Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-10-30
THE SAILORS FRIEND.
SECOND IDA LEWIS IN IN
DIANA.
Qiss Harriet Colfat, the Brave. Hearted Little
Woman who for Thirty Years Has
Performed the Duties Of Light
Keeper at Michigan City.

w udt SdllOT OO IIlo AUWot ldNoo OOco
not know the Michigan City light and
how many times during the past
quarter OF century has tho mariners
heart been relieved of its burden of
care when the steady glow from the
beacon light caught his vigilant eye
and he made sail for the harbor that
promised him shelter from the threat
ening storm?
For nearly thirty years this warning
signal has been under the care OF u
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
nuence OF her cousin, Schuyler Colfax.
afterward Vice President of the
United States.
At that time Miss Harriet A. Colfax
was q pleasant-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, and limited that if
wax doll had influential relatives it
might just as we'll have been appoint
ed light keeper at 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 q wiser choice for
so responsible Il place could not have
been made.
Miss Colfax is native OF Ogdens-
burg, N Y, but as she migrated to
Michigan City in 1853 it is fair to state
that she is a western woman. especial
ly as her visits back east have been
very few and far between. Her BROTH
,er, Richard w. Colfax, was at that
time editing the Michigan City Tran
script, and as a steady compositor was
q rara auis 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. a bright, CHEEKY
little school ma am OF Michigan City.
who is also a native OF Ogdenspurg.
For upwards OF thirty-three years
these little women have dwclt together
In perfect harmony, thoir affection for
each other being unmarried by sim
gle cross word. Thoroughly unself-
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 to Gre
ate 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
not until 1861, the little eX-school
ma'am-for she has discontinued
-teaching-declares, with saucy toss
of her frost touched curly hair. they
have been MISUNDERSTANDING togeth er
for thirty-three years Notwithstanding.
For q number OF years. there was a
beacon light at the extremity OF the
raised walk, near the outer breakwa.
ter, which was also under the charge oi
Miss Colfax, and until 1t was finally
carried away during severe storm
eight years ago it was her duty to light
that beacon every evening at shutdown.
It was Mother pleasant nor easy duty
TO perform. but until the department
finally allowed her an assistant the
brave little woman faithfully made he,
nightly trip over the slippery walk
and, lantern in hand. climbed the bea
con ladder and lit the warning signal
Many and many time toward the
close OF navigation the waves would
dash across the narrow walk, sending
WIG hoCHAub oPioy III oAA ui'OSSAouS OLA,
wctting the brave keeper to the skin a
she performed her dangerous task.
The beacon lamp was fed with lart
oil at that time, and it was often nee
essary on cold nights to heat the OF
before carrying the lamp out to tn,
west pier. On one very cold, storm,
night when the waves dashed inces
sanity over the raised walk and it was
only by waiting for a temporary lul
that the passage could be made. Mis-
Colfax warmed the lard oil and startet
forth on her hazardous errand. Twic
she was driven back before she game,
the beacon. and when at last she reach
ed the structure she found to her dis
may and annoyance that the lock hat
been tempered with and obstinatel.
refused to open. In her desperation