The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-18
LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE
CONFINEMENT ON A LITTLE ISLAND
OFF THE MAINE COAST.

A Rather Forbiddins Place Where =
Handful of People Work Every Day and
Night and Are Happy-A Community
Straight out Of the sea that washes the
coast of Maine, off the mouth of the Ken
nebec river rises a small island which is q
mass of rock, tree fringed, but black look
ing. From its top for over a century has
cleaned hight for coasting vessels and
ships, making for the Kennebec river. The
tower where the bright eye shines from
twilight TIL sunrise is 200 feet above the
face of the ocean when it is calm, aud its
streaming path of yellow beams is seen for
miles by those who sail under the stars
while the rest OF the world sleeps.
There is no more rugged, dangerous
coast along the seaboard of Maine than
here, and when a southeast gale RACES the
waves pound on the cliffs and reefs with
roar that goes rumbling up the quiet Ken
nebec or breaks family among the pine
forests inland.
In summer the sea is dazzling in its
CLASSY smoothness until it rolls in where a
broad beach stretches below Fort Popharn,
and curving, breaks in shower of foam,
flashing with salt drops under the hot sun
rays. Then the coast is picturesquely
beautiful and quiet. Summer cottages
showing on the slopes aud heights. or
nearer down where the beach runs away to
shelve through the foam frosted breakers
into the sparkling blue, are pleasiugly
peaceful, and the veranda and shade look
attractive 10 those who are skirting along
without on the heat rejecting water.
You can see on the paths trailing over
the cliff, among trees and fern grown
rocks, or the ample foliage of shrubs or
bushes, the gay colors of women's summer
gowns At the base of the cliff, on drip
ping, black faced rocks, more of them Ars
walking, where the water comes up 20
their feet. There is not great deal of
life; just enough to show the stranger that
there are people who enjoy life of this sort,
and who are content to get away from the
busy rush Of cities or the feyerish heat of
fashions favorite summer places.
THE LIGHTHOUSE N WINTER.
But when fall is turning into bleak win
ter it is all very different Storms tear up
the shining beach and strip the cliff of its
foliage. They send the ocean straight up
like a gray wall, laundering against the
grim heights. They batter down project
ing rocks and send avalanches of white
whirling foam and deep colored water with
asweeping rush over the black topped reefs
and the rock points. The fair weather
visitors have fed weeks before from the
unforbidding place, but just as In summer,
when the ocean was placid and the shore
was brilliant in color, the bright light over
on Seguin stern rock shines steadily every
night, only through blacker night and
across high swelling water.
81 don't find it so lonely here in winter
as you might think" said the keeper to
the writer one summer. you see have
my wife and family here and the two as
siStant keepers, and one of them IS mar
ried. We make good working communi-
ty and get along very nicely together.
You see how comfortable ! am. We have
a pleasant home. 1t isn't palace, but
there is one thing about tits founda-
tons are solid. IL won't blow away il a
little breeze should spring up, and we do
have breezes once in awhile" hs added
with quiet smile
"Of course it is pretty hard 70 get to
shore in winter. The winds are terrific and
the seas run high. and when heavy storm
sets in getting across is out OF the question.
But in those times we are kept pretty busy.
You see it's a big Job to keep the light
clean. There's all that glass and then
there are the lights themselves. We have
to watch them carefully. II wouldn't do
to have anything happen TO the light" he
said seriously Vessels would 20 Astray
for miles around and 10 one knows what
would happen.
LIFg or AZ BLAND.
''when we have a storm with fog and
sleet there Is more to do than TO look after
the light. We get up steam and the old
fog horn bowls all night aud all day. IL
makes an awful noise, but We Ike 1t. We
have two boilers % make steam aud two
horns, IN case OF accident
"Ljght houses are expensive. Lots OF oil !
and miles OK wick are used. but they save
millions Of dollars every year. Then IL |
gets chilly up here" he added, with 3
twinkle ia ais eye Els takes good deal |
Of coal 70 keep warm IL you are ia need 1
Of exercise when the weather e unusually 4
nasty you can get i. climbing thsss AtAiss i
up into the tower whsn yo1 are attending /
TO the light It's nice jo5 u2 and down, I
and you can take i as often "a you Ike
some nights gp here, wGsH gaze 10
howiing, something Happens Eh5cn makes
your heart come Up ia your throat, DO
matter how used ron are 20 u. You viii 4
hear a sudden thud on The gas - here TIE /
gaze has swept q gall Or shore bird 1