The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-03-20
4 Lighthouse Keepers Perils.

The Secretary of the Treasury has
dismissed certain lighthouse keeper
for forsaking his post during one of the
recent severe storms. The ice threat
ened to carry away the lighthouse, and
the keeper, becoming frightened, de-
serted, leaving the light unlghted for
two nights, an1 then returned to his
station. The Lighthouse Board con-
siders it the duty of every lighthouse
keeper to stand by his light as long as
the lighthouse stands; and that for him
to desert it when in danger is as cow
ardly as for soldier to leave his guns
on the advance of an enemy. His fail
ure to keep the light burning, especially
i'll time of danger, may cause the wreck
of vessels looking for it, and may result
in the loss of many lives and of much
property. On the other hand, the board
takes good care of those keepers who
prove themselves faithful. In the year
1875 keeper of Light off the coast OF
New England kept his. post until the
lighthouse went down and then swan
ashore. The board thereupon recon-
mended that Congress make an appro-
priation to reimburse him for all loss,
and it was careful to see to it that no
item was omitted. Fla.
There are many dramatic incidents,
tragic and humorous, arising in the
lighthouse service. Once in while q
lighthouse goes down in night with 9
whole family, and every person and
thing is lost. Not trace is left. The
elements make clean sweep. One day
last year keeper slipped while cleaning
his lamp. In his fall he displaced 6
great lens, which, falling upon him
killed him. From an economical point
of view the loss of the man, as compared
with the loss of the lens, was slight, fol
the keeper could be replaced from hun
dreds of eager applicants, but to replace
the lens involved an importation from
France and a large outlay.-Washi1ag
ton letter. .-sf ss- rs
Beheaded at Prayers.
Hamlet RETAINED from killing hi
mothers husband while the latter wal
on his knees, but Mrs. John s. Cald
well, of South Byfeld, Mass, had NJ
such scruples when she decapitated he
husband with an ak. Mr.. Caldwell wa
kneeling at chair offering his morning
devotions, the only other person in th,
house being his sister-in-law, who wa
in the same devout posture, when Mrs
Caldwell stealthily entered the room
and, snatching up an ak, which her hus
band had brought into the room tn
| night before, dealt him blow on tn
| back of his neck, which nearly severe,
his head from his body. Death was in
stantaneous, and the soul of the sup
plant followed the haf-uttered praye
to the other world. The terrible dee
done, the woman went to neighbor'
house and told him to go over, as sh
had struck her husband and might hav
killed him. He had threatened, sh
said, to kill her. Mrs. Caldwell e1
hibited not the least sign of emotion
and talked unconcernedly about th
dreadful thing she had done. M
Caldwell was an intelligent farmer {
about As years, in easy circumstance
and both he and his wife we're respects
BILE members of the Orthodox churcl
For the past two years the wife had bee
partially deranged, SO much SO that ht
sister had been sent for to keep watch {
her movements. There was nothing b,
happiness in the relations of husban
and wife, and the woman's devilish dee
is universally attributed to insanit
pure and simple.