The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-04-12
SEAoIRT BLOCK IsLANn
An Interesting Dot of Solid Land n.
 New England Coast

If you want to take the salt air
 see the ocean in its season in an , majesty go to Block island. Ont ona ocean, fifteen miles from the mac. land, washed on all sides by the rea1 less waters of the Atlantic, is tbis girt isle, its territory extendino miles from east to west, and six mT from north to south in it's wiGo. place. It is nearly treeless, but is Js with greensward. Cattle, sheen aa poultry raising are carried on to A Iarn extent, and the raisers supply ,S markets of Newport and adiacos places.
 The island is noted for its isher;o. Its fame began back in the dim past Indian tradition, and it's reputato, has not lost anything in modern time' Bluefish, codfsh, swordfish. sbarLs whales and many other kinds of fl, are caught here in their season. Tn value of the island fisheries is soroo thing like one hundred thousand do lars annually. The roads on the islam are very bad, but, nevertheless, fin people drive a great deal. The sa views from the various points are fna and there are numerous places whicI. are interesting to visit on account oN old Indian legends and the traditionl of early settlers.
 The Indian name was Mapissesl meaning Little Gods island. Tbl Narragansett, Pequot and MohecanI Indians lived there at different times and were in continued broils about thJ ownership. In the year 1890 it had many English settlers who were co tinually at war with the Indians. Dr ing the wars with France and Eurla pirates used to descend on the isla and carry off or destroy uevervtbh they could lay their hands on. Can Kidd often landed here, loaded h. vessels with all the valuables he coul find, and stocked his larder with fresh supply of provisions. Although protection was asked of the general as sembly by the inha habitants, they neverI 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 fared 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 bidden 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 busi 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 house: have sharp roofs, sloping almost to the ground, and stone chimneys. The fences are of stone and the gateway' 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 eXten 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 planked on the outside. It 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 0Iun' on which lighthouse was built in lS'5' It's great fifteen hundred dollar lan' tern rises two hundred and four feet from the sea. Within the lantern four or five people can stand together It can be seen in a clear night for twenty one nautical miles. It 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 log signal is located. It is operated by d steam engine of five or six horsepower and there is pair of engines always in readiness in case one should breah down when needed. The siren IS made of iron, shaped like trumpet pointing seaward. The sound is created