The
Cortland News, Friday,
August 3, 1883.
Letter
from Judge A. P. Smith.
Hotel
Manisses, Block Island, R. I. July 20, 1883.
Editor, Cortland
News:
When I last wrote you we were on the point of
starting sword-fishing, and if we caught any I was to give an account. Well we
went out ten or fifteen miles in the ocean and "tacked" and "hard
up" and "luffed" all day but didn't catch a sword-fish, though
we could easily report a tanned face and skinned nose.
We,
however, had all the excitement attendant upon harpooning the sword-fish. The
boat with which it is done is a two-masted sailer. About fifty or sixty feet
above the deck is a place fixed for the man who "sights" the fish. At
the end of the bowsprit is a little iron cage about twenty feet ahead of the
main part of the ship. This is occupied by the man who is to spear the fish;
while the third man handles the rudder and guides the ship. When the man at the
topmast sees a fish sailing through the waves he cries in sailor phrase
notifying the others of the location of the fish — either "starboard"
or "larboard." Then comes the "hard up," "luff,"
etc., until the man with the harpoon on the bowsprit is directly over the fish,
when he thrusts the harpoon into him and the fun begins.
The
fish resents the insult by rushing away from the boat carrying the harpoon with
him. It will not do to attempt to hold him, so a long rope is attached to the
harpoon and at the other end of the rope is a barrel which is thrown overboard,
and the fish allowed to take its own course, the barrel indicating his
whereabouts. It is told that but a few days ago instead of a barrel the rope
was attached to a small boat with a man in it and the fish hauled the boat
sixty miles. I do not vouch for it. Finally from loss of blood or exhaustion the
fish surrenders and is brought in. They weigh from 200 to 500 pounds each and are
sold for about five cents per pound.
On
Monday, instead of a sword-fish we espied a good-sized shark, which are quite
plenty here. All that can be seen of them is a large fin and the back and now
and then their tail sailing along through the waves. We gave him chase, now on
one side, then on the other, then nearly over him, when he would dart away.
Finally the harpoon man was directly over him, and arising thrust the harpoon
into him with great force. The fish rolled upon his back and we felt sure of a
capture but by some kind of legerdemain known only to sharks he threw the
harpoon out and made his escape. But it was an exciting scene and we enjoyed it
very much.
Another
day was spent in blue-fishing. The blue-fish caught here weigh from 30 to 50
pounds and are very fine eating. It is also a great place for lobsters, which
are caught in pots; also for cod-fishing in their season, which is spring and fall.
Block
Island is a continent in miniature with its hills and valleys, its harbors, its
salt and fresh water internal lakes, and mineral springs. One point "Beacon
Hill," is about three hundred feet above the level of the ocean, and can
be seen for miles at sea in all directions. We visited the light-house on the north
end of the island the other day—fifteen of us, and found a lady there who had
been twenty-two years in that light-house. She was an elderly lady and has
always lived upon the island. She informed us that this is the fourth light-house
on that end of the island. Where the first stood is now quite a distance out in
the ocean. The cellar of the last one before this is now in the water, showing
that gradually the north end of the island is wearing away. It is lonesome business
attending a lighthouse. The old lady was much pleased with our call, saying it
was the first call she had received this year.
On
our return we passed a salt lake entirely inland and covering a thousand acres
of land, while on all sides of it and within a short distance were little
fresh-water lakes, some within twenty rods of and not over fifty feet above the
ocean itself. At one place not far from fifty rods from the
ocean, at an elevation of perhaps a hundred feet, are two flowing mineral springs,
one of iron and the other of magnesia, and they are within twenty feet of each
other. I have been industrious since I have been here but have not seen half
the points of interest reported to me.
The
hotels, of which there are many, are fast filling up. 1 can only judge of the
others by their appearance and reputation, which are good. But of the Manisses
I can speak from an actual and very pleasant experience. Here are people from
Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Hampshire, and in fact most of the States. They come here as
strangers and all vie with each other in their efforts to make the place
enjoyable. When one game gets dull somebody has another to suggest, and so
between visiting, games, bathing and sight-seeing, the time is pleasantly
occupied while the ozone of the atmosphere keeps up a healthy stimulation and
the constant sea breezes keep you cool and happy.
Such
is life at the Manisses, which is made still more agreeable by the gentlemanly,
courteous treatment of M. Rice, Esq., who has it in charge. They may yet put on
airs here as they do at other watering places; but to speak of it as it is,
allow me to commend Block Island as a pleasant summer resort and the Manisses
as a desirable hotel at which to stop.
Yours, etc.
CHICAGO, N. Y.
[Located between South Cortland and McLean—CC editor.]
Correspondence of THE NEWS, July 30, 1883.
We, as representing a good respectable majority
of the patrons of the Chicago post office, would hereby ask opportunity through
the medium of your paper to render our most humble gratitude to the
correspondent of THE NEWS for the very useful and valuable bit of information
contained in his item of last week concerning that notable institution.
We
were not aware that any material dissatisfaction existed and fear that we might
not have learned anything about the occasional closing of the same when there
is nothing much remaining in the office, had it not been for the very timely
advice of the said agency. However, exceptions always accompany the general
rule. We duly appreciate the same, and expect and intend to profit by it, all
that is necessary under the circumstances, and much more than we, the P. M., or
any body else can afford to for the meager sum of $15 to $20 per year. He
shows, too, an entire want of consideration for a lady that has volunteered to
carry the mail through mud and rain (if need be), sixty rods to the train free
of charge in order that the office here may be retained and that he, as also
all of the neighbors and those residing in this vicinity, may have the
privilege of getting their mail here in this great metropolis.
[signed] SOME OF THOSE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
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