The Republican journal., 1876-02-03
Twenty-Five Years on a Rock.
Correspordencse Of Rockland Free Press.

Correspondence of Rockand Free Press
As doubtless many of your readers are
unfamiliar with the great system of bea-
cons, monuments, buoys, and signals es-
tablished by the government throughout
the entire length of its seaboard, for the
protection OF commerce and the safety of
life, it may not be uninteresting to such
10 learn somewhat of the isolated situa-
ton OF many of the lights, the exposures
incurred and the heroism manifested by
the attendants OF keepers For this pur-
pose, | select from our own coast one
which well illustrates the class most ex-
posed. and, in consequence. of the great
est Importance. Twenty miles out
IN the ocean from the main land-direct-
ly in the pathway Of the ocean steamers
plying from Boston and Portland to East
port, St John, Yarmouth and Halifax, OF
the immense fleet of coasting and fishing
vessels trading between the United States
and the British Provinces, and of more or
less OF European commerce-lies Matini-
Gus Rock, with an area at low tide OF but
thirty nine acres. broken in its surface,
with little or no vegetation, inaccessible
except under favorable conditions OF
weather, and wholly so much of the time /;
without fresh water save that supplied by
the ram fall; its shores presenting Jag
ged and forbidden aspect, with no spot TO
land except that formed by the hand of
man; tit for the habitation only OF the sea
gull on the stormy petrol, and around
which naught but the leviathians of the
deep can gamool. and the sportive waves
OF the broad Atlantic dash, spending their
force in seething foam, occasoning an
ever ceaseless roar, as il angered by re-
sstance.
This rock, now passed annually by thou
sands OF vessels and steamers, for the first
halt century from the birth OF our govern
ment lifted its threatening crags with ter
Tor. There was nothing upon its surface
TO guide the mariner, save in clear wealth
er and by daylight. When the dangers of
lis position could no longer be tolerated
by the Increasing commerce, the govern
ment, Ill 1927. to decrease if not prevent
the great liability of loss of property and
life, established there double tower light
The structure consisted simply of cobble
stone dwelling, with wooden towers ex-
tending up from either end of the roof
Above the lamp deck it was enclosed with
common window glass; the lamps apd
refectors were Of the style then in use,
which now would be considered almost
worthless, No warning fog signal was
established until the year 1856, previous
10 which but one keeper was appointed at
the meagcr salary OF four hundred and
fifty dollars per annum; SO that when
necessarily absent to secure his salary.
provisions and fuel-the government sup
plying nothing but oil--his family or some
member must care Tor the lights This in
many instances, owing to the uncertainty
81 the keeper return was great hard
ship. In the year 1916, new towers forty
feet apart, eighty feet in height together
with dwelling connecting them. were
constructed OF granite. The wooden tow
ers were removed from the old dwelling,
which remained for use as an ont build
ing.
The spring Of 1913, found Samuel Bur
CESS the successful aspirant for the posi-
lion OF keeper OF this light-tor, strange
as 1t may seem, where there is one vacan-
cy there are many applicants for these DO
sltlons. Mr.. Burgess family consisted Of
an invalid wife, four small daughters, and
son, who, though the rock was his home.
was much OF his time away engaged in
hshng at the Bay Chaleur and elsewhere.
The eldest daughter, Abbie E., then but
fourteen years OF age, was his chief, if not
his only assistant. She was expected to
care Tor the principal part OF the domes-
TIC affairs, also to aid in the lighthouse
work. She modestly says Il took great
deal OF pride in doing the lighthouse work,
and tired to do my duty" My duty-por-
tentous words, where a neglect of it was
to strand the ship and sacrifice the lives of
officers and men, My duty-the per-
torrance OF which gave back in safety to
the vile her husband, to the mother her son
At what sacrifice did she so nobly per-
form that duty, in an isolation of twenty
Two years upon a rock in the ocean, where
the signing waves are never still, and their
ceaseless notes her only music. In the oc-
caslonai absence of Mr.. Burgess, the whole
care OF the lights devolved upon Abbie.
With pride in her work, she soon be-
came very proficient, and as subsequent
events prove, fully competent to assume
full charge. AS | dare not trespass too
much upon your space, | will pass over
much OF her thrilling experience and con-
hne myself to but two events which will
illustrate some Of the many exposures and
hardshlps incident to her situation.
On the morning of the 10Th day OF Jan,
1856, Abbie then being seventeen years of
age, and her father away. there came one
OF those terrific gales to which the Allan
TIC coast is frequently subject The same
gale destroyed Minot Ledge lighthouse
together with the lives of the attendants
and is memorable from this circumstance
The situation in which this brave girl was
placed, with its terrors and fearful respon-
slbllltles, can best be portrayed bv her
own language in describing the scene to a
friend. We copy substantially from a let
ter written by her after the storm:
DEAR -:-You haye often EXPRESSED q
desire 10 view the sea out uron the ocean when
angry. Had you been here on the 18th of Jan
uary, surmise you would have been fully sat
1sfied. Father was away. Early in the day. as
The tide arose, the sea made complete breach
over The rock, washing every movable thing
away, and of the old dwelling, not one stone
was ieit upon another. The new dwelling was
hooded, and the windows had to be secured to
plesenl inc violence Of the spray from breaking
aneni m AS the tide came, the sea higher
a., anu isner' tlll the only endurable places were
..s ngnt towers: II they stood, we were saved
otnerWlse, our fate was only too certain. But
Ioi SOME reason, know not why, had no
misgyings' and went on with nv daily work as
usuai. Fof Jour 1ceeks, owing to rough
"eather. no tanning could he effected on The
rock. During this time, we were withont the
assistance OF any male member of our family
Though at times greatly exhausted with nv IL.
6ors, not once did the lights fail Under God
was able to perform all my accustomed duties
as well as my fathers.
You know the hens were our only compan.
ions. Becoming convinced, as the gale in
creased, that unless they were brought into the
mouse they would be lost, ] said to mother, II
must try and save them" She advised me not
10 attempt it. The thought, however, of part
ing with them without an effort, was not to be
endured, SO seizing basket, / ran out few
yards after the rollers had passed and the sea
iell OIL little, with the water knee deep, to
Inc coop, and rescued all but one 1t was the
Work mork OF moment, and 1 was back in the
~, ioase WIN The door fastened, but was none
100 quick, for at that instant, nv little sister
standing at the window, exclaimed: ooh,
LOOK 10ok look there! the worst sea is coming
mat wave destroyed the old dwelling and
swept the rock. cannot think you would en-