The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-15

allotted Them. for not in sixteen years
has the great revolving light in the tur-
rel OF the house been dimmed, or in foggy
weather mas the bell buoy or the weirdly
Whistlins sirene" failed to sound forth
their notes of warning
A Terrible Crisis.
the elder Walker. after eleven years
o. ceaseless care and watchfulness de-
voted TO keep bright the light and in
saving the lives OF many folk who r3 n
ashore on the reefs, finally succumbed
TO the inevitable, and abont six years
ago was suddenly taken ILL., and before
he could explain anything about the
workings OF the light, died. At the time
of his death there was not q soul living
IN the lighthouse, excepting his wife and
little daughter Mamie, then but four
years old.
Night had already come on. and with
II d rising tide and clouded sky.- Hay-
ing never paid any attention to the vari-
GUS machinery for running the light and
the other appurtenances, Mrs. Walker
was almost distracted, for the sea had
become high, heavy fog had settled
down. and it was impossible TO seek as
slstanee from shore, a mile away
Mamfe's Quick Wit.
In this crisis year old Mamie came
TO her aid, and with the self possession
that betokened a thorough knowIedge
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 its great
globe OF curiously carved magnifying
glasses Mamie hurried, and furnishing
the lamp inside, FASTENED to the base
ment and started the engine which gives
the lighta slow. revolving motion. Then
when turning to the engine driven by ex-
plosion of kerosene, Which blows the whis-
ling buoy or sirene, as il is technically
termed. she started it going and closed
her rounds by going to the fourth story,
= 0d ErO ont ba ~ f0bp
up the automatic arrangement that tolls
the bell buoy.
Mamie and Her Mother.
This was the first exploit of Mamie
Walker. who though known in a circle of
friends limited 70 the rough but kind old
boatmen at ST. George and Tomkinsyille
lives a life entirely apart from other
girls, and in many ways IS a remarkable
child. Immediately after ner fathers
death, Jacob her brother. a young man
ton IN the city and came 10 take his
fathers place, but he left soon. and ND
until very recently Mrs. Walker and
Mamie have lived together and alone
with an old grandfather on the Robins
Reef, where year in and year out they
have occupied themselves with keeping
the light, ana attending to the ordinary
domestic duties.
A Lonely Life.
Though Robins Reef is so near to the
great centers of population and within
hailing distance of the Staten Island
boats. il. might for all the intercourse af- |
forded the denizens there be in the Sa-
hara desert. Sometimes in the winter
the great ice foes jam againsA the little !
houEe. which seems in constant danger /
of being crushed like a cookie shell, Mrs. /
Walker and Mamie see no other persons /
for three or four weeks.
IN the summer time, however. they /
generally manage. TO get TO land for a /
short time more frequently, though nei- I
Their care to stay away for any length OF /
time from the reef
The only means Of reaching the light /
house is by the government tug from
which only runs for the |
favored few and at intervals of several /
weeks. or by row boat. It is by the lat
ter method that Mamie and her mother
come ashore for provisions, sometimes
raising sail in the staunch little White