Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08
THE MAID OF ROBBINS REEF.

know that II is Robbins Reef, and that -
all. They don't even know whether any
one lives there, whethe. the light is ope-
rated In some mysterious fashion from the
New York shore or the Staten Island or
Jersey sides. None of the regular vessels
or ferries Of the harbor pass nearer than
half mile to it. Craft Of deep draught
naturally keep clear OF it; only venture
some little catboats go within hailing dis
lance, and some Of these have suffered
because OF tie temerity of the shippers
The tide and eddies run with strange
force near the reef, and more than one
boat has had its bottom ripped off by be-
Ing dashed on the sharp-pointed ledge.
AN ISOLATED FAMILY.
II any one takes the trouble and is
skilful mariner a visit to the lighthouse
will reveal an interesting story 1t holds
q little family. who are shut of as much
from the millions OF people crcling
round them as castaways on South Pa
cifc island. These people living IN the
centre Of busting activity know nothing
OF what is going on about them. III the
President Of the United States were as
sassinated at the Astcr House they might
not hear Of II until week or two later
They get the newspapers In large DUN
dies, and some of them are three weeks
old.
This family Is small one. 1t Is com
posed OF a mother, a 10-year-old daugh-
ter. and an old grandfather. The tower
IS fifty feet high, and from snort dis
tance away does not seem TO be lnuch
thicker than a stout white pole, but II
his four floors. and furnishes very plea
SAINT home for the Walker family, tht
lighthouse keepers.
The little girl, Mamie Walker, is by
far the most interesting member Of the
family. She Is 10 years old now and
was born on the reef. She had never
been ashore until she was Z years old
and to-day New York city is as much
mystery TO her as to the little girls Nv
ing on he Western plains.
A NEAT LITTLE TALE.
Seventeen years ago her father was
appointed lighthouse keeper on Robbins
Reef, and he ola his work well After
eleven years of service he died sudden.
", and around his death the river boat
men have woven neat little tale. with
Mamie Walker as the heroine. This Is
the way the story runs:
At the time OF his death there was
not a soul living In the lighthouse ex-
cepting his wife and little daughter,
Mamie. then but years old.
Night had already come on, and with
II rising tide and a cloudy sky. Hav-
Ing never paid any attention 70 the yari-
Gus machinery for running the light and
the other appurtenances, Mrs. Walker
was almost distracted, for the sea had be-
come high. a heavy fog had settled
down. and II was impossible to seek as
sistance from shore. a mile away.
In this crisis s-year-old Mamie came
to her aid. and with the self-possession
that betokened a thorough knowledge,
gained by being constantly In the COM
pany OF her father on his rounds through
the building. she started the machinery
going TO signal to mariners by light and
buoy.
Up in the turret with It's great globe OF
curlously-carved magnfying glasses
Mamie hurried. and furnishing the lamp
inside. FASTENED TO the basement and
started the engine. which gives the light
slow. revolving motion When turning
10 the engine driven by explosion OF
Kerosene. which blows the whistling buoy,
or siren. as II Is technically termed, she
started II going. and closed her rounds
by going to the fourth story and throw
Ing on the huge ratchet. wound up the
automatic arrangement that tolls the bell
buoy.
After the death of her father a grown
son gave up his work in the city and re-
turned TO the lighthouse 10 manage
efairs there. Mrs. Walker and Mamie
soon became 40 expert at the work. how
ever. he was enabled after few months
70 return TO the city. and since then
the mother and daughter have attended
20 the intricate machinery OF the light
house and at the regular Official in
spections the government officers have
had nothing but praise TO give for the
way the work IL done.
ARE CAPABLE KEEPERS.
If anything happene 10 the bell buoy
some distance away and operated By