The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-16

Petit Manan lighthouse. or "'Tis
Man" as the natives call IL. is one OF
those spldery looking affairs which
rise from the water among some dan
gerous shoals off Winter Harbor. Me
and is supported by four iron tubes Sc
curely fastened into holes drilled into
the solid rock. About thirty feet above
high tide. but not entirely out or reach
of the waves when "a gale is blowing, III
a house built of corrugated iron. The
lower story Is for storage purposes,
Here three months provisions and y
stock of fresh water are always kept III
case the lighthouse keeper should be
cut off from shore. and "a stock OF oil
sufficient to keep the lamp burning all
winter. There is the little machine
shop, too. where necessary repairs can
be made when needed. Above TINS are
the living apartments-two rooms about
20 feet by IA In size one OF tnsm II
drawing room. sitting room, library
and chamber combined: the other ~
kitchen, dining room, &c. Outside, on
all four sides OF the building. Is rL-
lery, or piazza, where the lighthouse
keeper can sit in his leisure hours end
enjoy the changing scenery or the sea
or drop hook over the railing ana
catch fish for dinner or breakfast.
Above Ia the tower with an enormous
lamp, whose rays can be seen Tor many
miles. :,
A lonesome place Is Tit Nan
lighthouse. miles from shore, ana the
only means of communication is row
boat There are no neighbors any
nearer and no visitors disturb the soil
tude of the lightkeeper except once or
twice 81 year. when the INSPECTOR comes
around or curious people from pleas
-'rcht climb the iron ladder Tor GU
riosity. ..,r,. 49,.
An.os Rice has kept TIT Nan
lipht for more than q quarter OF CEN
tury. and his wife lived there with hlm
all this time. Their children were grown
and married off or engaged In employ
ment elsewhere. SO that they had noth-
ing 10 trouble them and were able 70
nut by the greater part OF the SAL
arv OF 500 n month which the govern
ment has paid Amos for proteo"Te
commerce against disaster upon the
shoals.
few short weeks ago Mrs. Rice
peacefully terminated n long and lone
some life and went To join the choir in
visible Amos had To keep her bodN
four days before he could fuf-h'H
promise 10 bury, her with her folks AZ
Winter Harbor. for the sea was high.
II Is no easy Job for q man una'ded ~
remove body from a tower like tha1
into n rowboat that is tossing furiouslv
upon the waves but Amos finally d!o
H. The first quiet morning he left mr.
berenved homo the very minute ~ wa:'
lawful To put his light out. rowed over
rough sea and upon his arrival at
Winter Harbor called upon tho sexton
and minister and what friends could
be summoned and after brief and
impressive service the body OF Mrs.
Rice was committed to the dust and her
soul to God. who gave IL.
After they came from the cemetery
a. ,nse rl,lN ctr.asl a.
the friends 10 have little refreshment.
OF course they oil accepted and among
others n "lkelv' widow whose hus-
band had been dead two years and who
was "boardin' round" among her rela-
.ives- -Aent OF home and income.
Amos's grief was not greater than his
sense Of loneliness. and. finding
svmpathetic chord in the heart OF tha
widow. he proposed to her In the pres
ence of the whole company. and. the
narson being present they were imme-
diately married The bride hurried
over TO her sisters to put up her
things" while Amos continued to re-
ceive mingled condolences and congrat-
ulations.
II was 4 O'Clock In the afternoon
when he started back to his watery
evre with his bride, with miles or row.
ing before him. II any ships were Gus
that night they must have wondered
why. for the first .ime i'm q ouartor OF
n century the CLEANS Of "'Tit Nan"
light were not visible for more than two
hours after sunset Amos reached
home at last. after performing what he
considers a good dav's work for man
who is more than 60. He rowed manv
miles i'm a dory, buried one wife AND
married another apd, as In the case ot
the King Of Denmark the funeral
baked meats set forth the wedding din
ner-Chicago Record.