Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-02
DUCK ISLAND.
A Visitor Writes 81 the Lonely Light
house and the Gull Colony.

Duck island is out in the Atlantic ocean,
twelve miles due south from Mt. Desert.
1t is of interest for two reasons; there is a
government lighthouse on its southern
extremity, and thousands upon thousands
of gulls make their home upon 1t. We
visited it last week and had such an in
teresting time there that / purpose to
share some of our experiences with your
readers.
A party of twenty or so chartered the
steamer "Islesford", Capt Hadlock, and
had delightful sail over summer sea to
the island. Capt. Hadlock invited me
into the pilot house and proved himself
an interesting skipper. lie showed me
silver medal presented to him by the
United states government for his bravery
in rescuing the officers and crew of the
schooner "Efiie 7. Kempf', which was
wrecked on Bakers Island four years ago.
With the medal was personal letter
from Secretary Gage of the treasury de-
partment reeounting the circumstances of
the rescue and conveying the thanks of
the government for Capt. Hadlock's
bravery.
There is no wharf at Duck island, so
that visitors have to land in small boats,
and landing can be made only when the
water is smooth. The day we went, there
were no waves to speak of, so we made
very comfortable landing. We went
ashore mar the northern end of the island
and walled about mile to the southern
end whcle the lighthouse is.
The walk was full Of interest, for the
plants and flowers of the island are re-
marka BILE for their abundance and brill
fancy, and the colony OF gulls before
mentioned is very much in evidence. The
gulls are very large, very numerous and
very noisy. The lighthouse keepers
children told us that they were not 80
noisy except when strangers were on the
island; certainly they made racket
enough when we were there. large
part of the island is covered with fir trees,
and the gulls build their rude nests in and
around these Some OF the nests are on
the ground, and we saw many eggs and
plenty OF young gulls. The eggs are
speckled brown and are rather larger than
hens eggs. The gulls feed upon fish and
shell fish, and make long journeys in
search of food. All the time we were in
sight the gulls kept up deafening clamor
so that we could hardly hear each other
talk.
Around the lighthouse station there is
fence kept beautifully white by frequent
applications of whitewash prepared in
accordance with the special government
thick as spatter all about the island they
did not trespass inside the fence.
The light on Duck island is brick
tower about fifty feet high. 1t is red
flash light, and should be visible fifteen
miles at sea- Near the light is a steam
fog whistle run by boilers which are kept
constantly ready for getting up steam.
Then there is large bell which is rung
as fog signal lille steam is rising in
the boilers.
A considerable commerce passes Duck
island every Sear-schooners, lumber and
ice laden, coming from ports in Maine
and The maritime provinces, steamers
from Boston and New York and Portland,
bound Tor st. John and Halifax, occa-
sionally an ocean liner making for Port
land as a winter port, and fishing vessels
all the year round.
The light must be kept burning from
dark to dawn every day in the year, and
no excuses are accepted by the lighthouse
board Tor any dereliction OF duty. The
discipline exercised over the lighthouse
keepers is almost merciless. In 1901
Thomas jefferson wrote: Il think the
keepers of the lighthouses should be
dismissed for small degrees OF remissness,
because of the calamities which even these
produce
An inspector makes regular visits to the
light stations, and often comes when he is
not expected, so it behooves the keepers to
be prepared for him. The day we visited
the lighthouse everything about it was
in apple pie order, and not so much as a
speck OF dirt could be found anywhere
about the buildin" Three families live
in the three houses provided by the gov
eminent and take care of the lights The
nearest post Office is at Mckinley, in Bass
Harbor, twenty miles away, and the mail
is brought out by the lobster boats when
they happen to be coming that way.
AT one point in the island set of ways
lead down into the water 1t is here that
the supplies for the light station are
landed. These are brought in boats
which are rowed to the foot of the ways
and then are hauled up to place of safety
by donkey engine. AS sixty tons of coal
are burned every year, it will be seen that
some such arrangement is necessary
If any readers want to do a good deed
let them send such illustrated papers and
magazines as they can spare to Capt.
E. Il. Squirting, Duck Island light, Nc
Kinley, Maine, and they will have the
satisfaction of knowing that they have
helped to make life little pleasanter for
those who are serving their fellow men
h1, ttIntt thair al I,1,