Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-21
LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE.
On An Average Four Men Are Detailed
to a Liuht.

to Light.
Few people realize the lighthouse
service as one of danger, as we'll as
# long. lonely vigil says the New
Orleans Times-Democrat. There Is
one light located off the Gulf coast
which is eighteen miles from land,
and the attendants have to go and
come from the light in small boats.
frequently in a sea which would COW
landsman. The Government pro-
vides these boats, some Of the stations
located close to land being provided
with rowboats and others with sailing
craft sloop rugged, and those located
far out in the open are provided with
power craft.
There are more men to light
house now than in the old days, when
man and his family attended the
light, and took watch about to
see that 1t was not extinguish-
ed. On an average four men are dee
tailed to a light, but it is said to be
seldom when all four Of them are
present at the light at the same
time. When the boat goes in for
supplies two men go together, hav-
ing two to tend the light. In the
lighthouse mentioned above, Is miles
off the coast, the keeper is sixty miles
from the nearest postoffice, and the
jaunt from his lonely place Of vigil
is a long and very dangerous one.
Families are no longer permitted
on the lighthouses Of the United
States, although in some Of the lights
there are as many as six or eight
rooms, but to coop up four families
in such a place would not be advisable
and possibly the government has de-
cided that it would not be productive
of that solemn peace which is prob
ably best suited to the successful
conduct Of the lighthouse service.
The government, while paternal to
a. degree, does not furnish the light
house tender with all the comforts
Of life, although it is said that on the
lightships the men fare better and are
given an allowance that is really
sumptuous. On the lighthouses, how
ever, the men are given about ten
article of common consumption,
but whatever luxuries or changes
from this diet they may desire must
be purchased from their own wages.
This list comprises such staples as
flour and a few other ordinary arti-
cles of everyday consumption.
Further than this, the men have to
add to their larder from their own
salaries, not even salt, it is stated,
being included in the governments
list of commodities.
One danger to which the lighthouses
are ever subjected is that of destruc-
ton of glass from flying birds. In
this section the main danger arises
from the wild geese, which have been
known to smash a thick lighthouse
glass by the force of impact. The bird
appears to be attracted by the power
full light, evidently becomes bewilder-
ed and flies straight at the point OF
cleaning brilliancy in the darkness.
The result is dead goose and the
destruction of a valuable and costly
glass. To protect the lights from this
menace it has been customary to
string a barrier Of wire netting from
the top of the keepers quarters TO
the apex of the structure. This Is
successful in protecting the light, but
occasions have been known when
wild goose. apparently rendered sense
less by the keen brilliancy Of the pow
erful light, has flown against this wire
netting with such force that the pro-
lection has been broken and the bird
has passed through and fallen down
inside it. However,, the great power
of its flight was broken by the collis-
ion with the netting and the glass
saved.
There are features connected with
the lighthouse service of which the
outside world has little idea. Shut Off
from the world by leagues of sea, fire.
quently immured for days by storms,
and seldom met by men in other walks
Of life, the lighthouse tender spends an
existence that is peculiarly solitary,
giving his life to the care Of the bea-
cons that stand at the gateways of
commerce to warn the traveller to be-
ware of peril and disaster.