Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-26
LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE.

There are horrible stories told Of former
days, when, couple of men being on duty
on some isolated rock, one Of them happend
to die suddenly in rough weather; when the
survivor, fearful of being charged with a
crime, remained shut up in the closest
proximity to the corpse Of his comrade till
the lull of the storm brought relief and the
opportunity of explanation: This very
week we hear of a case which might well
seem incredible were itnOt amply authentl-
Gated. The watchmen on the Wolf ROCK,
opposite the Cornish coast, were cut OH
from all communication with their KIND
through the two dreariest months OF the Win
ter; and it was nearly the middle OfJauuary
when relief reached them at last. Nova
days, however, the light-warders in similar
circumstances invariably consist ofthree at
the least and both on the light-towers and
in the lightships the men are surrounded by
allmanner of material comforts. They have
rooms as snug as the limited structural ar
rangements will admit; they have ample
ratiOns of excellent food, nor are the needs OF
their minds by any means neglected. Stlli
it must be an unnatural life at the best, and
one that is perilOusly fitted to nourish SOM
bre fancies. We may conceive that in the
men who take most kindly tOthe occupation,
the imagination is seldom strongly develop
ed; but nevertheless they must be quick and
intelligent. Generally speaking, some mod
crate amount of exercise is believed to be
indispensable to preserving the balance OF
the bodily and mental powers; and IN the
dullest routine of ordinary drudgery there
are usually occasional changes OF scene ana
company. But in many lighthouse the
occupants are held fast by the legs, for eX-
ercise becomes something more than effort
,,I,n + ;cr tO g
upOn the steps of a cOrkscreW staircase, or
to taking naIf dozen steps upon a Shiny
rock ut low water. The crews of the light
ships are somewhat more favOrably clrcum-
stanced in this respect, since they can GO
their walking on Il more or less r00my deck,
and they enjoy, BESIDES a greater variety OF
company. But the life in both cases must
be intOlerably mOnotOnOus and to lands
man there would be little to choose between
the terrors Of the one and the other, when
the sea is wrapped in impenetrable fOgs or is
being lashed into fury by bowling tempests.
In a storm, the lighthouse is, in reality, the
safer residence of the two, for, thanks to the
skill of our modern engineers, it is most un-
likely that another EddystOne will be swept
away. Yet, as the waves rush up the slop-
ing sides of the tower, and toss their tons OF
seething green water against the lower
courses of masonry, seeming to snake the
massive structure from the light room to the
foundation, it must need nerve and long
habit to resist the belief that the violence OF
the elements may bring about a catastrophe.
As for the lightships, being mOored in shall
lower water, they may be less exposed to
the extreme fury of the storms, though there
is always chance Of their being torn from
their anchorage But, on the other hand,
in even moderately bad weather, they must
always be eminently disagreeable places of
abode. The peculiar jerking motion, when
the natural heaving of the ship is being per-
petually checked by the straining cables, is
said to be trying to the most seasoned of
mariners, and to be one of those inconvee-
niences to which no custom can reconcile
one-.Sutrday Rerieec.