The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
WHALE ROCK LIGHTED UP.
AsSIsTANT KEEPER ARRESTED AND
CAPT ALLEN GOES BACK.


A Narrarnnsett Pier Policeman BrinEs the
Riotous Assistant, NyErinne. TO shore-Hc
Declares Capt. Alien Attacked Him with
n kniro in Their Fight in the Tower.
N~ARRAaANsErT PIER, r. L., Aug. 1A.-Police.
man Lewis Chnmplin of Narragansett Pier went
over to the Whale Rock Lighthouse this morn.
ing In q small boat, accompanied by two mem.
bers Of the life saving crew, and brought back
Assistant Keeper Nygrinne, who yesterday
tried to murder Keeper Allen. NyRrinne remon.
stratcd when Chnmplin reached the island and
did not wish to 60 ashore, but he was finally
persuaded that 1t was the best thing for him to
do and reluctantly left the light, where he had
been keeping vigil through the night. Nygrinne
could not be arrested by tho local authorities, as
he is in the Government employ, but he has been
suspended by the Chief of the Government light
house service and will be held hero for an exami'
nation pending an investigation. The marks oil
the knife used In the scufle were visible on his
neck and forehead.
Nygrinno speaks broken English and appar.
emily was to-day in q weak physical condition
after his night of combat and revelry on Whale
Rock light.
Friday night was not my night on duty"
said Nygrinne. ut was Capt. Aliens night,
and 1 was not supposed to take charge of the
lighthouse until after midnight. Allen had no
ubtiCb W uObClb w olO Itoth hhu Nlub u
many ships in peril. This trouble is not tho first
we have had. We have had SO many rows that
Mrs. Allen has been obliged to leave the place,
and now Is in Block Island.
ION Friday night Capt. Allen ordered mo to 60
down to tho shoro and look after some lobster
pots and to get some bait for him. This l did,
and when returning / failed to bring any bait
with me. he got very, angry and began to
abuse mo. he finally attacked me, and drawing
a knife. cut two gashes in my head here. and
Nygrinne pointed to two wounds in his forehead
and u deep cash In his neck. The fight took
place in the tower of the lighthouse after dark,
which explains why Whale Rock was not lighted
in tho early part of the evening. We fought
hand to hand. and l was obliged to knock the
Captain down In self-defence.
"After l reached Narragansett Pier I realized
that tho light was not burning and rowed back
TO the island, reaching there about 8 o'clock"
Here tho Swede began. to mutter and
threaten Allen. Last month Nygrinnc went to
Newport, got drunk. and while en- route back to
Whale Rock his boat capsized, and for hours he
struggled in the water, but was finally picked up
by tho captain Of q passing fishing smack. A
year ago In a drunken frenzy he led the police of
wanted him on a charge of drunkenness, but
Eygrinne sailed away successfully to Whale
Rock. Tonight Sygrinne is under guard at the
pier life. station opposite the Casino, and
Capt, Allen, who has been resting here to-day,
was taken early this evening in a Government
tender to Whale Rock. where the red light in
the lighthouse tower flashes its rays over the
waters OF Narragansett.
WASHINGTON, Aug. l4.-The Lighthouse Board
has telegraphed to tho Inspector of the Second
Lighthouse District to investigate the case OF
Nygrinpe, the assistant keeper Of Whale Rock
light, Rhode Island, who became violent on Fri.
day night from drink and tried to kill the keeper.