The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-12
sEAeIRT BLOCK ISLAND.

S6AGlR1 BLOCK ISLAND.
An Interesting Dot of solid Land or the
New England Coast.
IT you want to take the salt air and
see the ocean in its season in all its
majesty go to Block island. Ont on the
ocean. fifteen miles from the nearest
land, washed on all sides by the rest
less waters of the Atlantic. is this sea-
girt isle, its territory extending ten
miles from east to west, and six miles
from north to south in its widest
place. 1t is nearly treeless. but is clad
with greensward. Cattle, sheep and
poultry raising are carried on to a large
extent, and the raisers supply the
markets of Newport and adjacent
places.
The island is noted for its fisheries.
It's fame began back in the dim past of
Indian tradition. and its reputation
has net lost anything in modern times.
Bluefish, 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 IN lie island
are very bad, but, nevertheless. the
people drive a 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.
a In 10
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
and carry off or destroy severything
they could lay their hands on. Capt.
Kidd often landed here, loaded his
vessels with all the valua bles 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
IL. -
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
mainland unless when they intended
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 a 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
and later added an extern
sion of FIVE hundred feet running
north, making the harbor safe against
all winds. At night the harbor is
many colored lights are reflected and
in the ripping water, making
a beautiful sight The basin is square
enclosure inside of the bre akwater,
made with piles and planked on the
outside. 1t has a narrow entrance
facing the harbor and will accommo-
date fifty or sixty small vessels that
outside of it and parallel with the
breakwater is 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.
Its great fifteen hundred dollar Ian
ssrn rises two hundred and four feet
from the sea- Within the lantern four
Dr. FIVE people can stand together. 1t
Fan be seen in a clear night for twenty
one nautical miles. II takes from one
thousand to one thousand two hundred
gallons of oil annually to feed il. A
few rods TO the southeast stands long
white building in which mighty fog
signal is located II is operated BY
steam engine of Eve or six horsepower,
md there is pair of engines always
ia readiness in case one should break
down when needed The siren is
made of iron, shaped like trumpet,
seward The sound is created
By q small buzzing arrangement in the |
small end of the trumpet When steam !
-ushes through this it causes the siren !
% revolve like lightning. sad Is makes |
he fearful din The lighthouse and /
iwelling are built Of brick with granite
There are three life-saving stations
IN the island. one on the hsrbor. one i
Il the extreme west end and one OF /