Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-10-07
than rest under them they had in mo


proper light, and if need be would adj
monish the keepers, but that it would
decline to accept their designations.
This, he thought was necessary to
calm the irritation of the people Of the
vicinity at what they considered the
somewhat unnecessary course of the in
spector, and it would tend to restore
the entente cordiale toward the general
government He would not have in
tcrfered personally in the matter were
it not that he found himself to certain
extent in accord with his neighbors
that the keepers were of good family,
and that, though he did not entirely
coincide with the administration, he
certainly wished 1t no such harm as q
persistence in this matter would nat
nrally occasion.
The Commodore had quietly listened
to the doctor, with an impossible face
and without comment. Yes, he had
heard of the affair. But, by the way,
had the doctor heard of the Sharp's
Island disasterp The doctor had, but
he was unaware of the details. 'Then
! will tell YOU" said the Commodore.
''Sharp's Island lighthouse, like
that of Choptauk, was built on
nine iron piles driven into the
sand, in some twelve feet of water.
Like Choptauk, it had been poorly
provided with breakers, and its
rods, ties and braces had only been de-
signed to resist the thrust of ordinary
ice drives. They were not strong
enough at either lighthouse to stand
against the ice of such an unprece-
dentedly severe winter as that just
passed. When the ice assaulted this
lighthouse those who were watching
it on shore thought more than once that
the tower was gone. Itcareened until it
nearly touched the ice on the opposite
side, and when the great cakes would
break away from around it the house
would spring back with such force
that every bolt in it would rattle. But
in spite of all this the keepers stuck to
their posts.
On the afternoon of February 10,
1881, the ice piled up on the ruins of
the old ice-breaker gave way under the
pressure of the flood tide, and was
hurled against the lighthouse with all
the force that had been accumulated
by its being SO long held back. The
piles of the foundation could not stand
the shock, and they were broken off in
their sleeves, letting the house fall over
OH its side, when it floated off with the
drifting ice. 1t was like a ship on her
beam ends, with her sails fat on the
waves. The water came in through
the broken windows and doors, and
the keepers were in danger of being
drowned in their own sitting-room.
The ice was now piling up on the up
per side of the floating wreck, threat
ening to sink il by mere weight. The
keepers must get outside to throw of
the ice cakes. But the doors and win
dows above water were so jammed
that they could not be opened. So the
keepers were forced to break through
what was the ceiling when the house
stood upright into the lantern-room,
from whence they could readily gel
out on the gallery, and they were now
where they could free the house from
its dangerous load. This done, they
were enabled to determine their exact
condition, and take stock of their few
chances for safety. They had beer
badly frightened, but now they had re-
covered their self-possession.
Finding that the beautiful and cost
ly French lens through which
the light was projected was in
danger of being thrown from it
pedestal, they secured it by hurried
lashings. 1t is by the condition of hi,
lens that the efficiency of light-keepel
is determined; so this lens was natural
ly their first care. And as there is no
thing like the necessity for exertion tC
calm the mind and secure its balance
they were now enabled to think tn,
more coolly. Though one boat hat
been smashed by the ice the other still
hung uninjured at the davits. TheJ
could use it to go ashore. But theil
first fight was now over, and they con
cluded to stick by the stuff and do theil
duty to the bitter end.
Now, to make a long story short
these noble fellows chung to the sink
ing wreck of house in the biting
wind and the freezing cold, wet to tn,
skin, without fire or food, constantly
Drawing imminent death through thu
waning light, and then in the black
darkness, floating with the tide
toward the open bay, for little NOR,
than sixteen hours. Then, about on,
o'clock on the morning of February II
1881, the wreck grounded some sever
miles away from the foundation from
which it hal been wrenched. And al
the wreck, which was lying on its side
was pressed against the fast-anchoret
ice, the house slid up on it little, and
breaking it, settled back in a nearly
upright position. Standing on the bot
tom, the building was held up on on,
side by the shore ice and on the othel
10y the pressure of the floating ice which
came down with the tide.
The exhausted keepers saw By thu
stars which had now appeared wood
ed shore near at hand, and they thel
had strong hopes not only of saving
themselves, but of also rescuing tn,
property for which they were held re
sponsible. After much labor and b,
the use of many ingenious expedient
they got their remaining boat dow
from the broken davits into the waite
on the lee side of the house. Thel
they removed their boat-falls ant
fastened them together, thus max
ing q tolerably long and stron,
rope. One end of this they knotte'
/ about a standing part of the hous
} and the other they took ashore ant
made fast to tree. Now they fel
they had done all that was in thei
| power. So as the house could not ge
: away on the rising tide they built a fir
to keep themselves from freezing an,
waited for day. The house ha,
grounded at low tide. With the ligh
, the tide came in. The water rose, bu
/ the house did not; so it was filling lik
/ a sinking ship. The tired, freezing
| e