Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-25

IVA end OF Newport II. J.. harbor.
- last month completed uftv-
|bS2SY two years as custodian Of tho
- light. For length of service
alone the record is notable. But the ser.
vices performed, the rescues Of seafarInp
men, the courage and skill dIsnlsvad
makes the record of Miss Lewis an H.
lustrious one.
Every anime on the coast knows Lime
Rocks lighthouse, and the Grace Darling
OF America who is in charge, the only
woman In the United States holding such
a position, and that through a special
act Of congress.
MedaIs Tor saving lives adorn the neat
ana tidy castle on the rocks. which Miss
Lewis calls home" She was made very
happy In 1907 by receiving from the Car
hesle nero fund a life pension Of $50. in
recognition for her many brave acts.
Her record of lives saved numbers IS, as
follows:
1856, September-Four students
1856, February-One soldier.
1857 January-Three sheep herders.
1857, November-Two sailors.
1858, March-Two soldiers.
1877, November-Three sailors.
1881, February-Two soldiers,
1906, August-One woman.
A." mattsI what the weather conditions
Ida Lewis is ready with her life-boat to
AID the unfortunate in the sea. She and her
brother, Rudolph Lewis, are confined to
the little space of less than half an acre
Tor several days at a time, and then again
when the harbor has been frozen over for
days the inmates Of the lighthouse must
remain, but they have everything neatly
slowed for Just such an emergency. Miss
Lewis is preparing to whitewash the light
house for the summer season, and the
painting will follow. She will be Go years
or age on next February Is, and likes
hard work.
Among the medals and trophies Miss
Lewis possesses is one Of silver from the
New York Life Saving association for
rescuing two men from watery graves in
Newpor harbor on March 90, 1869, during
a severe storm. Another trophy for this
gallant rescue is a small boat which the
citizens Of Newport presented to Miss
Lewis by popular subscription, including
that Of General Grant.
The day the dory was presented an in
spring incident is recalled by Miss Lewis
in connection with the gift.
The dory was mounted on wheels and
hauled through Newport streets by a large
tiiAbt VI "a NUS hl1llllhu lEilGu tlllLGilEs
and on that night a public eremon was
held and Ida Lewis was presented with a
copy of resolutions of thanks passed by
the Rhode Island Legislature.
For this rescue of two soldiers from Fort
Adams and the act which made her IA
nous, the officers and enlisted men Of
Fort Adams presented Miss Lewis with a
purse OF gold.
A gold medal is shown among the coll
lection at the lighthouse which was pre-
scented by congress in 1881 for r~escuins
thirteen persons, and particularly for saw
ing the two soldiers from Fort Adams
The Massachusetts Humane society
broke its rulings and went out Of the
state to honor Miss Lewis with a silver
medal in 1881.
A marvellous silver tea set Is included In
the valuable collection which was given
her by the troops at Fort Adams for
rescuing two of their number who had
fallen through the ice In an attempt to
reach Fort Adams from Newport during
a cold winter afternoon. In all she has
rescued five soldiers belonging to Fort
Adams.
Miss Lewis became endeared to the sum-
mer residents by saving four young men
of their families after being capsized In a
small sloop just before dusk, September
1859, and in January rescued three sheep
herders who had gone into the harbor to
save their charges.
Miss Lewis receives 800 a year from the
federal government for conducting this
important light, with coal and water sup
piled.
Each morning Miss Lewis is seen in her
dorv coming to Newport with her brother
for their daily provisions, or on Sunday
coming TO church, attending most regu-
,arlv services at the Thames Street Meth
odist Episcopal church.