The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-10-25
THE SAILORS FRIEND.
A SECOND IDA LEWIS IN IN
DIANA.
Mss Harriet Colfst. the Brave. Hearted Little
Woman Who for ThIsty Years Has
Performed the Duties OF Light
Keeper n Michigan City.

] y
heart been relieved OF its burden o.
care when the steady glow from the
beacon light caught his vigilant eye
and he made sail for the harbor tina,
promised him shelter from the threat
ening storm?
For nearly thirty years this warning
signal has been under the care OF a
woman who In fair or foul weather
during all this time has never once
neglected the duty imposed on her in
1861. when she was appointed light
keeper at this port through the in
huence OF her cousin. Schuyler Colfax,
afterward Vice President OF the
United States.
AT that time Miss Harriet A, Colfax
was pleasaut-faced young woman OF
twenty-five. with soft, light brown
hair and gray, trustful eyes. Her
petite figure seemed peculiarly unfit
ted for the Position, and there were
not wanting those who sneeringly re-
marked upon this. aud limited that il
wax doll had influential relatives IL
might just as we'll have been appoint
ed light keeper Mt Michigan City as
Miss Colfax. But time has disproved
all these unkind statements and in
nuendoes, and after thirty years OF
continuous faithful service the verdict
Is unanimous that "A wiser choice for
so responsible place could not have
been made.
Miss Colfax Is n native OF Ogdens-
burg. N. T., but as she migrated to
Michigan City in 1853 IL Is fair TO state
that she is western woman. especial
ly as her visits back east have been
very few and far between. Her broth
err, Richard w. Colfax. was at that
time editing the Michigan City Tran
script, and ms a steady compositor was
a rdrd avis in the little village At
that period the young lady learned TO
set type In order TO help her brother
get out his paper when printers were
scarce. She Is proud OF the fact that
the second year after her arrival she
set up the governors entire message
alone, her proofs being so clean that
the corrections were all made inside
OF twenty minutes.
After her brother died Miss Colfax
gave music lessons, about this time
she formed a life partnership with
Miss Ann Hartwell. bright, CHEEKY
little school ma'am OF Michigan City,
who Is also a native OF Ogdensourg.
For upwards Of thirty-three years
these little women have dwelt together
In perfect harmony, their affection for
each other being unmarried by sin
gle cross word. Thoroughly unseli- |
Ish, each has We'd in her intentions |
TO the other. and. as result. they |
have lived as happily as two doves with
no serpent in the form OF man 10 Gre
lte a discord in their lives When
Miss Colfax went to live at the light
house, OF course Miss Hartwell accom-
panied her, and, although this was
lot until 1861, the little ex-school
na'am-for she has discontinued
declares. with saucy toss
" her frost touched curly hair they
iave been light-housekeeping together
or thirty-three years Notwithstanding.
For a number OF years there was
beacon light ut tho extremity OF tho
aised walk. near tho outer breakwa.
or. which was also under the charge OF
Hiss Colfax. and until 1t was finally
arried away during n severe storm
light years ago 10 was her duty 10 light
hat beacon every evening at shutdown.
was Mother II pleasant nor easy duty
0 perform. but until the department
nally allowed her an assistant the
rave little woman faithfully made her
lightly trip over the slippery walk,
nd. lantern In hand. climbed the bea-
on ladder and lit the warning signal.
lany and many time toward the I
lose OF navigation the waves would /
ash across the narrow walk, sending {
40 freezing spray In all directions and !
citing tho brave keeper TO the skin as ,,
nc performed her dangerous task.
The beacon lamp was fed with lard
j at that time. and IL was often nee
'sary on cold nights 20 heat tho oil a
sfore carrying the lamp out to tho {
est pier. On one very cold. stormy
Ight when the waves dashed inces- y
lntly over the raised walk and IL was
NY by waiting for n temporary lull r
lat tho passage could be made. Miss 4
olfax warmed the lard oil aud started