The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-02-02

/ serves as d foundation for the brick
work and iron which complete the
| structure. It's form is that of cone,
| the base being fifty and the apex fif-
| zen feet in diameter. 1t was erected
| hy the government in 1871, at a cost of
$500. 900. The entrance to the tower,
| from the long brick walk leading to
/ the $1,000 dwelling of the principal
| and assistant keepers, is through the
oil room, the office and library. In
| the centre of the tesSelated marble
| floor, Il well ten feet deep. surrounded
! by a circular iron railing, serves to
support the lightning rod, which ter
| inmates on the iron roof i'll Il triple
point 4 spiral staircase of iron. tav-
ing nine landings and PIG steps, winds
| its way to the top, and acts as power
full support to the edifice.
On the outside the tower is painted
in alternate broad bands of white and
black. The ninth landing forms the
iron floor of the Watch-FoOm. From
the Watch-rOom Il short fight of steps
communicates with the mighty lamp.
Its copper front, highly Furnished.
contains ten gallons Of oil, seven of
which are nightly consumed IN feed
ing the Hicls. Who can tell whether
the constant rubbing may not some
times evoke the genii of the lamp, as
in the good old days of the Caiiph
HarOun al Raschid.) The five-inch
burner contains four concentric wicks,
which, when lighted. forms volume
of flames, whose powerful, divergent
rays penetrate the darkness in every
direction to a distance of thirtyfye
miles.
\ magnificent plate glass lens,
twelve feet high and six feet IN diam
eter. in form closely resembling the
skeleton of the human trunk-the ribs
of the latter corresponding to the
prismS of the lenS-surrounds the
light, and magnifies it many hundred
times. Through the prismatic ribs
the diffused rays blend the primary
colOrS in a white radiance which illu-
mines IA region 100 miles in circumfer-
ence The lens was imported from
Paris at an expense to the government
Of S25. 600. Spirit of wine and cham
ois skin are employed in keeping it
immaculate. In fact everything in
and about the light house, as well rs
the dwelling, is required to be kept
scrupulously clean, and not a speck of
dust is visible anywhere. Until few
years lard oil was used for illuminate
ing purposes, but kerosene has since
been substituted as giving more brill
liant light.
At the top of the ninth staircase an
iron door gives access to circular
iron balcony, surrounded by high
railing. A narrow ladder, placed at
an angle of eighty cdegreeS, leads to
the upper gallery, which is inclosed
with net work of galvanized wire, to
protect those whose duty it is to clean
the glass. Many fat canvas back
and many a red-head has hurled him
self to death against this lattice work,
and fallen an easy prey to the watcher
below.
From the lower parapet the view in
all directions is fine At sunset, when
it is time to light the great lamp, an
opaline effulgence rises from the sands,
and the sun smiles crimson smile
upon the hOary ocean. Schools of
pOrpoises disport themselves within
half a mile of shore, and dash from
their tails liquid sapphires, as they
whirl on their course in succession
of summerSaultS. The horizon seems
Iimitless. Numerous white sails deck
the blue mantle of the sea. TO the
north and south stretches the sandy
plain, broken here and there by hum
mocks, or patches of marsh. Toward
the west lies Albermarle Sound dotted
with picturesque islands. This sound
was named in honor of the celebrated
Geo. Monk, Duke of Albermarle, one
of the early proprietors of North Car
Olina. 1t is famous for its immense
herring fisheries, the largest seines
sometimes capturing as many as $780,
0G0 at single haul.
1t was the favorite haunt of Ed
ward Teach, betteraknown as ''Black-
beard" who is supposed to have
shores and islands washed by
its waters. This eredoubted free
beoter terroriZed for years the sea-
faring population along the Atlantic
coast, and sometimes ventured far
to sea in his piratical cruises. He
was man of gigantic build, with a
colossal black beard reaching to his
waist. When the bold buccaneer was
about to attack vessel, he organized
d sort of devils dance on the deck of
his schooner, chewed glass, so that
the blood flowed from his mouth, and
stuck lighted candles in his twisted
beard. Armed at all points, and
brandishing in his right hand a huge
cutlaSs, he rushed among his adVerSa-
ries with irresistible fury, shouting,
death and hell! Blood and fiends."
intimidating by his formidable APP
pearance his boldest antagonist, and
paralyzing with dread horror the pu-
SillanimOuS. He was captured by
Lieut.. Maynard, of the British navy.
decapitated, and his head stuck upon
the bow-sprit in triumph. After he
was beheaded his body is said to have
swum three times around the vessel.
To this day phantom light is often
seen in the vicinity of Body's island.
The natives call it '"Teach's light, !"
and regard it with superstitions awe.
When nearly approached it suddenly
and mysteriously disappears.
The entire landscape viewed from
the tower is bleak and deSolate in the
extreme; the wild scream Of the gull
| mingles with the sobbing of the ''sad
sea waves" and the surface of the
deep seems corruscating and scintil-
| lating with the flashing of a billion
gems, and as the fiery orb sinks below
| the horizon, the revolving light at
Hatteras, thirty-three miles distant.
| flashes in response to the beacon at
Body'S island.
ssSocial watch fires answering one
another through the darkness
| TO PROHIBIT RAILROADPA PASSES.