St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-05-26

sEAolRT BLOCK ISLAND.

sEAoiRT BLOCK ISLAND.
N Intsreesi.e Dot ef Solid Lasd or the
New En9laaa Coast.
II you want TO take the salt air and
see the ocean in its season in all its
majesty 60 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-
girt isle, its territory extending ten
miles from east to west, and six miles
from north to south In its widest
place. 1t il 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 it, fisheries.
Its fame began back in the dim past of
Indian tradition, and its reputation
has not lost anything in modern times
Bluefish. Goldfish, swordhsh, sharks,
whales and many other kinds Of fish
are caught here in their season. Tho
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
arc interesting to visit on account OF
old Indian legends and the traditions
Of early settlers.
The Indian name was Manisses,
Little Gods island The
Narragansett, Pequot and Mohegan
Indians lived there at different times,
and were in continued broils about the
In the year 1890 it had
many English settlers who were con-
1T war with the Indians Dur
ing the wars with France and England
pirates used to descend ON the island
and carry on 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
fresh supply of provisions. Although
protection was asked of the general as
sembly by the inhabitants, they never
got it. The general assembly. in all
had all it could do to
protect itself. and the islanders
had to defend themselves as best
they could. When the revolutionary
war broke ont this small community
showed what il was made Of The peo-
pie placed their lives and property and
honor upon the altar of their country
as freely ~ the inhabitants of the
but they Jared worst Of all.
At first they were-thoroughlt sacked
by their mother colony and then left
to the tender nercies Of tho hostile
ships of England. Islanders were for
hidden by IN enactment to come to the
unless when they intended
to settle there. and IL seemed every
mans hand was against them. Refu-
gees, pirates and wreckers appear con-
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 hegan
to 60 there. about 1s45. they found .
peculiar people. They were . sturdy.
independent class. and could drive .
bargain Of the sharpest kind. This
they retain TO the pres
snt day. and IL win be well to remem-
Der the fact when you are doing busi-
ness with them. The women in olden
times left IN 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 tho
ground, and stone chimneys- The
fences are of stone and the gatewsys
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
running out one thousand
Ave hundred feet in . northeasterly
and later added IN extern
sion of Ave hundred feet running
north, making the harbor safe against
al winds. At night tho harbor is
Ghronged with vessels and boats, and
many colored lights are reflected and
in the ripping water. making
, beautiful sight The basin is . square
enclosure inside Of the breakwster,
made with piles and plsnked on the
outside. Il has 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 . large dock to accom-.
nodate 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 1873.
Its great fifteen hundred dollar Lam
tern rises two hundred and four feet
from the sea Within the lantern four
Or five people can stand together. II
can be seen iAe clear night for twenty
one nautical miles II 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. II Is operated by
steam engine Of 1--WE or six horsepower.
and there Is . pair Of engines always
in readiness in case one should break
down when needed. The siren II
made Of iron, shaped like . trumpet.
seaward. The sound il created
BY . small buzzing arrangement in the
small end Of the trumpet When steam
rushes through this it causes the siren
10 revolve like lightning, and 1t makes
the fearful din. The Lighthouse and
dwelling are built Of brick with granite
There are three life-savin4 stations
On the island, one on the hsrboe. one
at the extreme west end and one BY
Mohegan blu6 on the southeast side