The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-10
LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE
NOT MANY THINGS HAPPEN TO
MAKE IT LIVELY.

The Keepers OF the Tall Tower or
Tybee Island-How They Trim and
Guard the Light That Marks the
Entrance to the Harbor-A Climb On
the Tower-The Keepers Watches
Life $50 feet from the ground may be
monotonous where one has 10 remain alone
for four hours at a stretch, but life in
Tybee light house, at that hight, certainly
gives the keepers the purest air. At any
rate they enjoy excellent health. Still it is
wearisome to climb the 1S7 spiral steps
from the base Of the tall tower to the last
landing from which one steps into the cyl
inder of lenses where the bright light is
thrown out twenty miles seward to glad
den the heart Of the wave-tossed mariner
as he comes landward looking fer a
harbor.
A MORNING NEWS man climed the seven
flights of stairs yesterday for a friendly
chat with the keeper of the principal light
house on the Georgia coast. Peter Jacobs
has been at his post for the past six years.
He had seen as many years service on a
government lightship before he took charge
of Tybee light.
THE VIEW FROM THE BALCONY.
Iuo wow - u HIduQ OHb lIDil LLb Ddl-
cony which encircles the tower, and which
is reached by a door leading from thu
keepers room. near the summit. One can see
panorama of islands. mainland and sea.
The shipping at the city may be seen with
glass, and the distant islands with their
patches of green stand out like pictures in
miniature, while looking nearer the entire
island of Tybee is in view, and the white
breakers are seen and heard as they dash
on the beach. To add to the beauty CT the
picture yesterday afternoon a thunder
cloud came up from the south, and sun, sky
and cloud were visible in the horizon. AS
the lightning played about the lofty pile the
nearness of the electric disturbance was
calculated to draw upon ones timidity, but
the keeper said that the conductor on the
tower insures immunity from danger by
lighting.
The Tybee Lighthouse was blown up by
the confederate forces when they aban-
doned the island, and large section of it
toppled and fell, but after the war closed
the government rebuilt il.
THE LIGHT KEEPERS.
1t requires three keepers to tend the light
Keeper Jacobs having two assistants: Peter
Rasmussen, first assistant, and John L.
Evans, second assistant. Each stands
watch four hours. The lamp is lighted
about twenty minutes before sunset and is
kept burning until sunrise. The lamp has
a cylindrical nest of wicks, fire in number.
the wicks being cut in lengths by tin
pattern upon which the number is stamped.
and the length must not vary from the
pattern, or be cut at haphaZard A stock
of wicks is sufficient TO last twelve months,
and duplicate parts of the lamp and dupli-
cate lamp is kept ready for an emergency.
Duplicate lenses are also kept on hand so
that the breaking of one, which is hardly
f..4o
burning so necessary to be maintained
The oil used is a refined coal oil, and the
greatest care is observed to prevent any
sediment from going into the lamp There
is strainer in the oil can, from which the
oil is poured into the lamp, and the oil
passes through strainers connected with
the lamp before it communicates with the
wick. About five gallons of oil are re-
quired every night to supply the lamp
THE LIGHT KEPT BURNING.
Mr.. Jacobs was asked if the light ever
goes out, and he said that that only occurs in
rare instances, possibly once in one or two
years. This is Immediately remedled by
winding up an attachment. which re-
news the flow of the oil from the lamp
through a receiver to its contact with the
wicks
The keepers room in the tower is con-
nected by an electric wire which is attached
to a bell i'll the bed room Of the lighthouse
keepers dwellings below. AS the hour
approaches for the change of watchers the
keeper on duty touches the electric button
and the new Waterman is awakened and
goes on duty.
There is an air of cleanliness about the
lighthouse and the keepers dwellings on
the premises which is remarked by all who
visit it. An inspector visits the lighthouse
quarterly to note its condition and report
upon it.
How do the keepers spend the time
while on dutyW Mr.. Jacobs was asked. He
replied that they read the greater part Of
the time and when tired of reading they
walk outside on the balcony to vary the
monotony.
PAY OF THE KEEPERS.
The government is not very liberal in its
salaries paid TO men in such responsible DO
sltions, so combining and irksome at times.
The keepers must climb the tiresome fight of
stairs and keep up a lonely vigil with
no sounds except those of the storm which
vibrate the tall tower, the roar of the surf
on the shore, the tolling of the sea bell, or
the dismal signing of the whistling buoy at
sea- The keeper of the lighthouse receives
$500 year, and the combined salaries of
the two assistants does not exceed that
figure. They are given, however, their
dwellings free of rent, but they are unable
to raise any vegetables on the six-acre
tract which comprises the lighthouse
property proper, as the rabbits are SO
numerous on the island, Mr.. Jacobs saws,
as to preclude all possibility of successful
gardening. He has tried it repeatedly, and
finally had to abandon it. They can have
their cows and poultry, and the keeper has
his horse and buggy for his convenience in
travelling about the island
The lighthouse is but five minutes walk
from the railroad, the Lovers Path" run
ming under live oak trees, whose boughs
arch and lnterlace the walk, and the palm
grows luxuriantly on either side. 1t is as
natural for lovers to visit the lighthouse
and make the ascent of the many stepped
spiral stairway to the summit as it is to
write each others names IN the ever-shifting
sands as they wander along the beach
These are every day incidents in the history
of the lighthouse and the island.