The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-09-08
ISLAND THAT is AN EDEN.
Community Has More of LIES Com
forts and Less of It's Worries
Than Any Other.

Than Any Other.
The maps of the United States coast
survey show long, narrow strip OF land
on the border line between Penobscot
bay and the Atlantic ocean. 1t is known
on the charts as Ragged island, but
sentimental summer residents have
named it erie Haven, in honor of old
John erie, bearded Scotchman who
settled there among the rocks more
than half century ago. The regular
all the year residents now number AZ,
but in July and August, when the vaca-
ton tourists invade the place, there are
often from 80 to 100 persons living
among the rocks and taking on heavy
coats of tan from the fresh sea breezes.
Students of social problems say that
residents of this community have more
of the real comforts of life and less Of
life's worries than any other people on
the globe. The island is under no form
OF government, and, though it is part
of the state of Maine, the people pay no
taxes and have no officers of any kind.
There is not rat or mouse in all IF
its mile and a half of ledgy width.
There are no bugs in the beds, no
reaches in the pantries, no cats or dogs
behind the stoves, and no mosquitoes in
the fresh pools of crystal water. The
island has no church in which to wor-
ship and no clergyman to tell the peo-
pie whether they are doing right or
wrong.
No lawyer ever resided there, and no
sheriff or constable ever went to issue
summons or to serve processes. A kind
ly doctor, who lives in Rockland, is the
only physician who makes professional
visits to the place, and he is told to
come by carrier pigeons, which fly to
the mainland faster than any steam
boat can take the message. AS soon
as the physician receives call he lib
crates a pigeon from his loft, which
bears message, telling when to send
a boat to meet him at Matinicus, so
that there may be no delay.
There are eight COWS and three horses
on the island, but not mile of road for
them to travel in. The horses are used
for hauling up boats, and the COWS
give milk for visitors. Everybody walks
by we'll worn footpaths, which were
originally laid out by the cows while
seeking fresh feed among the powders.
A summer visitor brought on bicycle
last season, but she could not use it and
the wheel was sent back to Boston. The
chief and practically the only occupa-
ton of the residents is catching lob
sters in pots covered with netting.
Every person tries to capture enough
every day to bring three dollars, which
is easily done when Holsters are sold
to the steamers for 10 and Is cents a
pound AS it takes only about two
hours to tend the lobster pots the. is
landers spend the rest of their time i'll
building boats, whiting driftwood,
and eating Holsters which are too short
to sell.
John Ericsson, a gigantic Swede, is
the only celebrated man on the island.
He is six feet tall, weighs 234 pounds,
and everybody believes him to be the
most powerful man on earth. They
talk by the hour about his feats of
strength. Last summer when the new
iron keel for Capt. Jones' sloop yacht
came to the island by steamer and was
put out on the wharf, men went to catch
the horses to haul the heavy length of
iron up the pier and around to the yard.
While they were away Ericsson Shout
dered the keel and did not put it down
until he had placed it under the bottom
of the yacht. The distance was 900 feet,
and the weight of the keel 1,040 pounds.
A son of Ericsons, John, Jr., went ~
school until he weighed more than the
five other pupils combined, and finished
his education at the age of Is. He then
tipped the scales at PIP pounds. If the
Ericsons knew how to box, Marvin Hart
couldn't hold the heavyweight title
long enough to get acquainted with It.