The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
FOUGHT IN A LIG HTHOUSE.
KEEPER AND HELPER IN Il LIE
AM DEATH STRUGGLE.

sued by the other Man. who Shoots ut Him.
NARRAaANsETT PIER, R L. Aug. 13.-Whale
Rock lighthouse, three miles northeast Of here.
Is in charge Of q drunken maniac. the assistant
keeper, Henry Myrtle. This evening. after
drinking heavily all day. ho worked himself
into q murderous frenzy, attacked Capt. J. s.
Allen. the lighthouse keeper, with q carving
knife, drove him from the island. pursued him
to the mainland In q boat, and only re-
turned when his intended victim succeeded In
getting q horse and so making his escape. Capt.
Allen reached here tonight terribly bruised
and exhausted and told the story Of his fight
and flight. Tho light on Whale Rock Is burn.
ing low. but people here are watching IL anx-
iously. for nobody knows at what moment the
man in charge may see At to turn 1t out and put
moving vessels In peril.
Myrtle 10 q middle-aged, strongly built
Swode. who has been employed at Whale Rock
for several years. Ordinarily he is Of peaceful
disposition. but when in drink he is dangerous.
Last night Capt. Allen suspected that his as
sistant had been drinking, and this morning
the man started in with the obstinate intention
of getting drunk. BY evening he was furious
and making threats against Capt Allen, who
had attempted to restrain him from further in
diligence. Finally tho Captain went up in the
tower, telling Nygriffe to go to bed, and busted
himself with the lamp, preparing to light 1t.
While he was thus engaged the assistant
| climbed the stairs quietly and stepped into the
tower. He had u carving-knife in his hand.
"What are you doing here T. said Capt. Allen.
81 told you to go to bed and stay there" z
That's what you told me" returned the as
| sistant, but I didn't have to stay there. I've
had enough Of you. and I've come up here to kill
| YOU"
He fourished the carving knife and started
forward. Instantly Capt. Allen decided upon
his course.
wait until I fix the light" he said. You
wouldn't want to have the light left unlit."
"what do 1 care,' replied tho swede. "Let
the ship go to hell. I've come up hereto kill you
and I'm going 10 do 1t now"
As he spoke Allen had been edging around to-
ward the man and now he jumped for him. A
quick downward sweep of the knife 30 narrow
ly missed him that 1t slit the back OF his coat
almost the entire length, but that one stroke
was the only one Myrtle had time to
give before his opponent was clinched with
him. Strive and strain as he would. the Swede
could not get his right arm free to strike again.
Whirling his superior around. he thrust him
violently against the wall, but Allen SO turned
that his weight was thrown upon Nygriffe's
right arm with crushing impact, and the knife
fell to tho ground.
Then began a breast 10 breast wrestling match,
with life or death as the result, and no human
being within three miles TO help or hinder. The
powerful Swede tried to wear his enemy. down
by superior strength, but the Captain ts wtry
and agile and played a defensive game. ~exerting
his own strength only to meet the attacks OF the
Captain % his feet. '' and he was beginning to
weary.
py this time they had w,estled across to the
inG haId. and the swsdse. stiil a, close grips, o was
1as nearly shrowhp himself. TSen both
waited. neither daring TO- release the
reach reach at the other. side Of tth,e room Aliens
thoughts centred. He knew that he could not
pnonent would wear him down. and facing the
prospect Of death II he failed he made his plan.
This was to get the knife out OF the way. His
Presently the Swede renewed his wrestling
still Keeping his feet. Kept edTins over toward
the knife and dragging his subordinate with
You won't get II" painted Nysrihe. thinking
that he had fathomed the schems. Let me get
Ai SSah R ReIa w sadd sI%9s rel s s. win IL a. q c wns q
triumph the swede stopped swiftly, stretching
i8lad eS w 9@na a foot als shot hofe out ~ %nd the S,% Enite SV VENT ens
spinning and sliding, across the floor and.
soth men Stopped kesas f and Iisstten SsTh rr one st ssep to
step It fell, Changing GGt then ho 6y the silence, w NIX
9 common. impulse they sprang apart. The
swede ran for the weapon: Allen. his ono idea
the window. and swing himself outside took but
& second; r Halt y T9y to i the ground .sH d. he so heard I'd
the window. and felt him hacking at the rope.
It. There IGe, was but t,s one hold, ting ss s IT, a. So Snd !: ai aMiS dia
that his hands were torn badly. but he was
safely on the ground. and within a few
he jumped and headed TOR the nearest, point
Of the shore. some two miles away; but hardly
other boat which he had left and had neglected
to cast adrift: It was too late now. for Nysrihe
ming across to the moorinR place.
Tho battle was to be followed by a pursuit. To
q oe1 st os I oa. 1 st oaes. rant fSs ss I and i" dissp!
peared inside the door. A moment later
t aiss a ss aan in his Il. hs sasRlsiie eSai,ed HI Il. to 1sffp ssrSfui
aim at the fugitive, and fred. Where tho bull
; LET le5, went tn the sn CsPtaiI ih doesn't Ictck know, but i WAS WAS
Into the boat, jumped in himself, and pushed of.
expert oarsman, could easily outrow the Swede.
stGt his torn hands MADE every stroke pain,
pedel his stroke; still. he seemed to be
= WITH ! 9 sHort WIN har ri dPG stross. ~ hsi rvs %a rSU CRsf
Sygrife spurted and caught up a little. but the
Q lance. and he landed nearly a good 200 yards il
. front. As he jumped out Of hts boat the Swedo
D Allen ran straight for the nearest road. plung
Ing through a eornileld. where he fell severa
. way he heard u shout from behind. which
: he took 10 mean that his pursuer had
, landed. Down the road some two miles and :
half lay Narragansctt Pier. lie set out on a tror
!. IN this direction. put soon realized that his ex
. there. A few rods ahead was a farmhouse. anr
s hitched to a post was a horse. The exhaustet
farmer.
= LEND me your horse.' he cried. There's
I man Just behind trying TO murder me-"
How do / know who you are 7" demanded tn
"Tm Capt. Allen of the lighthouse. My as
s%istant has gone crazy and tried to kill me
q He held up his torn hands. Another man cam
out Of the house and recognized the Captain.
t Take the horse" he said. He'll get yo,
d out OF harms way"
l. They helped him upon tho animals back, an,
4 he Ralloped away, bareback and clinging for hi
life. As he turned out from the gate, Nygrife
still, carry ing his gun, came running down III
road, fired at him, and ran on again. The tw
n farmers saw pursuer and pursued d~isappea
around a turn.
Capt. Allen reached this place terribly OF
hRnstah. His clothing was torn half off md IA