Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-01
40 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
= CAUGHT BY THE ICE )
& By Charles 81. Heustis. &
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Il The shores OF Long lSlduu anu NOH-
neeticut were covered with snow. The
bays and inlets were filled with ice.
Broken by the rise and fall OF the tide
II made great winrows along the beach
and choked the mouths of the streams.
Even Long Island sound was filled
with immense cakes of floating ice, I'M
til navigation was seriously impeded.
Rarely had the captains of coasters,
who were familiar with the sound, eX-
perienced such continued cold snap.
They rubbed their tingling ears and
blew upon their frost-bitten fingers as
they kept a lookout for the icy obstruc-
tons.
The freezing weather played fantas-
tic tricks upon the vessels.
Wherever a drop of water struck II
CONCEALED. Cordage and standing rig
ging were covered with coating Of
crystal, very beautiful to look at but
dangerous to the mariners. Even the
great passenger steamers that ran be-
tween New York and Stonington, Fall
River and Newport plowed' along look
ing like huge icebergs. Their pilots
kept a sharper watch than usual upon
the lights along shore and kept their
ears open for danger signals.
One of the most dangerous points
along the entire sound was reef OF
rocks making out from the Connecticut
coast. At the very end stood light
house, built upon iron piles driven into
the hard ledge. At low water the reef
was exposed, but at high tide it was
completely covered. Like giant SEN
try the tower stood out of the water,
appearing for all the world as if 1t
rested on nothing more substantial
than the waves which washed its base.
The tall pile of granite was a dismal
sight from sea or shore, but in reality
it was cozy and comfortable within
There were rooms in it just as there
are in an ordinary house, and Keeper
David Rollins and his wife lived there
contentedly all the year round, with
an assistant to help tend the lenses.
Another member of the family was
RAYMOND Rollins, their son, sturdy
boy, who took to the queer habitation
naturally enough and thought it rare
fun to live practically on an island.
In summer life in the tall tower was
not so bad. There was cool sea breeze
continually blowing, and if fsh were
wanted all that was necessary was 10
throw a line off the ledge and fresh
breakfast was awaiting them. Then
there was a boat always at command,
and half an hours sturdy pulling would
take the oarsmen into the little harboi
inclosed oy the reef and'to the town at
the end of the bay. Whenever possible
RAYMOND would row ashore and attend
school. There was novelty about this
that pleased him. Besides, he was
looked upon with a certain awe by the
children, and when the great storms
shook their own comfortable houses
they would think of the boy in the gran
ite tower and wonder if he were fright
ene6.
II was seldom that Raymond missed
going ashore in summer or during the
mild months of the spring and fall
but in winter it was quite differen'
thing. Then the fierce gales that oc
casionally swept the coast blew up
heavy sea and made the attempt dan
perous. Then life in the confined linn
its of the lighthouse became monot
onous. for there was nothing to d.
but clean the lamps, see that they wer'
lighted at shutdown and extinguishet
al sunrise and carefully cover the lense
from the rays of the sun by day.
For three days now Ray he been con
fined TO the tower. He watched the YES
sells in the distance, and was so exper
that he could pick out all the regula
coasters as far as his eyes could reach
The excessive cold snap fortunatel,
was not accompanied by gale, so tn
sea was comparatively smooth, but tn
ice was thicker than he had eve
seen it.
1t was towards the end of the thir
day and the boy was getting restless
He longed to get ashore to "stretc
his legs" as he termed it.
What is the matter, father, are 70
il?" he asked, noticing at length tina
the keepers face was paler than usua
81 am afraid your father is goin
. 10 have another one of his bad spells,
said his mother, anxiously. "The do
tor told him 10 take dose of thu
medicine" she added, nodding toward
bottle that stood on a mantle, 81
E there were symptoms of another al
tack, but it is all gone and there is n
prospect of getting any more just
present, fear"
"Well, 1 don't know" said Ra.
: thoughtfully. BE walked over to viii
dow and looked out. On all sides was
field of ice.
Job wanted to try to reach shor
; but / wouldn't let him." remarked tn
keeper.
81 was willing to make the attemp
though" added the assistant.
i Eyes, know you were, but it is to
r late now. tits almost night"
81 don't believe that ice is solid, and
anyone could get through it l could
said Ray. Suppose try it."
mo, no; the ice is packed-too tigh
D ". l wouldn't hear to it," declare
his father, emphatically.
|, "There goes tug into the harbo
/. Look! she is making channel" erie
Ray. 81 can go ashore easy enough"
The keeper turned pale and sunk in
!. a chair. He pressed his hand to b
: headIas if in pain.
"There! you have got to have tn
medicine, and that's all there is abo1
~ - exclaimed Raw