The sun., 1894-10-21

second look at IL. and with great care. II was in
form and apparently I'm size the exact counter
part Of the six sided peanut and candy pavilions
one can see about the picnic and other resorts
near New York. It's peaked roof sur
mounted by bulbous cupola like the top of q
tower OF . Jewish synagogue. and near by was
tall Flagstaff from which the blue blue
Argentine flag tapped vigorously In the gale.
By and by we got pretty close under this rock.
and then we could sec some men In naval uni
form standing on q ledge beside little cannon,
which they fired OF just from tho
breaking waves that were dashing across the
mouth Of the harbor into the oil-smocth water
within. The. ship answered the salute with .
roaring blast Of her whistle. and then we
rounded the crag where the pavilion stood and
found ourselves In what at first glance looked q
bowl-shaped bay. walled in by precipices so
high as TO make our vessel seem utterly insig-
nihcant. Then on one side of this bowl, fifty
feet 30 above the water, was seen
row of little light-colored wooden
houses, built on q narrow bench on tho
mountain side. There was Flagstaff before the
largest of the buildings and a neat picket fence
before the whole row. From the centre of this
fence q stairway ran down the steep decline
from the bench 10 the beach. and from the foot
of the stair narrow pier projected hundred
feet into the bay. There were davlts on both
sides Of the pier. with boats hanging to them.
and not far away was a big lifeboat Of a heavy
model lying at anchor. The grass that had
grown below the water line of the lifeboat was
30 long that it could be plainly seen hundred
yards away she rolled lazily IN the dead swell.
As soon as we had cast anchor a couple OF on
GERS and a crew of sailors came down to the pier
and then rowed on to US in one OF the boats.
There were enthusiastic greetings between those
in the boat and their friends the ship.
The little row Of houses built on a cleft, so 10
speak, In the side OF the rugged mountains that
border st. John Bay Is known among Argentine
seamen as the Sub Prefecture del Puerto San
Juan del SAlvamiento." II was established late
in the Antarctic summer Of 1884. A fleet of Ar
gentine naval vessels. including two steamers,
carried out materials for the buildings, light
house, supplies OF food, and on, with q COM
pany of officers and men that would seem rather
remarkable to the people OF the United States.
1t should be kept in mind that the chief object
of creating a Government post on Staten ISL
and was for the support OF lighthouse 10
guide ships bound around the Horn, but
. secondary consideration was the providing OF
place OF refuge with depot OF provisions for
the crews of any ship SO unfortunate as TO be
wrecked theresbOuts. IL Is estimated that from
700 To 1000 ships OF various nationalities pass
within sight of staten Island every year. and
that before this light was established about one
in hundred was wrecked there. In the United
States the crew of rst-clAss lighthouse consists
OF three men. That OF . life-saying station con-
sists OF . coxswAin and not less than six men.
To man the third-clAss lighthouse on Staten
Island four men were provided. while In addi-
tion 10 the coxswAin and crew OF lifeboAt
there was a naval officer OF the rank OF lieu
tenant, known as the project; q second In COM
mand OF = lower rank, secretary TO tha pre-