The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28

Of Cape Cod, and that at that point the
tide divided, the currents going in oppo-
site directions. There are several light
stations provided with two towers and
lights. One of these is the station at Mat
inicus' island, which was established in
1927. For a period in it's history it was
cared for by the young daughter of the
keeper, who was in the habit of leaving
the island to fish and being gone for long
periods. Storm and starvation sometimes
combined to drive the young lighthouse
keeper and the remainder of the keepers
family from their post.
This keeper was Samuel Burgess. He
spring of 1853. His family consisted of
an invalid wife four small daughters and
son. Abbie, the eldest daughter, VINO
was fourteen years old, was his only as
sistant. In the occasional absence of her
father the whole care of the two lights
deyolved upon this girl. She is recorded
as saying in her modest way, Il took a
great deal of pride in my lighthouse work
and tried to do my duty
On the morning Of Jan 10, 1855, when
she was seventeen years old, terr1hc
gale. the one which carried away the first
lighthouse erected on Minot's Ledge, Wis
tied the rock. Her father was away.
The story Of that STORM which prevented
a landing on the rock for four weeks is
wildly told in a letter the girl wrote to a
friend. This is what the brave girl
wrote: ogg1
Dear -: You have often expressed
desire to view the sea out upon. the
0OOAA
here on the 18th of JanuaryI surmise you
would have been satisfed9E Father was
away. Early in the day the tide arose,
the sea made a complete breach over the
rock, washing every movable thing away,
and of the old dwelling not one stone
was left upon another The new building
was flooded, and the windows had to be
secured to prevent the violence of the
spray from breaking them in. AS the
tide came in the sea rose higher and
higher, till the only endurable places were
flan lrra - 1. Il
saved; otherwise our fate was only too
certain. But for some reason, / know
now why, / had no misgivings and went
on with my work as usual. For four
weeks, owing to rough weather, no land
ing could be effected on the rock. During
this time we were without the assistance
OF any male member of our family.
Though at times greatly exhausted with
my labors, not once did the light fail. IN
der God was able to perform all my
accustomed duties as well as my father
You Know the hens were our only COM
panlons. Becoming convinced, as the gale
increased, that unless they were brought
into the house they would be lost, said
to mother, must try to save them.
she advised me not to attempt 1T. The
thought, however, of parting with them
without an effort was not to be endured
so, selling a basket, 1 ran out a few yards
after the rollers had passed and the sea
fell Off little, with the water knee deep
to the coop, and rescued all but one. II
was the work Of a moment, and 1 was
back in the house with the door fastened
but l was none too quick, for at that
instant my little sister, standing at the
window. exclaimed: "Oh, look Look
there! The worst sea is coming!' That
wave destroyed the old dwelling and
swept the rock. l cannot think you would
enjoy remaining any length of time, fol
the sea is never STILL and when agitate6
its roar shuts out every storm, ever
! drowning our voices
That spring Mr.. Burgess left the rocl
| TO collect his salary and secure needed
| provisions. He was prevented from re.
| turning by the weather, and the supply
of food became short. Starvation staring
| them in. the face, the son started alone fol
the mainland in small boat. He was
J not seen for the twenty-one days aftel