The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-01-23
WINTER ON BOON ISLAND.

WINTER ON BOON ISLAND.
Some Facts About the Folks There and How
They Spent Christmas.
The little family that comprises the
entire population of Boon Island this
winter numbers just eight souls. Hale
and hearty are the Keeper and his wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. Williams. Their years
seem to rest very lightly upon them
and the many seasons they nave
weathered upon the lonely little island
appear to endear their home to them all
the more; and such thing as plnlng
for shore life, except to see their friends
and relatives once in while, never oc.
ours to them. Then there are the First
and Second assistant keepers, Black
wood and Allen, each having his Wlte
with him this winter, the latter couple
having little girl And really this
little tot is the most important person
age upon the ISLAND. She holds very
warm place in the hearts of all, and VIZ
tually is commandment chief OF the
whole garrison. Besides there is Miss
Seward, niece of Mr. and Mrs. Will
liams. who is spending the winter with
them. That makes eight, and very
congenial little company it is.
The island folk recently have pur-
chased a motor boat. That is some
thing they never had before though
long needed, and they find its posses
sion very convenient. They bought 1t
of Clifford Armstrong at York Harbor.
Seldom a week passes now that some
one of the island does not come ashore
after the mail, and the distance from
shore does not seem SO far and at times
so impossible as it did without power
boat
No very severe storms have been
experienced on the island so Tar THIS
winter. That of Nov. 9th was the
worst, and during that gale the sea
washed completely over the island but
did no damage. The southeast blow of
two weeks ago was pretty heavy one,
but its duration was very brlef. Inc
northwest gale of Sunday, Jan. 9Th,
was one of the hardest from that
quarter they have ever encountered,
the display of surf being magnificent.
When the weather is clear the men
at work in the tower during the day
time or on duty at night take much IN
terest in watching the evidences OF lie
and movement upon the mainland. With
powerful glasses the intervening space
of nine miles is overcome to an aston
ishing degree. For radius OF many
miles small objects are easily dlscerned
and their character often readily deter
mined. For instance little boat put
ting out of York Harbor is quickly
picked up in their vision, and so famll-
lar are they with all craft hereabout
that its identity is soon established. In
case of a blow they keep these little
fisher boats we'll in view, and they are
prepared to render assistance at mo-
ment's warning. At night the lights
along the shore keep them company
through many weary hours of watch
ing House lights as they appear and
disappear are sort of an index to them
that convey various impressions OF
what is going on in different homes.
An unusual display of lights indicate
that some sort of festlvlty is IN prog
ress, and thus their impressions be-
come SO sensitzed that they are able
to form very accurate conclusions.
They can follow the lights OF the troll
ley cars creeping along on the shore.
They could furnish evidence II they
were late or ahead of time, if it happen
ed they should note the fact. a mid
night car will tell them that party
from York have been enjoying an even
ing at the theater, and so in many var
ious ways the people of the little island
have power to overcome their isolation
in some degree, and by means seldom
thought of by dwellers upon the maln-
land who behold Boon Islands bright
light beaming out across the deep
night by night, and express their con-
Germ and sympathy for the lonllness of
its people.
Christmas was memorable occasion
on Boon Island. On the night before
things Notwithstanding really was
doing. In fact Santa Claus found so
much business to transact there that
he came very near missing other very
important engagements on the main
land. OF course they didn't have a
Christmas tree-that was out of the
question But Santa Claus didn't mind
that bit. The chimney place answer
ed his purpose just as well, as Mr..
Allen, the second assistant keeper, Will
tell you. There were gifts galore-two
big bushel baskets full, and before
Santa Claus got through distributing
them he was red as boiled lobster and
pulled like a porpoise. That was a
very happy night for the one little girl
inhabitant of that sea-girt isle, and
doubtless visions of sugar plums are
still dancing in her brain. Then there
were games and song-yes, they are
quite a musical little colony. Mrs:
A lien plays the organ, and her husband
does very clever turn with the VIOLA,
and when the entire population OF the
island pipes up the thunder of the surf
upon the rocks outside will dwindle in
to comparative insignifcance. Really,
when all is said and done, life upon