Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08


rate. No more wreckers came ashore but
just before shutdown Of the third day a
wrecker named Hobbins, who was a sort
of leader, was landed from a schooner
and came up to the lighthouse alone. We
thought 1t best not to let him know that
was about, and I was, therefore, slowed
away out of sight. He was a man in the
prim, of life and wicked-looking fellow,
hut he had come to try moral suasion be-
fore proceeding to violence, and therefore
had smile on his face He was offered
something to eat and drink and for half
an hour he coaxed and argued with Coombs
to give up share Of the money. When
told that 1t had gone away on the tender he
would not believe it, judging the lighthouse
keeper by his own moral standard. When
at last he found that fair words were of no
avail he turned on Coombs and said:
See here, man, you know me and you
know our crowd. Either divide with us or
We'll take all. If you do not agree we'll
come here tomorrow and have you out of
this dead or alive!'
Coombs refused him and he went away in
boiling heat. He thought he had only an
old man to deal with, and why he did not
call a half dozen men from the schooner
and make the attack then and there was
something 1 could not understand. AS he
stepped into his boat he called back that a
visit might be expected from him on the
morrow, and Judged from the tones of his
voice that he was desperately in earnest
Shark Island was about two acres in extent,
with the lighthouse in the center of 1t and
rude wharf on the east side. Had Coombs
and his daughter been there alone they
would have prepared just the same for de-
Tense, but with an extra hand to help beat
of the wreckers the old man was really
pleased at the idea Of a skirmish with the
men he had lived in fear of for several
years. The base of the lighthouse was d.
vided into living room and a store ROOM
and above 1t were three bedrooms in which
hammocks were swung. From these a
spiral stairway wound UP to the lantern
room, fifty feet above. The height Of the
structure from ground to top was about
sixty-five feet, and At that time the light
was considered one of the most important
and the best on the coast. The doorway at
the base was just wide enough to roll in a
barrel of oil, and the door itself was made
of heavy planks, and studded with bolt
beads. There were three windows in the
upper and lower portions, but these were
harrow, and those on the ground floor were
defended by iron bars. The lighthouse had
been erected during the Indian troubles in
Florida, and doubtless with view to re-
sisting an attack from the redskins.
Coombs felt sure that the wrecker would
return next day with a score Of men at his
back, and we therefore spent the evening
In arranging for defense. The doo- faced
the wharf on the east. We dragged UP a
lot Of planks and timhers and made a bar
ricade Just in front Of IT, and then We
brought up scores Of pals of water and
thoroughly saturated the barricade and the
door. The fresh water for the keeper and
Pine Island, a mile away. During the night
We brought over three barrels in the boat,
and also made rude shutters for the lower
windows. In fact, we worked at one thing
and another all night, and when daylight
came the place was in the best possible
state for q siege. The day came without a
breath Of wind to rufae the sea, and, know
ing that it would be some hours before the
wreckers could reach US, the three Of us
turned in for a sleep, and 1t was o'clock
In the afternoon before we awoke. Then
we found fair breeze blowing and a
wrecking schooner standing In for the
wharf. 1t was arranged that Coombs and
! should take the barricade and the daush-
ter fire from the windows In case of an at
tack. and do not think three people ever
showed more GOODNESS under like circum-
stances. I know I should have been far
more nervous with two men from the ten
der as companions. Both father and daugh-
ter were as cool as II pleasure party was
about to land. Coombs said he did not
want to be the first to fire. but the battle
once opened We must all shoot to kill. If
the WreckerS got the better Of US after any
Of them had been killed they would show
us no mercy.
As the schooner came to the wharf we
sew that she had at least thirty men
aboard, and they made q great show Of
firearms as Hobbins climbed over the rail
and advanced upon our barricade. He was
halted ten yard1 away and asked what he
wanted. He replied that he had come after
the money and was bound to have II. II
Coombs dared to IRE on the crowd. they
would burn him alive. and he made such
threats ~ to what should be done with the
the trigger on him. Coombs quietly but
sturdny answered that the gold had been
taken away ON the tender. and that he was
there e defend government property. II