The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-07-04

I00 ooS - - 0mo0s0 - 4 Q0u8300
floor" he said 70 me one day when We
were sitting together on the SheyS
looking westward to whore the Hight.
house was dimly visible against the
ny, .but the. sea Il t1eaeherous. -
"Around Bishops rock there are pn-
dertows. currents and eddies which
nobody knows. Fortunately. I have
only one more winter to spend there.
though It would be Just like my luck
Il the old tower should blow down this
winter In q storm from northwest"
He voiced the general opinion Of the
islanders: The former lighthouse had
been swept away by the waves. and.
although the new one had been stand.
ing for several years, every one knew
that fog-horn situated sixty feet
above the rock had been carried away
BY the foaming waves during . stormy
night. r.
Ziegler trembled and stood up.
Thank the Lord, I have only one
more winter to spend out there b
said: :i-
"And then?" I qreried.
'"Then am to be Transferred to the
North Foreland lighthouse and win. b
able to live ashore with my wife and
boy. By the way, wanted to speak
to you about Leopold. He will soon
finish school. and what are We to do
with him then? Come along homo
With me and have q chat with my wife
and the boy sz(ieifz14lses-~s
Frau zieglsr was Z red-chssked.
buxom matron, whom no one would
suspect Of morbid ideas, but she. new.
ertheless, shared her husbands horror
Of the sea. u.
1T seems q miracle that It has not
blown down." she said, "for It looks
to me like challenge to Cod" u
Then we talked about the boy and
his prospects. Is.
II hope to meet you next year..
said when left. IT shall call on you
IN your new home, Ziegler." n
IF the lighthouse does not topple
over this winter" he replied. SO
The lighthouse did not topple over
that winter, but Ziegler was not
transferred to North Foreland light
Two years passed before I returned.
But one day In spring once more vis.
tied the island, and my first walk took
me- through the Httlea cemetery. "A
new tablet in the wall caught my eye.
I read the inscription. It said that
Ziegler had died the year before on
Christmas night. OF his death the In,
serfption gave no information. ....
I walked slowly toward the. little
fishing village and involuntarily turn
ed my steps toward the signal house
on the clin. was 90 filled with
thoughts Of Ziegler that was not at
all surprised to find his. wife there.
staring, toward the lighthouse as q
Old. -. :. =. =
II had heard nothing about It,"
said as I shook her hand. -,
Then she told me how her husband
disappeared. ,-,--,...-. x.
On Christmas eve the light was to
have been lit at four O'Clock, but the
minutes passed and at half past the
Bishops rock was still dark. On the
island people realized that something
had happened and the cutter waa
made clear. ],
= OF the three men in the lighthouse
only two were found. They said that
Ziegler had taken the day watch while
the other slept. He was to call them
. little before four, but when they
woke up It was dark and Zieglsr was
not about.
When they lit tho light they saw
that he had made an entry. IN tho
Journal at $40 that q schooner was In
sight. They looked everywhere. fnals
y, descending the spiral stairway. The
lower door was open. From this 4
narrow iron ladder led down to thu
little landing. - - :,
There was only one explanation.
Eiegler must have gone out on the
Iron ladder. then stumbled and fallen
Into the sea. !.
This IL what Frau Ziegler told me
md wondered why she should want
TO 60 on living here.
She shaded her eyes with her hand
and stared across the sea-
There 70 the cutter from the lisht.
house." she said. "Come down to the
harbor with mo and shake hands with
Leopold. He q third man ON the
Bishop now"
You are surprised" shs went On q
he looked q me-. DO you remember
that the lAst entry that FfodesicA
made ~ about . ochoonarf That