Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-06-19
MONOTONOUS LIVES.
FOLLOWED BY THOSE WHO TEND THE
LIGHTHOUSES.

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the secretary Of the treasury on the rec.
ommendation Of the lighthouse board,
and at first receives only an acting ap-
pointment. At the end Of three months,
if he passes an examination by the ma
val officer who is the inspector Of tho
district, he receives full appointments;
If he does not pass, he is dropped from
the service A keeper must be able to
read and write, keep accounts, sail and
publ boat and have enough mechanic
al ability to make the necessary minor
repairs about the station and keep it in
order. There is only one grade Of keep
er recognized by law, but the custom Of
the service has divided the keepers into
different grades. with different pay and
duties and with promotion from one
grade to another. A man may be ap-
pointed to the service and assigned to a
particular station, but he may be moved
at any time if promoted or if the inter
ests of the service demand it, At sta
tions requiring but one keeper a retired
seafaring man, with family, is usual
ly selected, and in general men of the
seafaring class are most wanted. At sta
tions where there is fog signal one Of
the assistants is a man who has an en-
gineer's license and is something of a
machinist.
Keepers are paid on an average about
$500 a year, but the individual sums
paid vary from 500 to 81, 900 year,
according to the Importance of the sta
ton anG the amount Of service render
ed. The principal keeper at Minots
Ledge light, just outside of Boston, re-
ceives $1,000 year for his services,
and this furnishes the only instance
where the pay of a keeper is specified
by law.
The keepers who live at isolated
lighthouses and on the offshore light
ships lead a very monotonous life, bro
ken only by the sight of passing vessels
and the quarterly visit of the lighthouse
supply boat.
These keepers get considerable leave,
about two weeks in three months, dur
ing which time they visit their families
on full pay. A lighthouse on an outly-
ing reef, for instance, is on the same
status as lightship, except that it can
not be blown away and the keepers eau
not leave it except when they are re-
lieyed, as a storm might come up and
prevent their return.
Much is done by the lighthouse board
to further the comfort of all its en-
ployees, but most is done for those who
endure the solitary life at the isolated
lights and ON the hghtships. Libraries
are furnished the keepers and their
families Each contains about 40 vol
umes of works of history, science and
poetry, with fair supply Of good nov
els. This complete library is left at a
station for three months, and is then.
transferred TO another station by an in
speetor on his quarterly visit. There are
nearly 1000 of these libraries in circu-
lation, each in its little portable case,
and, by their judicious interchange, the
keepers of stations where they are fur
nished see about 200 volumes year.
Keepers are forbidden to engage in
any business which will prevent their
presence at their stations or interfere
with the proper performance Of their
duties. Many have useful and profitable
occupations which they carry on at the
stations, while some fill pulpits, are
Justices of the peace or teach school.
All keepers are furnished with quarters
for themselves and in some cases for
their families. In some cases they are
furnished with food and rations, Other
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and horses, and boats are furnished all
stations inaccessible BY land
The discipline of the service has been
always rigid, as beftting service
where negligence or inefficiency may
mean the loss of many lives and much
valuable property.
Dismissal instantly follows in two
cases-where keeper is found intoxi-
Gated and where he allows his light TO
go out. Keepers are trained to consider
the care Of the light and the lighthouse
property above any and all personal
considerations, and it is rare indeed
when they fail to realize this high
ideal There have been Il number of in
stances illustrating the esprit de corps
VI the seINlCt--HoW tle keepers VI tub
Minot's Ledge light first built went
down with the light and died at their
posts, how one keeper saved his lens
and let his family look out for them
selves, and instances where they have
saved public property and lost their
own.
Fortunately the service is not ham
pered by airy question of politics, and
this fact, coupled with the excellent
discipline maintained, accounts for the
fine class Of men now in the service
men who take an honest pride in their
work, and whose interest makes the ef
ficiency Of the service what it is. 1t is
unfortunate that the navy has no retir
ing laws for its seamen which would
allow men after 20, rs or 80 years serv-
ice, depending on the physical condi-
tion Of the man, to be retired and
placed in the lighthouse service for the
rest of their lives, A valuable class of
men would thus be added, and the ma
ton would be paying debt which now
goes unpaid. Philadelphia Ledger.
Warriors and Uniforms.