The Portland daily press., 1895-09-24
HOT ON THE OCEAN.
A Trip to Green Island Sunday-No Trace
of Wind or Wave or Chill on That Ocean
Rock-Hot Nights and Mosquitoes For
the Cottagers.

of Wind or Wave or Chill on That Oceal
Rock-Hot Nights and Mosquitoes Fo
the Cottagers.
Those cottagers who braved the colt
nights of the first half of the presen
month at their island homes, were amply
repaid for doing so by the satisfaction O
being there during the past three days O
extraordinary heat. 1t was hot enough
on the islands to be sure, but at no time
during the past summer was island life
more to be desired. Saturday morning 6
party went down to cottage on Great
Diamond Island, situated on the top o1
the ridge. They intended to pass the
night and knew from experience that
nights on the top of that ridge in
September in an upholstered cottage,
were generally almost too cool for COM
for. They took extra blankets down
with them and indulged in thoughts OF
budding around the flames in the fire.
place when the evening should come. But
they built no fire in the cottage at all.
They went for clam bake on the west
shore of Cow Island and as the sun went
down enjoyed picnic supper, as COM
fortably as at any time in July. 1t would
have been possible to have slept right
there on the ground all night, with no
discomfort from cold and with only a
blanket for covering. The only difficulty
would have been the mosquitoes, that
the warm day had brought out and in a
ravenous condition. On any day, two
or three weeks ago, the shore of Cow
Island at sunset would have been place
of cold comfort.
The party returned to the cottage that
evening, and instead of using the extra
blankets, found that even one covering
was irksome, with open windows, so still
and close was the night.
Sunday they took sail boat and re-
solved to find cool place if possible. The
man who owned the boat said that there
was always wind and it was always cool
on the ocean in September, SO they
started for Green Island.
There was little breeze at first from
the south and they were able to sail al
most to this barren rock, far out to sea,
before the wind went down entirely.
They had to row the last quarter of q
mile. Green Island is a great rock of pei
haps an acre in extent. Its shores are
precipiuous cliffs on every side There is
no beach or cove and long sharp ledges,
just under the water at high tide, are
lying in wait for any runaway boat that
approaches the cliffs. 1t is a place OF
ocean billows and breakers, of winds and
storms and cold. Seldom at any time OF
the year is it possible to land there, be-
cause Of the breakers. Every aspect of the
place betokens storm and wrath and
danger, yet Sunday the calm sea and the
hot sunshine prevailed even thelesand the
contrast was very impressive. Nc
breakers roared, no serges swelled. The
ocean and the storm were asleep. There
was only the sound of an occasionally
low roar from the reefs between the two
Green Islands, as if the giant was utter
ing in his Sleep The top Of Green Island
was covered with dense mass Of wild
sea vines and purple astor blossoms and
grass. 1t was SO thick that it was difficult
to walk through and in places the grass
was as high as mans head. It was hot
on top of this ocean rock, as hot as an
inland bay field. Grasshoppers and
butterflies almost filled the air and spar.
rows and snow birds were flying about
| by the score. It was SO interesting out
there so much like finding patch OF
summer in the middle of winter that the
visitors didn't bother their heads about
getting home. Besides, hadn't they beer
told by one who knows that there is al.
ways wind on the ocean, in September.
But when they got ready to start fol
home three was no wind and after they
waited while, it was certain there
would be no wind. All the vessels that
were visible were as motionlesss as
painted ships upon painted ocean. y
They rowed home There is a world Of
meaning in those three words. The sail.
boat rowed remarkably well, after the
ballast was thrown over. but still she
wasn't racing shell by any means. They
rowed and they rowed and they rowed,
| anu UIl6 Iudluletuu I6C6uCu UA1A ~ oCCAhOt
as if they could row no m ore. They
rowed for three hours and finally got
home The only breeze was breath o1
hot air from Long Island that seemed
like the blast frcm a furnace door. 1t is
no exaggeration to say that last Sunday
night one could have slept IN rowDoat
on the ocean outside Peaks Island as
safely and comfortably as in a hammock
on the land.
One aged inhabitant of Peaks said that
Saturday and Sunday were the hottest
days in September that had ever beer
known there within the memory Of man.
and also the hottest days of the season
Sunday night was just as hot at the
cottage as Saturday night and Monday
morning there was no trace OF even cool
ness in tho air.