Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-11-08
LIGHTHOUSE VIGILS.

VI
the lighthouse keepers along the coast OF
Brittany, thinks it strange that any OF
them escape insanity. The system of re-
lief that prevails in this country has nc
equivalent in the French service, and
with short intervals, months apart, a
French lighthouse keeper may spend for
ty years of his life tending the lamps il
one station, with a single companion
and that station may be on rock out
in the channel or the Bay of Biscay
which boats can approach only in fine
weather.
As a matter of fact, the men often dc
become insane or at least develop mono
mania. Sometimes it takes the form OF
hatred of each other
In one case, at Terennec, one of two
men was found by a party who came of
from the shore in response to signals
lying dead in hsi bed with a long, keen
bladed knife through his heart. His
companions story was that he had com
mitted suicide after a long period OF
melancholia. There was no proof to the
contrary, but after examining the wound
the authorities doubted the truth of the
story
On another occasion, where father and
son tended an isolated beacon together
the young man was seized with an at
tack of acute mania. When the time
came to light up he planted himself in
front of the stairway to the lantern and
refused to allow his father to ascend.
The old man attacked his son, and find
ing he could subdue him in no other way
so that the lights on which so many
lives depended might be kindled, stran-
oled him to death. The next day he sig
nailed to the shore for help and gave him
self up to the police, telling what he had
done.
Sickness and death are no strangers in
the lighthouses. There is, ninety nine
times out of hundred, no chance OF
medical aid and the we'll man prescribes
from the medicine chest for the sick one
as best he can. He also does double
duty until his partner RECEIVERS or relief
comes.
There are not infrequent cases wher
the survivor has to sew up his dead com
rade in a hammock and launch his
weighted body from the rocks into the
sea. Then come long nights OF lonely
watching.
In winter time the lamps must be
tended and the clockwork kept going fol
fourteen to fifteen hours. The lantern Is
unheated except for the glow OF the
lamps up in it's ceiling and the govern
?nent allows the watcher no chair lest he
fall asleep Then when day comes 1t
brings no rest to the solitary man, tol
the lamps must be replenished and glasses
and rehectors polished.
It is no wonder that weird fancles
come to the men. They hear voices call
inc from the sea and see drowned men
and women looking up at them from the
breakers. One of their horrors is OF the
birds that beat against the windows OF
the lantern at night attracted by the
glare.
inst as is the case whit American hight
houses. the feathered armies that migrate
at night beat against the walls and bal
comics of the beacons with their wings
and dash against the panes of the IAN
fern sometimes breaking the glass with
their beaks. As their eyes shine IN the
glare they seem to express anger OF
bIoodthirstiness to the men within.
One of the most pitiful stories OF llght-
housa life is told of the keeper at -Four
on Finisterre. who kept all alone sta
tion on an isolated rock Il couple OF miles
ont from the shore but so surf beaten
tbat only once a month or so was a boat
snnt out to it with supplies. The CABIN
in which the keeper made his home was
On tho shore opposite his lighthouse, and
tho recreation he most enjoyed was II
watching it through his telescope, he
could see the people go in and out ano
the children playing in front of it.
One day he saw something nuttelinS
from the dooriamb, He was puzzled
Then it flashed on him that 1t was /;
creme one and that some one was dead in the
Was it his mother, he wondered; or ms
wife or one of his brothers! lie counted
tho children later in the day ana thes
were all right. +or roood
No boat could come near HIM ana 1t
wo+ched the crowd OF symPaehlz Il
friends come and go. Then he saw the
He recognized the cure at the mead Q,
tho PROCESSION by his white surpllce "a ans
the altar boys walking beside nm mel
came the coffin carried by SIX men. :.
Az the mourners walked alter 1t NJ
= ra;ned and strained his eyes trying Q
;5antify each and thus determine the
, ,utlins one But in vain; all walked