Evening star., 1911-08-09
United States, and cost $T3OO00. more
than any other lighthouse in the world.
Four Woman Light Keepers.

tHau my VtuSI AlSAtlOuSS III tlIc WI III.
Four Woman Light Keepers.
There are four women in charge of
lighthouses on the New England coast;
Mrs. Blanch e Ames at Ames' Lodge
Light. Me-: Mrs Flora Mcneil at Bridge
port Breakwater. Conn: Mrs. Emma NJ.
Lassen at Grassy Hammock, Conn, and
Mrs.. IDA Lewis Wilson at Lime Rock
near Newport There is little Of particu-
lar interest regarding them, with the
exception OF Mrs. Wilson. who is one of
the most famous women In the world. She
succeeded her father. Hosea Lewis. and
her mother. who had been light keepers
for more than thirty years. and has her
self been In charge at Lime Rock for
more than forty years. She receives a
salary from the government Of $50 a
year. which is in excess OF that paid
to other light keepers. She receives
liberal pension from the Carnegie hero
fund and has been the recipient OF many
gifts and honors.
In October, 1881 Commander (now Ad-
miraD r. e. Chadwick of the navy, rep
resenting the President, presented MRS
Wilson with q medal of the first class for
saving two lives on the 4th of February
previous, in the presence of the Governor
council OF Newport and large gathering
Of the residents Of that city. Mrs. Will
son was accompanied by her sister. and
received her honors with modesty and
dignity. In his report concerning the pro-
ceedings, Commander. Chadwick reviewed
the achievements OF Ida Lewis Wilson
as follows:
1.-The only person, excepting herself. per-
sonally cognizant Of all the acts OF the
kind done by Miss Lewis Wilson, is her
mother At this late day it is difficult
to find other eyewitnesses of the earlier
cases. but the recognition made in me
newspapers Of the time and by the pub
lie OF Newport and other cities gives
perfect authorization to those following.
The difficulty, too, Of finding individual
witnesses is much enhanced by the fact
that Miss Lewis has kept no record what
ever Of what she has done. and in many
she has saved. She shows in this very
true and admirable modesty regarding her
merits but one which is unwise. as her
performances are Of such a character
that they well deserve careful remem-
brance.
Ida Lewis was born in Newport in
1912. In 1864 her father was appointed
keeper of Lime Rock lighthouse. situated
on a ledge of white limestone at the
southern entrance of the inner harbor of
Newport. In a few years. Mr.. Lewis be-
came paralyzed. and remained a help
less cripple until his death. His wife
was made keeper of the light, and Miss
Ida, the eldest Of the four children, was
the children to school and in transport
ing the household supplies from shore.
She thus became a very expert oarswom-
an. and though slight and not at all ro-
bust In appearance, handled a boat as /
remember myself in 1861, well.
Her first rescue was in September,
1854, when she was but twelve years OF
age, when she rescued four young men,
two of whom belonged to prominent
families in Newport. and two of whom
were visiting there. They were In a small
sailboat which capsized, and were In inn
minent danger OF drowning, one OF them
being wholly unconscious when rescued.
'The second was In midwinter 1S66-67,
when she rescued soldier belonging to
the garrison of Fort Adams, who had cap
sized In q small boat. When rescued he
was unconscious and was carried to the
lighthouse, where he was restored.
Saved Men and Sheep.
The third was in the fall Of 1877.
Three men (names unknown), swamped in
boat "a fresh gale blowing at the time)
while attempting to pick UP valuable
sheep which had jumped from the wharf.
She not only saved the men but picked
the sheep up also.
Tho fourth occurred soon after, on a
cold and stormy morning, when man was
discovered at daybreak on the spindle
markings a reef third of a mile north-
east from Lime Rock light. His boat had
sunk and he had succeeded in reaching
the spindle to which he was clinging.
Miss Lewis Immediately went to his res
cue and took him to the lighthouse, where
he was cared for.
THE fifth was during gale which was
blowing March %. 1859. Two soldiers
started from Newport for Fort Adams In
small boat with boy to manage it. The
boat swamped and the boy was drowned
almost Immediately Miss Lewis mother
discovered the men, who were clfnging to
the boat In an exhausted condition. Miss
Lewis. accompanied by her young brother.
went to their assistance and rescued
them in an unconscious state. They were
carried to the lighthouse and resuscitated.
One Of them SO nearly perished that great
labor was required to save him.
1.-The sixth Is the well known recent
case OF February last. when two
bandsmen belonging to the garrison of
Fort Adams broke through the ice mid
way between Lime rock and the fort.
AS shown by the testimony Of the one
examined before the. notary public. they
were both exhausted and would have
been drowned had it not been for Miss
Lewis prompt aid. She came from the
dangerously weak condition. bringing a
rope with her. which she threw to the
men. BY the aid OF her brother and an
other person whose name Is unknown
(both of whom arrived later) the men
were pulled from the water Miss Lewis
and her two assistants took the men to
Fort Adams, half a mile distant, and
gave them TO the care of the men OF
the fort hospital.
This makes a total of thirteen persons
rescued from imminent peril by one wom-
an under circumstances requiring the
highest courage and in most cases very
great exertion and skill. In all but one
instance she relied wholly upon herself
Her conduct we'll deserves the recogni-
ton which has been given 1t.
May 5. 1859, she received silver
medal and 800 from the I4ife-saving
Benevolent Association Of New York
Thanked by Assembly.
May 81. 1869. the general assembly Of
Rhode Island and Providence plantations
resolved That this general assembly de-
sires to resognize officially the heroism
Of Miss Ida Lewis OF Newport in re-
peatedly saving the lives Of drowning
men at the risk OF her own, and We are
proud that one Of our own citizens. by
her courage and humanity, has won the
admiration OF the whole country
July Of the Same year she was pre-
sented q boat by the citizens Of Newport,
with Impressive ceremonies. In which the
whole city took part
contribution Of $21S from the oficers and
soldiers Of Fort Adams In recognition Of
her efforts In saving their comrades.
March IA. 1881, she received q silver
medal from the Humane Society OF MaSsa-
chusettS for her many heroic and sue
cessful efforts In saving lives.