MINOT'S LEDGE, a fight-house on a ledge of Cohasset rocks from which a fixed light is exhibited and a fog bell is rung. It is 16 m. from Boston, and 8 m. s.e. of Bos ton light, on the s. coast, a position of great peril to incoming vessels. It is indispensa ble, as -without it, from the nature of the entrance to the harbor, in a n.e. gale vessels would with certainty be driven on the rocks if they failed to make the entrance. It is 1 in. from land, and the rock on which it stands, 25 ft. in diameter, is visible only at low water, when the height is for a short time about 81 ft. afiove the water line. In 1847 congress made an appropriation for the construction of a light-house at this point, called the Outer Minot, surmounted by a dwelling placed at the height of 55 ft. above the highest rock. A skeleton iron light-house was designed and erected by capt. W. H. Swift of the S. engineers at a cost of less than $40,000. It was formed of 8 heavy wrought iron piles, solid 10 in. skeleton shafts, with one additional in the center. The piles were each in 2 parts, connected by cast iron tithes 3 ft, long, the piles being secured to the tubes by large steel keys passing through the tubes and piles; and in its entire construction it was thought to be as secure as modern science could make it; but it stood only 2 years. On April 17, 1851, during one of the heaviest gales known on the coast, it was completely wrecked. A 5-4 in. hawser, anchored to a block of granite in the sea 50 fathoms from the base of the light, was attached at the other end to the top of the structure 63 ft. above the rock used ordinarily for raising boxes, etc. The keeper had
carelessly allowed some stores, that should have been below, to remain out on the scaf folding. This was supposed to be one cause of the disaster; and another was the quan tity of ice that adhered to the piles. The money for the present structure was appro priated in 1852, and the plans were made in 1855, the success ,of the enterprise being due to the late chief engineer gen. J. G. Totten, his plans being executed by gen. Barton S, Alexander. It is of conical form 30 ft. at the base, built of granite, the height of the stone work being 88 ft., solid for 40 ft. from the base, the stones dovetailed, and hound together by galvanized wrought iron pins 3 In. in diameter. The portion above this solid work is divided into the apartments of the keeper, 5 stories, with 4 iron floors, his store rooms, and the light on the 6th floor. TWo years were required to level the foundation ' rock, working from April 1 to Sept. 15, and then only when the tide served. The first stone was laid on July 0, 1857; 4 stones were placed in position during the season. In 1858 six courses were laid; the following year the structure reached a height of 60 ft.; and in 1860 it was completed at a cost of about $300,000, and the beacon was lighted.