1838 – A light-house on the northwest point of Gardiner’s island, Suffolk county, Long island. Gardiner’s island forms the eastern shore of the bay of the same name, which lies near the northeastern end of Long island, and to the southward of Plum and the Gull islands; its northern end is the termination of a low sandy beach, from 300 to 500 feet in breadth, which extends three miles into the bay, in a northwesterly direction.
At its north point there is six fathoms water close to the beach; and to the westward three fathoms water is found at a distance of 100 feet from the shore; but a shoal extends out to the eastward, upon which vessels coming from that direction, and not knowing their danger, are liable to run.
The lights on the Gull and Plum islands (the former bearing N. 31° E., distant 34 miles, and the latter bearing N. 52° W.) are at present the best guides in running for this point, which, owing to the lowness of the land, is impossible to be distinguished at night at any distance.
In order to determine the degree of danger attending the navigation in this quarter, I have endeavored to ascertain the number of vessels stranded upon Gardiner’s point, and the circumstances under which they came on shore. With this view, access has been had to the depositions of witnesses in a cause pending in the court of common pleas, county of Suffolk, Massachusetts, which relates to the brig Malaga, stranded on this point in July, 1836. The evidence, as far as it relates to the subject under consideration, is annexed.(1) It appears from it, that in a period of sixteen years upwards of twelve vessels have stranded upon this part of Gardiner’s island. The circumstances under which some of these disasters occurred, were such that a light would not have averted them; but I have been informed that, among others, the five sloops of Riverhead would have received from it a timely warning of their danger.