The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-12-08

Captain Oliver N. Brooks, who for
thirty-on years has kept burning the
light on Faulkner's Island, in Long
Island Sound, has resigned, and quit the
scene of his faithful labors. The New
Haven Palladium, which gives an in
teresting sketch of the Captains life on
the little island, says that he has assisted
over 100 vessels which have been
wrecked or grounded on the treacherous
reef. About seven years since. the
freight propeller E. w. Woodward was
stranded on the reef during . terrible
winters storm. The crew were taken
of by Captain Brooks, and remained
several DAYS on the island. Suddenly
the vessel foated and drifted to another
position; the crew went of and attempted
to save her. A gale setting in, the men
we're unable to return, and were in i'm
mediate danger Of perishing. Captain
Brooks then collected all the cordage on
the island, and at one time had deter
mined to take down the beds and use the
bed cords Splicing . long line from
the differentiated c0rdage, he and his
nephew, who very fortunately was ont
the island, dragged their boat on the ice
as far from the shore as possible,
Brooks paid out the line and allowed
the boat to drift down upon the fated ves7
sci, while the nephew directed the frail
craft. Fortunately the boat hoated
within three feet Of the steamers bow.
and by means of this lifeline the seven
seaman on board were rescued. some Of
them more dead than alive, owing to the
severe cold. The rescued men remained
fourteen days on the island. and when
Captain Brooks landed them at Guilford
he was obliged to remain on the main
land six days, owing to the severe wealth
er. On several occasions of storm the
islanders have been cut of from shore for
four weeks. In 1859 Captain Brooks
rescued five persons from . stranded
schooner. The crew took to the rigging,
and the wife of the schooner captainwas
lashed to the masthead. Just before the
rescue the mate, in climbing into the
rigging with the Captains babe, dropped
it into the sea.
In some years thirty vessels have
touched bottom at the island. Very
many vessels would float with the REL
turning tide. Eight total wrecks have
occurred at the island during Captain
Brooks long term of service. Not many
years since Captain Brooks went out in
the night, at great personal peril, and
rescued the crew of the old EASTERN
schooner Ferguson. For his bravery and
humanity he has received many tokens
of reward.
Four steamers of the Lighthouse De-
partment stop at the island at stated
intervals, viz. I: the Mistletoe, which car
ries engineers supplies; the Fern, with
oil. coal, ETC.; the Putnam, of the In
spectors' Department. and the Cactus,
which carries general supplies and pro-
visions, and is used as q buoy-setter.l
The Fern calls once a year, but the other
steamers call more frequently. Captain
Brown, of the Lighthouse Board, offered
Captain Brooks furleugh of one year
and the promise of good position ON
shore If he would remain in the service,
but the veteran lightmaster declined.
The Captains family consists of his wife
and two Observation-Disclosures true and
brave, who have shared their fathers
peril in the rescue of many poor cast
away seaman. Mary once accompanied
her father out in the boat and assisted in
the rescue Of several shipwrecked sailors.
The rescuers rowed out in the face of q
binding snow-storm and carried blankets
to the almost frozen men. This daughter
is an expert at the oar and has several
times assisted her father in seasons of
peril, sometimes putting on male attire
for convenience.