Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-24
IDA LEWIS AT HOME.
How the Famous Heroine Lives in Lime
Rock Light.

How the Famous Heroine Lives in Lime
Rock Light.
Running from the mainland of the
city out of Newport. Z. l., into the west
side of its harbor, is a log. staunchly-
built wharf. says Ellen LIE Garde in the
Ladies' Home Journal. We're you to
find your way to its end, you would ere
long see from the lighthouse beyond, a
woman appear and glance in your di-
rection. Presently with agile steps she
runs down the narrow ladder fastened
to the stone wall, jumps nimbly into a
boat. unties it from its moorings takes
the heavy oars, and, with a beauty of
stroke all her own, pulls with long
and strong pull that sends her flying
toward the steps of the pier on which
you wait. Her back is as erect as that
of young girl, her powerful strength
manifest in the great strides the row.
boat makes, and yet when she deity
turns it around you get a good look at
her face, it can be seen that it belongs
to a woman in middle life, but upon
whom time has left few tell-tale marks.
She puts out welcoming hand with a
beautiful white wrist, adding a CHEEKY
smile and word of greeting as she
makes ready to take you over to Lime
Rock as her guest. You have cause for
self-congratulationin being thus favored
by the heroine-Ida Lewis.
Life on lighthouse, situated as is
Lime Rock light is not the gruesome
thing generally imagined. With six
roomed house there are cares that fill the
day. and, like any other guide wife, -
Miss Lewis has her potts. kettles and pans
to attend to, rooms to sweep, beds to
make, papers and magazines to read,
letters to write, and all the various ct
ceteras to manage which fill the time of
busy woman. A devoted church
woman. she spends Sunday on shore
whenever her brother is at home.
AS the only woman lighthouse keeper
in our country, and the last one that
will be given a light-for such is the
verdict of the powers that be-Miss
Lewis has other duties that are unique.
Exactly at shutdown she must light her
lamp. aud precisely at midnight another
must be substituted. All through the
night it must be watched, and Miss
Lewis likens this constant care to that
demanded by an infant The wick might
fare or burn low, the chimney smoke or
crack, or any of the hundred-and-one
accidents happen that are ever taking
place with the use of kerosene oil. She
can but catch cat-naps, hence the near
ness of her sleeping-room to the light.
At sunrise the law requires her lamp,
like the foolish virgins, to have gone
out, and from this fact she is an early
riser. The responsibility is no small
one, for the slightest neglect of duty or
accident to her light or lenses would
bring report from the first seaman
who suffered by it. Lives hang on her
vigilance, but to her credit no light on
all the coast is as regular or perfectly
attended to, nor does any other gain
from the Government Inspector so high
a report. Miss Lewis keeps daily ex-
pense book. noting just the amount of
wick and oil burnt. and the time to
second of the lighting and putting out
of the lamp. In addition, a record of
the weather must be entered daily. AS
Lime Rock light is irst-class light, no
rations are allowed, the yearly salary
being $3.50 and two tons of coal.