Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-10-07

to keep themselves from freezing and
waited for day. The house had
grounded at low tide. With the light
the tide came in. The water rose, but
the house did not; so it was filling like
a sinking ship. The tired, freezing,
starving keepers, instead of looking
after their own comfort as we'll
they might have done when in
such sorry plight, took advantage of
the little time that was left them-to
do what? To save their bits of furni-
ture, their bedding, clothing and food?
No; they strained every nerve to save
the property which had been intrusted
to their charge. First, they cast loose
the precious lens from its lashings. and
wrapping it in some of their wet bed
ding, and this being the most costly
and fragile thing at the station, they
lowered it carefully to the boat. When
this had been taken on shore and care
fully slowed away, they brought of
the burners. Then the heavy iron
pedestal was unscrewed from its fast
enings, lowered into the boat with
much trouble and some danger, and
it. too, was taken ashore. Then every
full package of the mineral oil they
used for an illuminant was saved, and
even the empty cans were brought
the box of wicks, and such of the glass
chimneys as had not been broken.
Then the library-that case of fifty vol
umes provided for their reading-was
cut loose from it's fastenings, and
though the books were all soaked, that,
too, was saved. In fact, they got
everything belonging to the Govern
ment on shore that was not smashed
and could be used again, including the
clock and the thermometer. They
even saved a portion of the broken
stove. to show, as they said, that it was
not worth saving. But by this time the
first and second stories of the house
were under water, the ice had STAYED in
its sides, and the tide was running
through it. They had saved all the
lighthouse stuff worth saving, but
they had lost all their own personal be-
longings; even their cooked food, on
which they had reckoned to break the
fast which had been so p;olonged,
that. too, had been carried away. If
they had attended to their own goods
first they might have been saved; but
the keepers feared the wreck might
break away at any moment, and they
preferred to be true, entirely true, to
the trust reposed in them.
''Tbat was splendid conduct, true
bravery" said the doctor, ''but, pray.
how did they come out?"
IA passing steamer was sent to their
aid. The inspector, the one of whom
you spoke, doctor. in reporting the loss
of the lighthouse, spoke well of them.
Let me read you what he said This is
from the official report: Il can not
commend too highly the admirable
conduct of these keepers, and their sue
ccssful efforts to save the movable
property seem most praisewOrthy.'
Then we wrote thus to them," said the
Commodore, reading from his letter.
book:
1.-THE board has learned with pleas
ure of your faithful and courag eous
conduct in remaining at your post
when the Sharp's Island lighthouse was
threatened with overthrow by ice, and
particularly in saving the lens and
other lighthouse property after the
house had, on February 10, been car
ried away, and after you had been
atloat in 1t for more than sixteen hours
without fire or food and in constant
and imminent danger
g In recognition of this proper per-
fOrmance of your duty the board has
placed your names on the list of those
deserving its special commentator
land L hope the board won't forget
its PROMISE said the doctor, ''for
those men came from my county. But
between us, now, Commodore, weren't
they rather foolhardy to peril their
lives for mere sentiment? What real
good could they do by staying in the
lighthouse when it was in actual dam
ger? They could not show their light,
and if they had it could have done no
good. No boats could be running
wh1n there was so much ice in the
bay. you know"
"You don't know our steamboat
men," replied the Commodore. "They
go if they can get out of the harbor-
the more fools they without regard
to the ice. Why. steamer went
ashore on Sharp's Island within thirty
six hours after the light was carried
away, and the absence of the light
was alleged to be the cause of the dis
aster. Then, too, our men are trained
to understand that it is their duty to
keep up their lights before and in spite
of everything else. They are brought
up to feel that on the maintenance of
their lights may depend the safety of
many lives and much property. They
are instructed that they must make
every thing give way to the prime
necessity of keeping their lights burn
ing. They know themselves TO be the
sentries of the sea. No keeper ca2
leave his post while on duty without
great danger to others and deep dis
grace to himself. So those who are
trained in our service will suffer, and
see those belonging to them suffer, be-
fore they will finch. And the board
sternly enforces this doctrine. 1t has
come to be known that no excuse for
an extinguished light will be accepted.
If light goes out so does its keeper.
Some have alleged the sickness of wife
or child, the need to go for doctor or
nurse, as an excuse for failure in duty;
but the answer is always the same.