Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-12-17
A HERO.

The recent courageous AMI even desper-
ate act of Captain Brooks, Keeper Of the
FaulknoPs Island Light, in rescuing the
captain, his wife and crew, 'from a wreck,
ir Long Island Sound, deserves more than
passing notice. 1t will be remembered
that Faulkner's Island itself is more than
two miles form land, and hat its only in
habitants are tie keeper Of the Lighthouse
and bis family, Captain n. Brooks. The
wreck lay upon Goose Lland, some two
miles from thi,; but Gait Brooks could
see with bis glass, .he i,ersons in the rig
ging, and the sea lashed into unusual fury.
making breach high over It's docks. and
threatening instant destruction. 1t was
too sad sight for tho brave man to en-
dure; and provided rs he was by Govern
rnent With nothing but small sail boat, 10
go between the island aud tho main land.
he would have been justified in leaving
them to fate horrible to think Of His
wifo was on shore and he was alone with
his family Of little children; but telling
Of the peril he was abcut to assume-a
fearful peril, from which he might nsvcr
rsturn-he kissed them, and calling upen
God to protect them and bless his endeavor.
be jumped into his frail skiff, aud stsered
boldly into the storm and the biIlows.-
Those on board saw the attempt. anI even
IN their agony wondered at his byhyrss.
predicted its failure, and grieycd ~ ,e.lat
they considered an unnecessary SAD -ii,Ae.-
But still the brave. man, roIving upon Prov
idcnce, kept up his heart aud 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 skillful manage
ment Of his boat, now shooting past, and
once over the very wreck itself. ho at last
managed to pick them of, one at time.
and then turned for the shore. But It was
only by constant bailing and tremendous
efforts that the bot was kept above water,
and at last reached the island. with its in
mates exhausted, and very near dead
with hunger and exposure. On the shore.
waiting for their father, were the little
children of Capt. Brooks, who, with tears
and screams Of joy, saw the boat tossed vio-
lently upon the land by tho angry waves.
with Its oyertasked load Of res1p5 mariners.
lighthouse residence, and made welcome
and comfortable. A gentleman familiar
with the circumstances, and also with the
dangers Of the sea, assures US that II was
the most daring feat he ever read of. that
the boat was entirely unfit for such a SER
vice, and that nothing but unrivaIed cool
ness, great skill as boatman, and the hand
Of Providence over all, made the effort sue
eessful. Capt B., thought it at least IN
equal chance that he should be lost, though.
with proper life or surf boat, hs wouldn't
have heSitated an instant about going to the
wreck when he first discovered the danger
and might have saved the life Of the littIe
girl-the captains child Of three years
who fell from his exhausted arms into the
sea, half an hour before Capt r, reached
the wreck We have known Capt Brooks
for several years as one Of the most faithful
men IN the Lighthouse service, and means
Will DC taken to call the attention CT the
Government to his merits, and hope that
ho may be provided with boat suitable f,r
the kind of service he IS 50 frequently called
upon to enter. There should be also. At
such an exposed point an assistant keeper:
Tor had Mr. Brooks been lost In his effort to
save the crew Of this vessel. there would
have been missing TO tie mariner Of Laag
Island Sound, on that night, tie ever stes-
dy beacoa-llsht Of Fzulkner's Island. If
ever hero deserved the pubic reward of
bravery, that nau IS Olives y. Brooks. The
solitary watcher CT I sez-girt izIzud.-ES-
HGreH REEiSter.