The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-13
The Keeper of Loon Light.
From the New York Evening Post
-Four Parts.)

! -Four Parts)
PART ".
They drew their chairs about the IittIs
table, and were about to toast the absent
skipper when Capt. Sam started sud.
denly and listened. The storm was at its
| height, and the lofty tower seemed tc
sway beneath the mighty power OF the
wind, which wh;rled around it, now seiz-
| ing 1t in its embrace and shaking II as
a cat would a mouse. while playing
| strange airs upon the lightning-rod, and
| producing weird vibrant sounds that ap-
palled the listeners. The rear OF the
! waves was incessant, and great seas well
! upon the rocks shaking Ii to it's founda-
tons, while occasionally the crest of a
sea would be torn away and hurled
against the tower with resounding force.
I thought 1 heard hail." said Capt
Sam, after a pause. There he added
| as during a lull a faint shout or cry
came down the wind.
Selling a lantern, the keeper donned his
oil-skins, and. unbarring the door. forced
it open against the wind and squeezed
out. The water seemed to be making a
clean breach over the island, and the on
ly thing safely above il were the unpaint-
ed boulders strewn about. Throwing a
rope that was made fast to the rocks
about his waist and leaping upon boul-
der Capt. Sam made his way over them
in the direction Of the lee where a little
cut in the rock, the apology for a landing,
was now a seething caldron. Waving the
lantern high in the air. to indicate the
spot, he shouted in the teeth of the wind
an answering hail.
Some one blown off shore, and they'll
never land in this sea; God help them. +"
he said to himself. Again in a lull came
cry, which the Captain answered by
waving the lantern high above a sea that
swept by him, knee-deep, clinging to the
iron stanchion that had been soldered into
the rock. Through the foam, coming in
to the glare of the light. he saw a dory;
now disappearing in wave-hollow, then
balancing on the crest of the sea. the men
watching their chance to ride in and run
the gauntlet Of the rocks. Several seas
rushed in from the darkness, surging up
around the Captain. and menacing the
lantern that marked the landing.
SUDDENLY the dory rose on big roller
and with a shout the men gave way in
a desperate attempt to hold her there as
she rushed on. APPARENTLY to destruction.
The dory seemed to be higher than Capt
Sans head, and about to be dashed
against the jagged eth of rock But on
it came balanced on the crest, the men
rowing fiercely for their lives, and by a
superhuman effort keeping it on the wave
that spread well over the rock in a mass
of golden spectral light. Into the waves
they leaped, waist deep, Capt. Sam follow
ing, and by their combined efforts they
held the dory against the terrible black
flow; then. with cheer. they ran it high
er up and dropped it against the door of
the light on the boulders
How many bots are there?" asked
Capt. Sam, handing the men the slack
of the lifeline.
1.-TWO more" said one of the oil-skinned
figures. wiping the spray from his eyes.
I'VE were caught in the gale an blown
off shore, an had to run for the light;
it was that or nothin'."
rs there a young woman boardin'
here7" asked the man, as they watched
for the dories.
Yes" replied Capt. Sam. ''Why?''
We'll" continued the fisherman, cher
sweetheart's in the other bot. He hired
Nate Salisbury to bring him out an they
got nipped by the gale long with the rest
Of us. He's fine Teller, an he let out to
the mate that they're to be married short
Iy."