The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-11-30
! BLOWN AWAY.
Pathetic Tragedy OF the Recent
Storm in the Gulf.
MANY LIGHT HOUSES
Or Solitary Reefs and Islands Were
Twisted, crambled or Swept Into
the Sea, and Their Keepers
and Their Families Made

and Their Families Made
to Suffer.
1t was q tidal wave that wrought
the direful havoc-that strange and
awful marine phenomenon, myster-
ious of origin, which is the eyer. pre-.
sent dread Of thoae who dwell along
the shores Of tho Gulf OF Mexico.
The news dispatches have told of
the misohlef that was done dnripg tbs
recent series of hurricanes on that
coast; Of the enormous destruction OF
property, and Of tho CREST number OF
human lives lost. But in all this his.
tory of tragedy the most striking and
romantic feature has boon the literal
w1ping u of 3 whole series Of light
stattops-the very outpo5ts established
oy che Government TO keep watch upon
the storm hends, and TO restrain them
from inhioting rreYentable DANCE.
Not on any known coaat OF II OF
the continents was there ever the
quail Of this spectacle. Between tho
mouth Of the Mississippi River and
Mobile, Alabama, no less than forty.
four lighthouse structures were either
uprooted bodily and toppled into the
sea, or so rsoked and twisted by the
imp2os OF the great wave that they
axe now uaeless ruins.
Whethor they stood Oh tho main
land coast or upon the islands that
fringe 1t, m could Withstand the
weight Of the dreadful wall OF water.
Though the skill and experience OF
Government enginoerB had been
exhausted and had been believ-
ed to have made these structures
tmpregnable to much Gercer pressuros
OF wind and waves that had over been
recorded, this ostaclyEm crushed,
twisted and otherwise disabled them,
or ever ohilterated With them tho
very shoals on which They stood.
In most instances, happily the keep.
era of the lighthouses and their tauai.
lies either got away In their own blats
VI were rescued; but In othor oasog
were not so lucky. According to
latest reports received by the Light
house Board at Washington, tne light
at East PSscagoulS 10 gone. entirely,
though at that point there was no loss
Of liza.
But this was owing to the extraor-
binary heroism and persistence OF
Master at Arms Peterson and Quar-
termaster Peterson, Of rhe United
States revenue custer Winona. When
the Winona arrived of the PascaRou,
la light there was nothing Left but
the tower, which swayed like 3 flag
staff In q gale and threatened every
momout to pitch into the sea.
Ii was soon seen by the keeper whose
wife and two babies had aought re-
fuge In the tower, that unless speedy
relief was given them they must be
lost. The two Petersons embarked In
Q small boat with other member Of
the crew, and after o desperate fight
With the waves reached the base OF
the tower. The keeper threw to
them from the top q line, which he
had carried up. Ons after the other
the two Potersons olirobed up the
rope, which d&ngled from the tower.
The wind reached thero, hurled
them against the building with such
force as TO bruise them badly, and
they were several times almost com.
PEELED to loose their held uuon
the rope, but they fiually reached the
top, and then they lowered to the
mon waiting below, first the two
babies, then the keepers vito, and
then the keeper himself. When all
these had been saved, the two men
slid down the rope and returned 10
the Winona.
At Sand Island the dwelling OF the
keeper has disappeared, together
with all the other buildings on tho
island. MOI only this, but the island
Itself has vanished. There is no
longer such a pisoe Of terra fitma as
Sand Island; and only 3 bent and
twisted tower, torn half asunder mid.
way OF It's height, to show that while
III was baing undermined on ono aide
tho great wave struck It's top on the
other, remains to mark tina spot.
Horn Island, too, Is gone; and here
a dreadful tragedy w8s eneoted. For
1t appears that the keeper and his
wife were both drowned, toQathar
with two daughters and a little grand
daughter. The Gidal wave came and
overwhelmed shem; and at this mo
ment there is q deep channel where
Che island formerly was. Incidental.
ly, OF course, the lighthouse has
vanished.
The keeper Of the Horn Island
Light was q hardy Swodo UgDcd
Charles johnson, and his asei iann
was his good wife, Kate. she hao
proved herself etli0lonU Ia more than
che past emergency, and 81 O. reward
abe was Sppolnted not long 4 to ar
aiStant koepership st 9440 , year. Her
husbands salary w&a $770 per yoar so
the two together received $1,110. In
addition they enjoyed an allowance
from the Government OF three c0rds
Of IitaWood, delivered every twelve
monGb8.
In somo cases the Government pro.
videB lighthouse keepers with rations
bud only when they are so Gituated az
TO be unabla TO obtain food aupp!leg.
In this way groceries, cured meats,
some kind Of canned goods are fur
nished. But the station kept by john
cons, while s0moHhaG remote was not
inaece! alhle; they visited thu mAin.
land occasionally, when the weather
vas good, and having at their diapos-
al q small patch of tillable soil close
oy the lighthouse, they were abba to
raise such fresh vegetables as they
aeeded. Besides, the hshing In tue
neighborhood was excellent.
Thus, being provided wiuh 4 dwol
limo IN .lIun " 100 No. -. 49, - |