Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-01-18
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CAUGHT BY THE ICE
BY Charles n. Heustis
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

II WAS the coolest kind of weather.
4 The shores of Long Island and Con-
Lecticut 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 filed
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. en-
perienced such continued cold snap.
They rubbed their tingling ears and
blew upon their frost-bitten fingers as
they kept lookout for the icy obstruc-
tons
The freezing weather played fantas-
tic tricks upon the vessels.
Wherever a drop of water struck it
concealed. Cordage and standing rig
ging were covered with a 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 a light
house. built upon iron piles driven into
the hard ledge. At low water the reef
was exposed. but at high tide it was
Il
try the tower stood out of the water.
appearing for all the world as if it
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 coy 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
hoy. who took to the queer habitatlon
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 fish were
wanted all that was necessary was TO
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 harbor
Enclosed by the reef and to the town at
the end of the bay. Whenever possible
i p, afr u
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
ened.
1t was seldom that Raymond missed
ro;nr ashore in summer or during the
mild months of the spring and fall,
but in winter it was quite different
thing. Then the fierce gales that &C.
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 do
but clean the lamps. see that they were
lighted at shutdown and eNtinguished
at sunrise and carefully cover the lenses
from the rays of the sun by day.
For three days now Ray had been con-
fined TO the tower. He watched the yes
sells in the distance. and was so expert
that he could pick out all the regular
coasters as far as his eyes could reach.
The excessive cold snap fortunately
was not accompanied by gale. so the
sea was comparatively smooth, but the
ice was thicker than he had ever
seen it.
II was towards the end of the third
day and the boy was getting restless.
He ionged to get ashore to stretch
his legs as he termed it.
.sWhat is the matter, father, are you
illo" he asked. noticing at length that
the keepers face was paler than usual.
II am afraid your father is going
70 have another one of his bad spells"
said his mother, anxiously. THE doc
tor told him to take a dose of that
medicine she added, nodding towards |
bottle that stood on a mantle, IF
there were symptoms of another at
tack. but it is all gone and there is no |
prospect of getting any more just at |
present, fear"
.Wen, / don't know" said Ray, |
thoughtfully. He walked over to win
dow and looked out. On all sides was |
field of ice.