{ title: 'Dan's Papers - The Montauk pioneer. (Montauk, N.Y.) 1960-current, August 28, 1971, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074877/1971-08-28/ed-1/seq-1/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074877/1971-08-28/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074877/1971-08-28/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074877/1971-08-28/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Dan Rattiner
the erosion that is now threatening thW existence i f the Montauk Lighthouse, using the dimple reed trench' ] ing methold invented by Giorgina Reid. Preliminary work by Chesterfield Associates begins on the pub- lication date of this newspaper. The terracing should be completed before the onset o f the frost. ___________ I h e l f l o t i k u k WRECKMASTER BINDLE AND THE SHIPWRECKED BANANAS Have you ever heard of anyone holding the job of “ Wreckmaster?” If the term is unfamiliar, it is because in the last half century or so, there haven’t been many shipwrecks along the shore that needed a “ master.” Rut years ago. from about 1750 to 1800, ships would come ashore along the eastern seaboard of the United States with such regularity that they were really a part of every day life. In a given year, there would be one, and usually three or four, major shipwrecks along the beach within a few hours drive by horseback or carriage from a given village. In the early years, the townspeople of the villages, (in cluding those of eastern Long Island), would consider the cargoes of these ships as “gifts from the sea.” For example, a shipload of blue denim, apparently all the blue denim that had been pro duced in Ireland during a four year period, once came ashore at East Hampton. East Hampton residents wore blue for years and years. In Mon tauk, an entire boatload of coconuts was wreck ed on the south side, and the townspeople had coconut bread, coconut cake, coconut juice, shredded coconut, and coconut pie until they were sick of it. The spot, to the east of the Mon tauk Air Force Base, is to this day known as “Coconuts.” As roads and communications improved how ever. the com p a n ies that ow n e d these sh ip s began to demand that the government protect their interests. The cargoes, after all. had come ashore on government property (the beach). The companies felt that the government should set up guards around the wrecks until such time as the companies could arrive to claim their salvage, and the government agreed that this was indeed their function. To this end. in the year about 1800. the government job of “Wreckmaster” became a reality. Wreckmasters were stationed in Boston, New York. Charleston: anywhere along the coast where they would be within a day or two’s ride to a wreck, and their job was to protect the interests of the owner of a wreck until the owner could arrive and salvage what he could. Needless to say. this was not one of the most popular jobs from the point of view of the townspeople, It went against their principles that what comes from the sea belongs to who ever can get to it. It went against their princi ples of government, because half the time, the wreckmaster wouldn’t show up in time or at all. but most important, it went against their princi ples of thrift. Even when the wreckmaster DID show up, often the owner would be so far behind that the cargo on board which could be put to perfectly good use. would rot from the delay or be torn up by the sea. Ami herein hangs a tale. (continued on the next page) Everyone Invited SEE THE CANNON SOUND TO START THE LIGHT-IN SEE A DEMONSTRATION OF LIGHTS, CANDLES, FLASHLIGHTS, LANTERNS, TORCHES LIGHT COME TO THE FI FTH ANNUAL THE DARKNESS. PERHAPS A SPEECH OR TWO. L U S T - I H SEE THE CANNON SOUND ENDING THE LIGHT-IN DRESS WARM AND BRING A LIGHT SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 9 PM AT THE UPPER PARKING LOT AT THE MONTAUK LIGHTHOUSE THE LIGHT-IN IS SPONSORED BY THE SAVE THE MON TAUK LIGHTHOUSE COMMITTEE, BOX 500, BRIDGEHAMP TON, NEW YORK, 11932. OUR GOAL IS TO STOP THE EROSION THAT IS ENDANGERING THE MONTAUK LIGHT HOUSE. INQUIRIES INVIT7D. Dan’s Papers: For those who must limit their Volume XII. Number 7 August 28, 1 971 One of Dan’s Papers COMPLIMENTARY ■
