Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-06
sEAGIkT BLOCK ISLAND.
An Interesting Dot of Solid Land OF
the New England Coast.


An Interesting Dot of Solid Land OF
the New England Coast.
From the Hartford Courant.
~ you want to take the salt air and see
the ocean in its season in all its majesty go
to Block Island. Out on the ocean, fifteen
miles from the nearest land, washed on all
sides by the restless 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 green
sward. 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 Its
fame began back in the dim past of Indian
tradition, and its reputation has not lost
anything in modern times. Bluefish, Goldfish.
swordfish, sharks whales and many other
kinds of fish are caught here in their sea-
son. The value of the island fisheries is
something like 500, 900 annually. The roads
on the island are very bad, but, neverthe-
less, the people drive a great deal. The sea
views from the various points are fine, and
there are numerous places which are inter-
esting to visit on account of old Indian le-
gends and the traditions of early settlers
The Indian name was Manisses, meaning
little gods island. The Narragansett. Pc
quot and Mohegan Indians lived there at diff
ferent times and were in continued broils
about the ownership. In the year 1880 1t
had many English settlers who were con-
tinually at war with the Indians. During
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 pro-
lection was asked of the general assembly
by the inhabitants. they never got 1t. The
general assembly, in all probability, had all
1t could do to protect itself, and the island
ers mad to defend themselves as best they
could. When the revolutionary war broke
out this small community showed what it
was made of. The people placed their lives
and property and honor upon the altar of
their country 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 Eng
land Islanders were forbidden by an
actment to come to the mainland unless
when they intended to settle there, and
1t seemed that every mans hand was against
them. Refugees, pirates and wreckers ap-
pear continually in Block Islands history,
while romantic company of ghosts,
phantom ships false lights and witch fires
illuminate the island chronicles.
go there. about 1913. they found peculiar
people. They were a sturdy, Independent
class, and could drive bargain of the
sharpest kind. This characteristic they re-
tanned to the present day, and it will be
well to remember the fact when you are
doing business with them. The women in
olden times left an admirable record and
many of their virtues have been transmitted
to their children. The people are simple and
quaint. The houses have sharp roofs, slop-
ing almost to the ground, and stone CHM
neys. The fences are of stone and the gate
ways are of timber from wrecked vessels.
The harbor is on the northeast side of the
island, where the government some twenty
years ago built a stone breakwater running
out 1,5O0 feet in a northeasterly direction,
and later added an extension of 500 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 in
side of the breakwater. made with piles and
planked on the outside. 1t has a narrow
entrance facing the harbor and will accom-
modate fifty or sixty small vessels that can
lie here safely in all winds. Just outside of
1t and parallel with the breakwater is
large dock to accommodate the big ex-
cursion steamers during the summer
On the southeast side of the island, rising
10 feet from the water stands Mohegan
dun, on which lighthouse was built in
1915. Its great $500 lantern rises 2O4 feet
from the sea. Within the lantern four or
five people can stand together. 1t can be
seen in a clear night for twenty-one nautical
miles. 1t takes from 1000 to 200 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 steam engine of five or stx
horse power, and there is a pair of engines
always in readiness in case one should
break down when needed. The siren is made
! OF iron, shaped like trumpet. pointing sea-
ward. The sound is created by q small
buZZing arrangement in the small end of
the trumpet When steam rushes through
this 1t causes the siren to revolve like light
mng' and 1t makes the fearful din The
light house and dwelling are built of brick
with granite trimmings
There are three life-saving stations on the
island, one on the harbor, one at the ex-
IRENE west end and one by Mohegan bluff
on the southeast side. They all have plenty
of work to do in the winter months as the
south shore is very rocky and dangerous
coast and the island lies in the track of all
east and westbound vessels These shores
are lined with the debris of wrecked YES
seis' ana many poor sailor has found a
watery grave on this rocky coast
In years gone by Block Island and No
mans Land were favorite fishing grounds
for our old retired Essex sea captains. The
best voyage of their making was some
twenty-five years ago in the old famous
yacht Admiral built and owned by several
old captains. The Admiral was keel boat
or about twenty tons burden and as stanch
as ship. Some of the officers and crew on
TINS voyage We're Capt Cornelius r. Doane,
Capt. Hillhouse Doane, Capt Gould Stevens
Capt. Orson Tucker. Thomas Williams and
Benjamin Mack. They were about two
weeks on the voyage, bringing home sixteen
swordhsh, which would average 200 pounds
in weight each. The last one caught was
sailed in box on deck, as they had every
| thing else full to overfiowing. The fish was
just the length of the yachts cabin~sworj
and all fourteen feet They also caught and
brought home some 800 mackerel.
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