The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-09-24
DISCIPLINE MAINTAINED.
Tho Stern Commodore and the
Light House Keepers

The Commodore sat M his desS in
his Office. porting intently over his pa
pcrs. He was not old in years. but he
was veteran IL long sea service and
gallant conduct during the war Of the
REBELLION could make him one. He
had been trained in the severe school
of the naval academy. his sense Of
honor was high. and his idea Of the
requirements u duty was rigid. lie
had served a. lighthouse Inspector,
and 50 satisfactorily that this. with his
large scientific requirements. had made
him the executive officer Of the
Light-House Board. and thus he was
virtually at the head Of the service;
actually. also. so far as maintenance of
discipline among the lighthouse keep
ers Was concerned. for that was one
Of the duties with which he was spec
tally charged, and for which he was
personally responsible. and he was do
ing all in his power to bring the per
sonnet Of the service up his own high
standard.
The door-kecpcr brought in the card
Of DR.. Smythe. who wished for per-
sonal interview. He was rising young
physician. but his ambition was not
confined TO his own profession. He
was taking q keen interest in politics.
and though not in harmony with the
then Administration. he was making
many friends by active interposition in
behalf Of those who sought his aid
lie was educated. sympathc tic, plausi-
Die to degree, and had the tact Of
travelled and cultured man Of the
world.
After few words, in which he
showed that he and the Commodore
had mutual friends. and that they were
Of equal social standing. he stated that
being AZ the capital he had been re-
quested 70 bring the attention Of the
department 20 . case Of hardship
which. As Il seemed TO him, II was only
necessary TO make known TO the proper
authorities 70 have redresScd.
During the late winter. which had
been exceedingly severe. the ice had &C
cumulatcd to an unprecedented extent
IN the tributaries leading into the bay.
One Of the lighthouses at the mouth
Of small river had becn seriously
threatened. This house had not been
built 70 withstand such shocks. On
one occasion when the ice came down
with the tide the house had been much
shaken. and several OF its supports were
broken. Thus il had become notori-
ously unsafe. In the preceding month
She ice had been piled up about II. and
y was quite evident that II could no,
withstand much pressure. The two
Keepers. seeing their danger and know
Ing that they could do nothing 70 pre-
vent the overthrow Of the house. had
gone ashore. After the clapsc Of day
or two. when the immediate danger had
passed, they had returned over the
broken and running ice. and had ne
lighted the station. When the same
danger again threatened the house. but
70 greater extent. they had again
gone ashore. and when the ice had
passed down the bav they had returned
and resumed their duty. The station
had rcmaiRcd uplightcd but three
nights altogether. No damage had
been done. so far as known. - any
shipping, and while the keepers had
perhaps, violated = technical rule o.
the service. they had only obcycd IN,
dictates Of the first law II nature, self
preservation. and while they might