Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-08

Women who are appointed keepers
or assistant keepers receive in ad-
dition to their salaries the regular
allowance of 30 cents per diem for
rations. This is either paid them in
cash or the Government furnishes
their rations and deducts the cost
thereof from this 80 cents per diem.
Men and women appointed as laborers
or laborers in charge Of lights are
not entitled to this ration allowance,
which was provided for an act of Con-
G ess and only applies to keepers and
assistant keepers.
One has served since 1867, one since
1872, two since 1881, one from 1888,
three since 1890, one from 1895, one
since 1902, three since 1908, three from
1904, two since 1905, one from 1906,
one since 1909, and five date before
1896. the year they were placed in the
civil service list.
They are stationed in 10 states,
California having the largest number,
5; Louisiana, 4; New York Maryland,
and Florida. 3 each; Connecticut and
Michigan, 2 each; and Maine. Yer
mont, New Jersey, Mississippi, Wis
consin, and Oregon, l each.
In addition to the q women who
hold appointments issued by the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor,
there are many women employed as
laborers to care for the many small
post lights dotting the Mississippi
river and it's tributaries and various
small rivers on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts. Their pay averages
about So per month.
Instances Of Their Heroisn.
A few instances will serve to show
the heroic elements making up the in
Lividual character Of these women
The Angel Island light station, CAL,
is kept by Mrs. Juliet E. Nichols,
widow of Henry E. Nichols, United
States Navy, inspector of lighthouses.
It is in the direct path of the larger
part of navigation in San Francisco
Bay. Besides taking care of the Ian
tern, Mrs. Nichols looks after fog
signal or bell, which is struck a
double blow by machinery. During
two heavy fogs in July, 1906, she
spent 20 hours and IS minutes one
day, beginning at 500 a. m, striking
the bell by hand, nd the second day
after that she stood all night hitting
thu bell with a nail hammer. Both
times she had neither food nor rest.
The following copy Of the report from
her shows the modest, matter-of-fact
nature of the woman:
II have the honor to report tina
the mach merry of the fog signal, Game
we'll No. 3, was disabled July 2, 1906
at 500 am kilograms were sen
Immediately to the light house In
spector and the lighthouse engineer
for assistance. Mr.. Burt came Jul,
| 8 at 10 am, and made slight repairs
Meanwhile I had struck the bell b,
hand for 20 hours and Is minutes, un
til the cog lifted.
ION the night of July 8, 1906. the
machinery worked badly, striking IT
regularly. On the 4th Of July the
| machinery went to pieces, the grea
tension bar broke in two, and I coult
not disconnect the hammer to strike
by hand. I stood all night on thu
platform outside and struck the bel
with a nail hammer with all my might
The fog was dense with heavy mist
! almost rain
"The machinist from the office o
| the lighthouse engineer has just re
placed the tension bar.
Respectfully,
| Julia E. Nichols, Keeper
The Drowning Of Commander
| McDougal
On the morning of March %. 1881
! Commander Charles J. McDougal