The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-16
PETIT MANAN LIGHT.
A Strange Story About the Keeper of I
Lighthouse Off the Coast of Maines
(From the Chicago Record. J

.
Petit Manan Lighthouse, or Tit
Nan" as the natives call it, is one of
those spidery looking affairs which arise
from the water among some dangerous
shoals of Winter Harbor, Me-, and Is sup
ported by four iron tubes securely fastened
into holes drilled into the solid rock.
About thirty feet above high tide, but
lot entirely out of reach of the waves
when gale is blowing, is a house built
of corrugated iron. The lower story is
for zsRrsge purposes. Here three months
provisions and stock Of fresh water are
always kept In case the lightkeeper should
be cut. of 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 this are the living
apartments-two rooms about 20 feet by
a in size. One of them is drawing room,
sitting room, library and chamber COM
bined; the other is kitchen, dining room,
etc. Outside, on all four sides of the
building, is a gallery, or piazza, where the
lighrkeeper can sit in his lsisure hours
and enjoy the changing scenery of the sea
or drop hook over the railing and catch
fish for dinner or breakfast. Above is the
tower with an enormous amp, whose
rays can be seen for many miles.
A lonesome place is ''Tit Nan" light
house, miles from shore, and the only
means OF communication is rowboat.
There are no neighbors any nearsr and
no visitors disturb the solitude of tho
lightkeeper except once or twice year,
when the inspector comes around or
curious people from pleasure yacht
climb the iron ladder for curiosity.
Amos Rice has kept 6 Tit Nan" light
for more than quarter of a century, and
his wife lived there with him all this
time. Their children we've grown and
married off Or engaged in employment
elsewhere, go that stbey had nothing to
trouble them ana were able to put by 1.-THE
greatergpart of the salary OF sos month
which the Government has paid Amos for
protecting commerce against disaster
upon the shoals.
A few weeks ago Mrs Rice peacefully
terminated long and lonesome life and
went TO join the choir invisible. Amos
had to keep her body four days before he
could fulfil his promise to bury her with
her folks at Winter Harbor, for the sea
was high. 1t is no easy job for man
unaided to remove a body from a tower
like that into a rowboat that is tossing
furiousIy upon the waves, but Amos
finally did it. The first quiet morning
Go @tLU us DoISaFSu HOlllS bH0 very ullI ubG
il Was lawful to put his light out. rowed
over rough sea, ssand upon his arrival at
Winter Harbor called up the sexton and
minister and what friends could be sum-
lnoued, and after brief and impressive
service the body of Mrs. Rice was com
nitted TO the dust and her sou to God.
who gave it.
After they came from the cemetery one
of the neighbors asked Amos and the
friends to have little refreshment. OF
course they all accepted and among others
'slikely" widow, whose husband had
bse1 dead two years and who was board
in round" among her relatives for want
of 2 home and income. Amos's grief
was not greatersthan his sense of loneii-
ness, and. finding sympathetic chord
her in the presence offthe whole company,
and. the parson being present, they were
Immediately married. The bride hurried
over TO her sisters to put up her
things" while Amos continued to re-
csivs mingled condolences and congratu-
lations.
IL was 4 O'Clock in the afternoon when
he started back to his watery eyrie with
mis- tride, with miles of rowing before
them. If any ships were out that night
they m asst have wondered why, for the
first time in a quarter of a century the
CLEANS of So Tit Nan" light were not
visible for more than two hours after
sunset. Ames reached home at last after
performing what he considers good days
work for a man who is mDre than 90.
He rowed many miles in a dory, buried
one wife and married another, and, as n
the case Of the King of Denmark, the
funeral baked meats set forth the wedding
dinner