The news., 1882-12-12
a NIGHT IN A LIGHTHOUSE.

NIGHT IN A LIGHTHOUSE.
'Lefs hurry" said the reporter, "or
the sun will be down and the lamp will
be lighted before we can get 10 the top of
! the tower"
'sNo danger ofthat," replied Lieutenant
Mcclellan, U. s. N, and Inspector of
Life-saving Stations "a sun The size of
that will take some time to get out of
sight and any way we could beat the sun,
we running up and the sun going down.
Often at sea have watched the sun sink
out of sight, and then got another glimpse
of him by running up the rigging
This proposition and the reply we're
made a few days since as the persons
named, just before sunset, were approach
ing Fire Island Lighthouse, New York,
the first point on our shores which the
incoming mariner from Europe espies al
night. For twenty miles its friendly rqy
is flashed atintervals Of sixty seconds
across the ocean, and its usefulness is only
lhwarted when the fogs come down thick
wrapping the glasses of the great beacon
in an impenetrable veil. Just at the mo-
ment of sunset each day its services are
called into action, and lis benefcent lustre
is not permitted to die out until the sun
has crept at morning above the opposite
horizon. During all the years of this
century this tower and its predecessor (de-
molished in 1845) have turned through
the hours of darkness uninterruptedly a
waichful eye of fire over the outstretching
ocean and the craft incoming, at once
giving warning of coast that is frequent
ly beaten by fierce storms and giving
assurance of the immunity Of a near
great harbor and point of general destiua-
tiop
AT the same time in question the sky
was overdrawn with lead-colored clouds,
save that clear band was left for some
distance around the western horizon. The
fine storm was beginning; the wind whist
led over the narrow and barren stretch of
beach, and the surf was high and noisy.
The sun looked like dish of dull copper,
and exaggerated by the atmospheric con-
ditions, seemed as large around as the
basin of the fountain in the New York
City Hall square. Its lower edge was al
most touching upon the low shore lining
Great South Bag to the north and west.
The lighthouse rose in the shape of an
elongated bell to the height Of one hum
dred and fifty feet above the sands. 1t
was built of narrow bricks, and painted
yellow. Its concaye sides were pierced
at intervals by slender loop-holes like
those in the tower of medieval castle,
and at its base stood broad and solid
house of blush stone, tight and grim as
fortress, and with an arched stone porlico
facing the sea.
Mr.. Seth Hubbard, the keeper, was up
at the tower, one ofhis two assistants said,
about TO light the lamp. A tube ran
from the earth up to the lantern, and
through this the assistant bawled to know
if the visitors mi yht come up. An affir-
native answer came down from the sky.
From bottom to top of the tower, filling
it, ran spiral staircase of iron. The
Lieutenant and the reporter ascended
stopping only at intervals of fifty or
the high steps to catch breath, and to
hope that they were near the top, which
was not 10 be discerned until it was near
at hand. At last through trap door in
plank flooring the shining of lantern
became visible, and the voice of Mr.. Seth
Hubbard bade his visitors welcome.
"Come up" said the keeper, extending
hand of assistance for the surmounting
of final step-ladder. "Bless me-" he
added, in tone of honest surprise, you're
out of breath. There's everything in get
ting used to it, guess. My wife doesn't
think anything of trotting up the tower
with scuttle of COAL"
Mr. Seth Hubbard was square-shoul-
dered and sturdy. His face was covered
to the eyes with coal black, piratical
beard. He wore blue flannel shirt,
caught at the neck BY black crayat,
pair of loose breeches absolutely depend
ent for their support upon pair of
leathern suspenders, and waistcoat
which seemed to be worn simply for the
convenience afforded by the pockets as
receptacles for a pipe, tobacco and
matches. He wore no cap or hat, but his
head had an ample covering in thick
outstanding crop of black hair, which