The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-06

The recent courageous and even desperate act
Of Capt. Brooks, Keeper of the Faulkner's Island
Light, in rescuing the captain, his wife and crew,
from wreck, in Long Island Sound, deserves more
than passing notice. 1t will be remembered that
Faulkner's Island itself is than two miles from
land and that its only inhabitants the keeper
of the lighthouse aud his family. Capt. Oliver n
Brooks The wreck lay upon Goose Island, some
two miles from this; but Capt. Brooks could see.
with his glass, the persons in the rigging and the
sea lashed into unusual fury, making a breach
high over its decks, and threatening instant dc
struction. 1t too sad a sight for the brave man
to endure; and provided as he was by Government
with nothing but small sailboat, to go between
the island and the mainland, he would have
been fully justified in leaving them to fate
horrible to think Of His wife was on
shore, and he alone with his family of little
children; but telling them of the peril he was about
to assume-a fearful peril, from which he might
never return-he kissed them and calling upon
God to protect them and bless his cndeavor. he
jumped into his frai skif, and steercd boldly into
the storm and the pillows. Those on board saw the
attempt and even in their agony wondered at his
boldneSS, predicted its failure, and grevcd at what
they considered an unnecessary sacrifice But still
the brave man, relying upon Providence kept up
his heart and hopes, and although every wave
threatened him with destruction he reached at last
the wreck, and hailed the desponding crew with
words OF cheer. BY the most skifu management
OF his boat, now shooting past, and once over the
very wreck itself, he at last managed to pick them
Oil, one at time, and then turned for the shore
But 1t was only by constant bailing and tremen-
dous efforts that the boat was kept above water,
and Mt last reached the island, with its inmates ex-
hauSted, and nearly dead with hunger and exposure.
On the Shore waiting for their father, were the
little children of Captain Brooks, who, with
tears and screams of joy saw the boat tossed vio-
lently upon the land by the angry waves, with its
load OF rescued mariners, who were immediately
transferred to the lighthouse residence, and made
welcome and comfortable. A gentleman familiar
with the circumstances, and also with the dangers
OF the sea- assures us that it was the most daring
eat he read Of that the boat was entirely unfit
for such service and nothing but unrivaled cool
ness, great skill hoatman, and the hand of
Providence over all, made the effort successful
Capt B. thought it at least equal chance that he
should be lost; though, with proper life or surf
boat, he wouldn't have hcsitated an instant about
going to the wreck when he first discovered the
danger, and might have saved the life of the little
girl-the captains child of three years-who fell
from his exhausted arms into the sea, half an hour
before Capt. X. reached the wreck.
We have known Captain Brooks for several wears
of the most faithful men in the lighthouse
service, and means will be taken to call the atten-
ton of the Government to his merits, and hope
that he may be provided with a boat suitable for
the kind of service he is frequently called upon
to enter. There should be also, at such exposed
point, an assistant keeper for had Mr. Brooks been
lost in his effort to save the crew of this vessel
there would have been missing to the mariner in
Long Island Sound, on that night, the ever-steady
beacon-light of Faukners Island. Ifever hero de-
served the public reward of bravery, that man is
Oliver n. Brooks, the solitary watcher sea-girt
island.-Ne,0 Haren Register.