Washington telegraph., 1909-10-22
LONG IN LIGHTHOUSE
Woman Has Saved Eighteen
Lives in Her Career.
Miss Ida Lewis, Well Known In
United States Life Saving Serv-
ice, is Still on Active Duty at
Newport Harbor.

Newport, r. Miss Ida Lewis,
keeper of the Line Rocks lighthouse,
in the south end of Newport harbor,
observed recently her fifty-second an
niversary as custodian of the light.
The place has been the scene of
many daring rescues by this fearless
woman. She has been visited by
many prominent persons at various
times, including Gen Ulysses S.
Grant, Admiral George Dewey and
Gen. Sherman
Every mariner on the coast knows
Line Rocks lighthouse and the
Grace Darling of America who is in
charge-the only woman in the
United States holding such position,
and that through special act of con-
gress.
Medals for saving life adorns the
neat and tidy castle on the rocks
which Miss Lewis calls home" She
was made very happy in 1907 by re-
ceiving from the Carnegie hero fund
a life pension of $50 in recognition for
her many brave acts. Her record of
llFSS saved numDerS lS.
No matter what the weather eondi-
tions, Ida Lewis is ready with her
lifeboat 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 for several
days at time, and when the harbor
has been frozen over for days the in
mates of the lighthouse must remain,
but they have everything neatly
slowed for just such emergency.
Miss Lewis is preparing to white.
wash the lighthouse for the summer
season, and the painting will follow.
She will be 65 years old on next
February 20, and likes hard work.
Among the medals and trophies
Miss Lewis possesses is one of silver
from the New York Life Saving asso-
citation for rescuing two men from
watery graves in Newport harbor on
March 29, 1862 during a severe storm.
Another trophy for this gallant rescue
is small boat which the citizens of
Newport presented to Miss Lewis by
popular subscriptions, including that
OF Gen. Grant.
he day the dory was presented an
Inspiring incident is recalled by Miss
Lewis in connection with the gift.
The dory was mounted on wheels
and hauled through Newport streets
by large number of its most dis.
citizens, and on that night
a public ceremony was held and Ida
Lewis was presented with a copy of
resolutions of thanks passed by the
Rhode Island legislature.
For the rescue of two soldiers from
Fort Adams and the act which made
her famous the officers and enlisted
men OF Fort Adams presented Miss
Lewis with a purse of gold.
A gold medal is shown in the col
lection at the lighthouse which was
presented by congress in 1881 for res
euing 13 persons, and particularly for
saving the two soldiers from Fort
Adams.
The Massachusetts Humane society
broke its ruling and went out of the
state to honor Miss Lewis with a sill.
yer medal in 1881
A marvellous silver tea set Is in
cluded in the valuable collection
which was given her by the troops of
Fort Adams for rescuing two of their
number who had fallen through the
Ice in attempting to reach Fort Ad-
ans from Newport during a cold win.
ter afternoon. In all she has rescued
i've soldiers belonging to Fort Ad-
ans.
Miss Lewis became endearad to the