Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-16
KEEPER LOPAU.o ON THE NALcON
in A MOTH z ASTEK

particularly hot, to find the Australian
and Assistant Keeper Lopaus on the
lower parapet, where it was particu-
larly cool, in interesting conversation
on the matter of storms.
The reporter later asked Assistant
Lopaus if he was in the light at the
time of the great storm of 1898, and
whether he was afraid. The question
was met with fine humor.
"A lighthouse is no place for man
to get scared in, because there's no
chance to rum" he said. Besides,
we have had worse storms than that
one. Why, that particular storm didn't
kick up nearly as much of sea as
a good many we've had since. There
have been waves during the past win
ter that were higher, although that
time they splashed over the lantern,
so the people ashore say. OF course,
we didn't know anything about it. We
did not know that it was a high tide
and that it blew pretty hard, so we
shut up the blinds and let her rip"
w Gil, uOW dUOuI lAdI otOl LII Ill SOLl-
parson to the one that destroyed the
old lighthouse on this ledge in 1857
was it worse?"
mo, don't think it was as bad.
The tide was higher, but there wasn't
near the sea. But it's not the sea that
bothers us out here, although she does
shake some; but it is the ice in winter
that keeps us from going ashore. Two
men out here for two weeks long for
the two weeks ashore, but when the
ice comes, one cannot get ashore for
a month, perhaps, and is unpleasant. !"
The going down from the light was,
if possible, less pleasant than going
up Anxious to- do the thing thorough
ly, it was the Australian who suggest
ed the chair, and the descent was
made in that manner.
One sits in the chair on the floor of
the light, just inside, and, with back
to the door, he shuts his eyes and
communes with himself. The rope
passes through block at the end OF
a davit that projects several feet from
the side of the lighthouse. Therefore,
when he has shot out from the door
and swung back and forth awhile, he
finds himself suspended forty feet
above the water. Then comes the
lowering process, which must be ex-
perienced to be appreciated, and,
finally, at the end, the hazardous
process of getting from the chair to
the deck of the boat. 1t is really
very interesting experience.
When the party was all down, the
boat under way and the artist had his
fishing arrangements working, trawl-
ing for who knows what, the boat,
putting. came abreast of dilapidated,
white-painted lighthouse on the shore
at Scituate beach. 1t was the old
Scituate light home Of the heroic
Bates girls, who during the war of
1872 took a fife and drum and hit up
Yankee Doodle" to such good effect
that they scared away an English
mano'-war that was anchored off the
point. Looking at the old tower, long
unused, and thinking of things of the
past, a beam of light fell across the
boat, and, turning, one could see Mi
not's winking away through the night.
The sun had set. and the work of the
lighthouse had commenced Watch
ing the number flashing out, sending
it's warning across the sea, thoughts
came or the old tower on the shore,
and of the strong hearts that lived
there and the contrast Ct the old and
the new. Even the artist folded up
his rod, as the boat drew into the har
Dor.
The greatest gift a hero leaves his