The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-09-17

Of the lighthouse, spoke well of them.
Let me read you what he said. This is
from the official report: I can not
commend too highly the admirable
conduct of these keepers, and the sue
cessful 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 courageous
conduct in remaining at your post
when the Sharp 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
afoat in 1t for more than sixteen hours
without fire or food and in constant
and imminent danger.
In recognition of this proper per-
Torrance of your duty the board has
placed your names on the list of those
deserving its special commentator. y
'tAnd / 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
when there was so much ice in the
bay, you know"
8 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 cao
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 it's keeper
Some have alleged the sickness of wife
or child, the need to 90 for doctor or
nurse, as an excuse for failure in duty;
but the answer is always the same.
There is no need that wife or child
should be present at a lighthouse.
Their presence is never required, and
their presence is permitted only on
condition that they are never to be a
hindrance. Keepers are held to a
high sense of the Importance of their
positions.
The doctor, who had begun to show
| signs of Impotence, now said: eyes,
that is fine idea; but, Commodore,
to return to the case of the poor fell
lows at Choptauk, trust you will not
deem it necessary to accept the resigna-
tons they sent in while suffering un-
der the somewhat unnecessary strict
ures of the inspector. Consider their
feelings"
:" 1 had hoped it would be unneces-
sary to revert to that matter, sir, :"
broke in the Commodore, who
was now pacing the floor, and
had shipped his quarterback face.
Looking the doctor squarely in
the face and lowering his voice
to intense tone. he continued:
"No, sir; the designations of these
keepers will not be accepted; but, y and
| here there was fire in his voice as well
as in his glance, ''but instead, sir, they
will be dismissed, sir, dismissed for
desertion, sir; crime that deserves the
most signal punishment, SIR"
disgrace"
Disgrace, yes, but not half they de-
serve. Why, sir, you don't compre-
bend the enormity of their conduct,
taking their own statement of it, Why,
sill" and here his voice began to raise,
''why, sir, if it was in my power I'd
hang them, sir, as deserters, placard-
ing their crimes on their breasts. That
| can't do; but, sir, shall do what I
can to make them and the community
in which they live feel and know the
] u 80 h. E.. Al.
tardly conduct. You will find on get
ting back, sir, that they have been
| published as deserters, and that the
board, to emphasize its opinion of their
behavior and its admiration of the
brave boys who went adrlft with the
Sharp's Island lighthouse. while it
dismissed and disgraced the towards,
has appointed those two heroes to the
places made vacant by the dismissal of
the two towards. Good morning, sir
Here, doorkeeper, show the gentleman
out"
The Commodore was as good as his
word-yes, better. He took such ac-
ton that the light was re-established at
Sharp's Island on a much stronger
foundation, and the old keepers were
recalled from Choptauk and reinstated
in their former positions, while new
men were sent to the light they had
left And these admirable keepers
were reimbursed from the national
treasury for the loss of their personal
belongings by act of Congress-; but
they only got what they claimed as the
real value of what was actually de-
stroyed. The lighthouse board had
put the whole machinery of legisla-
ton into motion, not merely to reim-
burse them, but to embody in the law
of the land a commemoratlon of their
splendid courage, their heroic daring
and great faithfulness, while the new
lighthouse erected on the site of the
old one stands a monument to keep
them and the noble deed they did in
perpetual remembrance. - Chicago
Times.
TONSORiAL POINTS.
The Good Old Days When Every Body
Wore Long and Nicely Curled Hair.