The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-27
KING GEORGE.
The Ice In The Potomac-lt Does
Great Damage to Government
Liaht House Capt Faulkner and
Assistant, With Mr.. Tolson, Have a
Rouuh Experience.

Ltpnt rouse NaPN
Assistant, With Mr.. Tolson, Have
Rough Experience.
Comorn, Va, Feb. goth, 1904.
The situation AT some points along the
Poromac has been exciting Tor some days.
It in said that the river has never before
hsen the scene OF such icebergs as nave
been floating down since the thaw De
gun.
tbe river. off the shore from Shamrock,
this county, has been damaged many
thousands of dollars, and Capt. j
+. Faulkner, the keeper, is quoted as
saving that in his opinion the great
structure will entirely succumb to the
ravages of ice and be sweptaway Early
in the thaw the huge stone pits were
torn away. The wild antics oil The iloat
ing ice several days ago brose down the
revolving lamp IRON the lght-tower and
shiyered il, and dashed the iOg'bell from
the roof down against boat below and
greatly damaged it, The powerful mod
ern machinery that operated both the
lamp and the bell has been wrecked. The
magnificent lamp cost ; 800 in Paris,
and was thing of beauty. The taith-
ful keeper and his assistant remained at
their posts long after the situation be.
came dangerous. When the fearful
gorges of ice threatened To sweep the
station from its foundation, one OF the
crew Of two men walked on ice TO the
King George shore and telephoned re
port of the conditions TO the Government
officers at Washington, and the keeper
and assistant were ordered TO abandon
tue Light House and seek safety On land
Mr. Thomas rolsOn, of Shamrock, walked
out to the Light Station on the Ice, and
delivered the Washington telegram. Mr.
/ Tolson did more than that. Realizing
the perilous situation, he pulled sleigh
over ice 20 the Light House, and rescued
the plucky keeper and assistant ana
/ their belongings from the great structure
that was trembling aud swsying Upon
/ this sleigh Capt. Faulkner and his as
sistant packed their clothing aud other
articles Of value aud then the dangerous
/ tourney to land was started, the loaded
[ sleigh being pulled the entire distance on
/ ice. Mr. FOLSOM informs VI that 10 max
/ log that hazardous journey they en-
countered ice gOrges Is itet high, and
that the sleigh and cargo hal TO be
/ pulled over top Of theee rugged barriers
A ,imple report 10 cold type OF the eXpe
rience OF the crew and Tom TOlsnn can
convey bot little idea Of the real situa-
ton. Mr. Tolson says that in mak log
/ he trip out to the station midway the
river the ice-gorges were 50 high in some
places that WIN in between them he
could neither see the Light House nor bis
/ home on the shore. Capt. Faulkner ana
assistant deserve unstinted praise Tor
fidelity to duty, aud young FOLSOM can
not be too highly commended Tor the
services he rendered in bringing the crew
from the tottering station. There IL but
one Tom Tolson, and il is doubtful II
/ there ia any other man in this section
/ who would undertake the task per
formed by him. The latest statement
from the scene is that Capt. Faulkner
keeper of the Light House, estimates the
damages to the station az ten thousand
dollars up to last night. This report OF
the conditions at Maryland Point light
House is based upon statement writ
ten and signed by prom n@nt persons
who were eye witnesses.