New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-26
New Staten Island Lighthouse
Points the Way for eau
tiously Approaching
Mariners.

row far that little candle throws
- its beams" That IL not exactly
Il Il descriptive OF the source of illuml-
nation in the new staten Island beacon, tit
one who sees the tower near Richmond IS
likely to think OF that particular quotation
from the Bard of Avon. The same might
be said of other lighthouses but they would
not so strongly suggest IT. This Is because
of the distance inland of this particular
light You ride for forty minutes on
Richmond car from St George, passing on
the way the Morayian Cemetery, where
the obliging motorman informs YOU. If YOU
chance to sit on the front seat is TO he
seen the Vanderbilt burial place Cas If no
one knew this facO. Finally, YOU see in tie
vale the tapering spire OF st. Andrew =
Then YOU turn your glance to the right, and
up on the ridge the buH brick octagonal
tower Of the lighthouse rises from am )ng
the trees. You are quite likely 10 ask:
We'll, what is the use OF lighthouse
here" This is the heart Of Staten Island,
with hills rising on either side.
You leave the car and climb a series OF
rough stone steps a brown snake with a
red tongue welcoming you half way UP.
1t is not until the very summit of the hill
Is reached and you stand at the base OF
the tower that you can see through a gap
I'm the opposite hill anything that looks
like water. The keeper speckled with
paint which he is applying TO the circular
stems. and himself incidentally points with
his finger at objects dimly seen through
the maze. and says that they are boats.
lie even informs YOU which vessels they
are His eyes, like his light. are very
penetrating They have had training.
Then. if you have determination enough,
you may see the lens and the source Of il
Elimination. 1t has required considerable
determination recently, for the keeper
until the last day or two. at leaSt-has
been very anxious about the condition OF
the fresh paint on the iron stairs. and open
~ opposed to having mere visitors climb
10 the lantern. As he has been painting
more or less when the weather was just
right for two weeks. it may be that he
is now through with his art work
one Of the things which the successful
visitor will see when he reaches his goal
will surprise him. 1t is mantle no bigger
than a mans hand and in general appear
ance Just like those by means OF which
one enGeavors TO get the better of the gas
companies Mr.. Nelson. the keeper, in
forms you that from the mantle a beam
Of light goes forth through the night that
can be seen for q distance OF between
twenty and twenty-five miles. and that the
candle power Is 800 00O Then the visitor is
reminded of the remark OF Portia. One
realizes at that moment why Uncle Sam
did not hesitate TO place two or three
miles inland the beacon which was TO serve
AZ nicht as guide TO the mariner naVi-
eating the Ambrose Channel He had light
20 spare. 1t can be seen on a clear night
seven or eight miles beyond the Ambrose
Channel lightship, which is itself some
distance outside OF Sandy Hook
The Staten Island light is distinctive in
more than one respect The beam which
1t sends forth is the most powerful de
rived from kerosene oil in any American