The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-06-28
sEAelRT BLOCK ISLAND.
An interesting Dot of Solid Land on the
New England Coast.

| majesty go TO BLOCK Island. Out on the
ocean, fifteen miles from the nearest
land, washed on all sides by the rest.
less waters of the Atlantic, is this sea-
grit isle, its territory extending ten
miles from east to west, and six miles
from north to south in it's widest
place. 1t is nearly treeless, but is clad
with greensward. Cattle, sheep and
poultry raising are carried on to large
extent, and the raisers supply the
markets of Newport and adjacent
| places.
The island is noted for its fisheries.
Its fame began back in the dim past of
Indian tradition, and it's reputation
has not lost anything in modern times.
Bluetish, Goldfish, swordfish sharks,
whales and many other kinds of fish
are caught here in their season. The
value of the island fisheries is some
| thing like one hundred thousand dol
lars annually. The roads on the island
are very bad, but, nevertheless, the
| people drive great deal. The sea
views from the various points are fine,
and there are numerous places which
are interesting to visit on account of
old Indian legends and the traditions
of early settlers.
The Indian name was Manisses,
meaning Little Gods island. The
Narragansett, Pequot and Mohegan
Indians lived there at different times,
and were in continued broils about the
ownership. In the year 1890 it had
many English settlers who were con-
tinually at war with the Indians. Dur
ing the wars with France and England
pirates used to descend on the island
and carry off or destroy everything
they could lay their hands on. Capt.
Kidd often landed here, loaded his
vessels with all the valuables he could
find, and stocked his larder with a
fresh supply of provisions Although
protection was asked of the general as
sembly by the inha bitants, they never
got it. The general assembly, in all
probability had all it could do to
protect itself, and the islanders
had to defend themselves as best
they could. When the revolutionary
war broke out this small community
showed what it was made of. The peo-
pie placed their lives and property and
honor upon the altar of their country
as freely as the inhabitants of the
colonies but they Jared worst of all.
At first they were thoroughly sacked
by their mother colony and then left
to the tender mercies of the hostile
ships of England. Islanders were for
hidden by an enactment to come to the
| i, ,1A-e s,4A INI
to settle there, and it seemed every
mans hand was against them. Refu-
gees, pirates and wreckers appear con-
tinually in Block islands history,
while romantic company of ghosts,
phantom ships, false lights, and witch
fires illuminate the island chronicles.
When the first summer visitors began
to go there, about 1S45, they found a
peculiar people. They were a sturdy,
independent class, and could drive a
bargain of the sharpest kind. This
characteristic they retain to the pres
ent day, and it will be well to remem
Der the fact when you are doing bust
ness with them. The women in olden
times left an admirable record, and
many of their virtues have been trans
mitted to their children. The people
are simple and quaint. The houses
have sharp roofs, sloping almost to the
ground, and stone chimneys. The
fences are of stone and the gateways
are of timber from wrecked vessels.
The harbor is on the northeast side
of the island, where the government
some twenty years ago built stone
breakwater running out one thousand
five hundred feet in a northeasterly
direction, and later added an extern
sion of five hundred feet running
north, making the harbor safe against
all winds. At night the harbor is
thronged with vessels and boats, and
many colored lights are reflected and
multiplied in the ripping water, making
a beautiful sight. The basin is a square
enclosure inside of the breakwater,
made with piles and planlled on the
/ outside. 1t has a narrow entrance
facing the harbor and will accommo-
date fifty or sixty small vessels that
can lie here safely in all winds. Just
outside of it and parallel with the
breakwater is a large dock to accom-
modate the big excursion steamers dur
ing the summer.
On the southeast side of the island,
rising one hundred and twenty feet
from the water, stands Mohegan bluff,
on which lighthouse was built in 1875.
It's great fifteen hundred dollar Ian
tern rises two hundred and four feet
from the sea. Within the lantern four
, or five people can stand together 1t
can be seen in clear night for twenty
one nautical miles. 1t takes from one
, thousand to one thousand two hundred
. gallons of oil annually to feed it. A
few rods to the southeast stands long
white building in which mighty fog
signal is located. 1t is operated by a
steam engine of five or six horsepower,
and there is pair of engines always
in readiness in case one should break
down when needed. The siren is
made of iron, shaped like a trumpet,
pointing seward. The sound is created
by small buzzing arrangement in the
small end of the trumpet When steam