The herald., 1897-08-16
SAN PEDRO

SAN PEDRO, Aug. 15.-(Resular Corre-
gpondence.) One of the points of interest
to the visitor in San Pedro is the light
house that stands on the extreme end of
Point Firmin. Should you be fortunate
enough to be whirled out there behind the
fine horsef1esh driven by Capt. Sykes, one
Of the substantial citizens of the Harbor
City. the drive will be very short and, skirt
ing the ocean all the way, is exceedingly
pleasant. The house is built after the style
of most of those on the California coast.
The rooms are large, ample in number,
with no waste space nor blind passage
ways. Though constructed of frame, it is
solid and substantial, and the visitor feels
q sense of strength and security as though
no amount of storm nor stress of weather
would make the slightest impression on it's
thick walls and firm foundation. There are
two floors occupied by the family, and
then, ascending to the tower. are first the
lamp room, where the lamps are filled with
kerosene especially prepared for the light
service. and shipped from Staten island. 1t
IL all carefully measured and an accurate
account kept of all that is used. Up another
flight of stairs comes the watch room,
where Capt. Shaw the keeper, has his
books, desk and charts, and from the win
dows of which he watches the approach of
storms and sees that the light does not go
out. Here are books giving the entire his
tory of the lighthouse service in this coun-
try from the building Of the first one in
Boston harbor on little Brewster island,
which is now called Boston light. Up an
other flight of stairs to the very top of the
tower we find the lamp in it's big, beautiful
lens, carefully shielded from dust by a
muslin cover. The lens was made in Paris
in 1886, 1t is what is known as a fourth
order, fixed white lens of 1000 candle power
1t is adjusted to the horizon and throws its
light out to sea seventeen miles, magnify
fnc 1or,, ic 1;r,t tal
night precisely at sunset and extingushed
at sunrise. The lens is a large oblong-
shaped, hollow globe, moved on a high
pedestal in fine brass frame. The brass
lamp is placed inside the globe, which has a
door opening on one side. San Pedro light
is situated in latitude SO degrees 40 min
utes IA seconds north, longitude lis degrees
II minutes Il seconds west; height above
water level, 156 feet; number 991. 1t was
built in 1874, its first keepers being two sis
ters, the Misses Smith, who are said to
have been distant relatives of Robert
Ingersoll. They remained until 1882, when
the present keeper Capt. George N. Shaw
was appointed. Capt. Shaw served in both
departments of the service, army and navy
in the late war, and is an enthusiastic vet
eran. The most interesting feature in the
lighthouse is Capt. Shaw's private collec-
tion of original war photographs, which
may be seen for small fee. This is the
only set III cAlSleuce OUTSIDE OIL the war Qe-
partment in Washington. The photo
graphers were allowed to make but two
sets of negatives. One is in the national
archives, and by a stroke of rare fortune
this set has come into possession of Capt
Shaw. There are 5000 of them, ALL of course
priceless in value. In the exhibit room
many singular and affecting incidents have
occurred with soldiers who fought on both
sides in the civil war. In 1888 the light
house board prescribed dress and fatigue
uniforms for male keepers, including hats,
but it failed to provide a uniform for its
women keepers, of whom there are num-
ber in this country. Mrs. Julia Williams
has kept the Santa Barbara light for thirty
five years, and in all that time has never
allowed any hand but her own to light the
lamp. Once she was persuaded to stay
away from home over night, but she suf-
fered such torture of mind for fear some
accident would happen the lamp and life
be lost at sea in consequence that she never
could be induced to leave her precious
charge again or trust it to other hands,
The first lighthouse keeper in this country
was George Worthylake, who kept Boston
light In 1Il6 at 500 year. and one of the
first official acts of President George Wash
tngton was to write to the keeper of Sandy
Hook light directing him to keep a light
burning until congress had opportunity to
provide for its continuance San Pedro
light has many visitors, frequently thirty
five or forty day. Capt. Shaw and wife
cordially receive sightseers, and the cap
tain patiently climbs the stairs and ex-
plains explicitly all points of interest
The people of San Pedro desire very much
that a ferry boat shall be put on the bay
so that they may be able to enjoy the fine
drive along the shore to Long Beach, To
this end they have sent numerously signed
petition to the Terminal Railway company
and with the liberal policy pursued by that
soulful corporation toward the people along
the route, it is thought the request will be
complied with at an early date.
The streets of the town are pretty badly
torn up just al present, but will soon be in
better shape than ever before. There is
considerable grading going on, buildings
OC ~ Eg~ ~