The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-28
SHIPPING NEWS FROM THE
BREACHWAY.

According to the statistics furnished
the Governor OF this State to demonstrate
the value and practical use OF the Great
Salt Pond harbor in Block Island, 1t ap-
pears thar between April 1 last and
November 30, a period OF eight
months, as the report truly states, 1864
schooners, 237s sloops, eco steamers
5000 vessels availed themselves OF an
anchorage in this most remarkable ex-
ample In the worlds history of oucking
| agsinst nature. OF course no estimate can
be made of how many VESSELS will be able
[ to get into the harbor after the dredger OF
man ceases to dig out aud Dame Nature
again takes up her time honored occupa-
tion OF filing in
There figures are certainly impressive
and would be far more convincing than
they ever can he did we not know that
Capt. "TEL" DODGE, the famous rilot.
able seaman and all around good fellow.
OF Block Island, for instance, occupied
himself almost exclusively duriog the
eight months from April. last up TO
ana including Novem ber 80 with sailing
into and out of .the Great Salt Pond
Harbor in his tight little schooner.
Almost hourly indeed, OF every day
was the little schooner sighted of |
the breschwsy and faithfully reported |
from the hygeia hotel as she came to |
anchor within the protecting pond. Like.
wise, almost hourly of every one OF these
days, did the marine bureau in the Hygeia
hotel report the captains schooner as
about TO hoist anchor--as eating the
putting to sea with all sails set
to box the compass and once more be re-
ported for entry before the hour hand
had gone yet again around the clock.
This performance OF Capt. DoDaE's
is said to have been one
Of the attractions Of life at the
Hygeia, last summer and the innocent
bosrders thought that Capt. DODGE did it
Tor their especial delectation. Not at all,
however. The captain was engaged in
he important duty of bringing into the
,arbor' OF Great Salt Pond as many
chooners as possible, against time, or
What amounts to the same thing, bring
NC one schooner in as many times as
'ofsioe. And the record, as set forth in
he message OF dis Excellency the
invcrnor. commentary by the way on
he cbild-like innocence of even SO ordi- 5
arily astute and perspicscious n fellow, as
WARREN LIPPITT, who is about
he hardest man to fool in this State,
bows that Captain DODGE sailed bis lit =
e schooner into great Salt Pond at least
o fewer mum Der of times than 3U5l in |,
ght consecutive months. 1t is indie cd a :
ratifying record.
Meanwhile somebody's sloop, perhaps d,
he belonging tc one OF the Breachway .;
eerinR Committee, at any rate a warm G.
pporter Of the Breachway scheme, was
kewise sailing in ana out of the 81
md to the joy of the Hygeia's sum- .
sr boarders. But the cruises of the 'r
taller vessel were not in the same game
tn that OF Captain DopaE's schooner ti'
I only paitry 2,37s sIoops are reported M
tered for those eight months, or in
her words, OF course, one sloop for 237s at
nes. Meanwhile the steam dredge was =,
idle for it apparently made 500 trims
% the Pond and out again, at least 56o \
arc reported to have anchored an,
the Pond. Sometimes the parges Ro
Mt In and out. as it appears, too, carry +
: their cargo Of stone for the work or ~,
Ilding or loaded with the mud product a'i
The dredging. Forty-fve barges are nv
is reported TO have availed themselves
she advantages OF the Pond. These
lre' ara inconsequential, however. sou
b the steam dredge and the barees par
e naturally been little cautious about ro"'
u NJ
ng in since 1t was not SO very long The
that some Of their number went I'm. the
rood faith. to do some digging and ,,". pc
10 stay In until the Assembly met tent
passed an appropriation to dig them IN
again.
NDER the new law OF tho United States Its