rs IL would be less aGcesSlDie ~
tho facilities for rescue provided by the Lille saving
service. . ,,a,.or,i Tn
ou,rioe NJ Washington and I'm Ncw-YOrk. and icc
fuy authorized In saying that the utter impracuca
billty OF Fire Island quarantine Sta'.gl IL.
tested nv the United states Coast survey, the tisnt
house Establishment, the Revenue Marine servce IN.
Life saving Service, and the Marine llospi'aal Sr
that like testimony would be given by the noaro
Of pilot Commissioners and by the Board ol Marui'
Jnderwr,ters of the City Of New York: ~ t.,
n The New.York Legislature shall institute IN III
vestgat!on as to the fitness OF Fire sland or d h
nroeanntcd 7 am confident that no sensible or hohS
legislator will cast vote in favor favor OF for r' tc a1'
,ho SCALED Fire Island which. by the way !,
not nm island at all but merely peninsula cohNec'eo
Win the main body OF Long ISLAND ,,,,o I'D
huntington Long Island october j. l7J-'