The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-10-21
WALLY, THE WRECK-BOY.
A story Of the Northern Coast.

WALLIs 1HE VhLChHDO1s
4 A story Of the Northern Coast.
4 His real name is Wallace, but his
mates always called him Wally." and
although he is now big. broad shoul-
dered young mariner, he is still pointed
] out as the wreck-boy." One summer
/ not long ago Wally sailed with me for
4 week out upon the blue waters across
4 the bar after blue-fish, or among the
winding tide-water creeks for sleeps
a head, and it was then, by means of
i many questions, that l heard the fol-
lowing story.
i Wany's father was a lighthouse
keeper. The great brick tower stood
soft among the sand-hills, making the
4 little house which nestled at its base
! look dwarish and cramped.
Wally was about twelve years old,
snd seldom had the good fortune to
find playmate. Two miles down the
beach, at Three Pine Point, stood a
handsome cottage that was occupied by
Mr. Burton, a city gentleman and a
great ship-owner, during the summer,
and sometimes his daughter Elsie, a
bright-e;ed little girl, would come
riding along the sands from the cottage
behind a small donkey, and ask Wally
to show her his museum
1t was matter of great pride with
the boy to exhibit the many curious
shells, bits of sea-weed, sharks teeth.
fish bones, and the full-rigged ships he
had whitfield out and completed on
winter nights, and Elsie was an earnest
listener to all his explanations; showing
him in return the pictures she had
made in her sketch-book.
Not far from the lighthouse stood a
llfe.saving station-a strong two-story
building, shingled upon its sides to
make it warmer. Here through the
winter months, lived crew of brave
fishermen, who were always ready to
launch the life boat, and 90 out through
The stormy waters to help shipwrecked
ailors.
Wally was favorite here and spent
much Of his time listening to the tales
They told of ocean dangers and escapes;
out he liked best of all to trudge along
The sands with the guard on dark nights,
with lantern in hand, watching for ships
in distress. The Captain of the crew.
who was an old seaman. taught him the
useof the compass and quadrant and
other matters of navigation, while the
sstshowed him how to pull an oar, steer
and swim, until he could manage q boat
well as any of them.
just before sunset each day Wally's
hther climbed the iron steps of the light
tower and started the lamp, which
slowly revolved within the great crystal
lens, flashing out four times each min
u'e its beam of warning across the
stormy waters. Every few hours it was
ne Watchers duty to pump oil into a
holder above the light, from which it
aowed in a steady stream to the round
Mcks below. If this was neglected the
amp would cease to burn.
Maliy, who was an ingenious boy,
nad placed small bit of mirror in his
Iltle bedroom in the attic so that as he
lay in bed he could see the reflection of
iae flash across the waters. One wild
october evening he had watched it un-
vi he fell asleep, and in the night was
awakened by the roaring gusts Of the
gaze which swept over the lonely sands,
snd he missed the faithful flash upon
ms mirror. The light had gone out!
Many ships out upon the sea were
y @lllng to and fro, and there was no
ight to guide them or warn them of
dangerous shoals. Nearer and nearer
0ne of them were drifting to their
ase, and still the beacon gave no warn
ng Of danger.
The light-keepcr, hours before, had
gone out upon the narrow gallery about
!ne top of the tower to look at the storm,
!ast as large wild fowl, bewildered by
.ae glare. had flown with great speed
! soward it, and striking the keepers
asad had lain him senseless upon the
non grating.
nave seen fractures in the lenses, or
sAss refectors, of light houses as large
syour two fists, such as it would re-
Sulre Y a heavy sledge-hammer to break
a human force, caused by the fierce
nlgnt OF wild fowl; and a netting of iron
- ~ls !, Is usually spread upon three sides
g g .ae lens as protection to the light.
s;aetimes a large number of dead
s.as s.ss Will be found at the foot of the
in the morning after stormy
;aa au.amn INN. night. when wild-geese are fly-
naly sprang from his bed, full of
a.saa lest his father had fallen to the
sIound; for he knew he would never
Il. sI.ep al his post of duty. But first in
,Ss H. thoughts was the need of starting
h Sse lamp again. Calling to his mother.
as as sped up the spiral stairway. which
: ssser M seemed SO long before, and began
pump the oil. Then he lighted the
~ aA irom . small lantern burning in
II IL " .xsatch.room and pumped again un-
no.s n me oil tank was quite full. His
Luer In the meantime had found the
h. u the keeper and partially restored
"aily stepped out upon the gal