Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-01-15
A GRACE DARLING.

That part of the coast OF Lake Su-
perlor where the lighthouse stood on
an island was so dangerous and the
sea ran so high over the rocks in a
gale that the government sought long
for keeper and could not find one
with courage enough to undertake so
perilous duty. But at last Joshua
Alcott accepted the governments offer
taking with him his daughter Gypsy,
who was just sixteen years old. and
all his goods out to the desolate rock
The lighthouse lay about three-quar-
ters Of mile from the shore, but
there were not many days in winter
that a small boat could land at the
rock. Gypsy Alcott and her father
moved there in August when the
weather was calm. Nevertheless
when the wind rose at night during
the first months residence there. and
the sea whooped and doomed about
the base of the tower the father and
daughter trembled with dread
One day late in September the light
keeper and his daughter got into their
little boat and rowed to the nearest
settlement The father had some bus
mess to do a couple OF miles distant in
the settlement and as they hauled the
boat up the dock he said to his daugh-
ter:
Now, Gypsy, 1 shall be back in
half an hour. so do not be far from
here when get back. We can not
trust the weather. and it isn't looking
very we'll now" Then he hurried
away, and Gypsy ran of to visit some
OF her friends. She visited three or
four houses during the next hour and
then the skies grew dark. Great
armies OF clouds gathered to windward
and trooped across the heavens, and
up the lake the storm had struck the
water turning the blue. drowsy surface
into racing white caps When Gypsy
noticed this she started up and ex-
claimed:
'Oh. the storm is rising and papa
can not get back before it is too rough
to cross to the lighthouse. | will row
over alone. Some one come and help
me to launch the boat" Her friends
advised her to remain until her father
came, but she said that it was going
to be wild night and the lamps must
be lighted.
Lock here, girl" shouted the old
est man in tho party, no skiff can
live out in that sea now; wait for your
father"
1t will get worse. and by the time
papa comes it will be impossible to go
over; l must be there to light the
lights. and saying this she pushed
the boat off with her pole then sat
upon the thwart, seized her SOULS, and
rowed out into the angry water. She
made very brave picture with the
drift OF spray driving over her. like u
ralnstorm, her hair loosened in the
wind. like dark flag. The fishermen
stood together abashed as they saw
the brave girl move further and fur
Their out through the roaring storm
and drift. They felt ashamed of
themselves for their cowardice for re-
fusing to go in the boat with this
young lion hearted girl; 'but they shud-
dered as they saw the great white
topped pillows rolling toward the little
boat and every minute threatening to
swamp it.
AS for Gypsy she had no fear though
the foam swept over her boat in a con-
slant stream, and it was full of water.
Any faltering OF her nerves would now
be fatal. and she kept constantly
watching the seas. which every min
ute were growing more furious and
swinging her skiff around to meet them
head-to. The SUN had set and in the
gloom which began to gather over the
noisy water she could see the rock and
the lighthouse not far away looming
darkly through the spray. Two or
three more shipments OF water over
the low quarter. and then the girl was
in the shelter OF the. rock.
Springing lightly from the bow and
carrying the painter with her she ran
up to the windlass and drew her boat
high out OF the water and secured 1t as
firmly as she could. The sea had al
ready commenced 10 boom against the
rock and at each shock columns Of
spray were flung up to half the height
OF the tower on the windward side.
The evening was made so dark
by the storm that Gypsy knew
the light should be lighted at
once; moreover she could just see
about half mile to windward u ship
whose course lay along by the island.
She tripped lightly up the tower, the
wind shrieking by the building. and in
u few minutes the rudy light cleaned
out upon the sea- Then as the dark
ness deepened the ship showing her
lights. passed safely by the ledge
under close reefed sails and Gypsy felt
herself all alone in the midst of this
wilderness of raging sea. When the
great iron weight was wound up and
the lantern panes wiped she set the
fans OF the balance wheel to regulate
the revolution of the flashes and went
down to the basement OF the tower.
There she laid upon the table some
cold lake fowl, bread and butter. and
then brewed herself a pot of fragrant
coffee. AS we know she was brave
so she did not mind the prospect of
having to stay alone all night on
this rock. but the sea grew
more tumultuous every moment and
tbs wind howled louder and louder.
Before supper was ended she knew
the maddened waters had burst over
the rock and were striking the tower.
l