The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-12-08
A watchman,s Eventrul life.

Captain Oliver n. Brooks, who Ter
thirty-one 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 f. w, Woodward was
stranded on the reef during terrible
winters storm. The crew were taken
off by Captain Brooks, and remained
several DAYS on the island. Suddenly
the vessel floated and drifted to another
position; the crew went off and attempted
to save her. A gale setting in, the men
were unable to return. and were in inn
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 a lcag line from
the diiferent-sized cordage, he and his
nephew, who very fortunately was on
the island. dragged their boat on the ice
as far from the shore as possible
Brooks paid out the line and allowed
sell while the nephew directed the frail
craft. Fortunately the boat floated
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 10 remain ON the main
/ land six days. owing to the severe wealth
err On several occasions of storm the
islanders have been cut off from shore for
four weeks In 1859 Captain Brooks
rescued five persons from a 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 Captain babe, dropped
it into the sea.
In some wears thirty vessels have
touched bottom at the island. Very
many vessels would float with the re.
turning tide Eight total wrecks have
occurred at the island during Captain
Brooks long term of service. Not many
wears since Captain Brooks went out IL
the night, at great personal peril, anc
rescued the crew of the old eastern
schooner Ferguson. For MS bravery ane
humanity he has received many tokens
of reward.
Four steamers of the Lighthouse De
partment stop at the island at stateI
intervals. viz. the Mistletoe, which car
ries engineers supplies; the Fern, witt
oil. coal, ETC.; the Putnam, of the hi
spectors' Department, and the Cactus
which carries general supplies and pro
} visions, and is used as buoy-setter
The Fern calls once year, but the othe
steamers call more frequently. Captain
Brown, of the Lighthouse Board, offere
Captain Brooks a furlough of one yea
and the promise of q good position o
shore if he would remain in the service
but the veteran lightmaster declined
The Captains family consists of his wifi
and two daughters daughters true an
49, ss = L,;--s,s>SS ss1h -. panie
1 her father out in tfis-oS,st AID assisted
the rescue of several shipwrecked sailor
+ The rescuers rowed out in the face of
+ binding snow-storm and carried blanke
: to the almost frozen men. This daught
is an expert at the oar and has sever
times assisted her father in seasons
! peril, sometimes putting on male atti
, for convenience.