The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-01-12
old BOSTON LIGHT
The First Mariners Beacon to Be
Kindled In America.
TWICE BURNED AND REBUILT.

Then 1t Was Destroyed by the British
Revolutionary Naval Forces and
Again Rebuilt Through the Efforts of
Governor John Hancock.
The first lighthouse of which there
is any record was built by Ptolemy ii.
on the island of Pharos, at the en-
trance to the harbor of Alexandria,
Egypt.
Probably the most famous lighthouse
of modern times is the Eddystone
light, which was one of the first built
in Britain and which has been famous
because of its dangerous situation and
of its having been four times destroy
I'd by the angry waters of the English
,hannel.
NIinots Ledge light, at the entrance
10 Boston harbor, is among the most
noteworthy of American lighthouses
and shares with Old Boston light the
interest Of every yoyager who enters
he tortuoGs channel to the city o!
Boston.
Boston light is famous in its way.
1t was, the first lighthouse built III
America. 1t is one of the most 1mpor-
tant lighthouse stations on the north
Atlantic coast. Every sailorman and
seagoer knows Boston light. Every
school boy and girl has read the many
tales of shipwreck III which Boston
light figures. 1t was captured and re-
captured several times in the early
days of the Revolution.
On the evening of Friday, Sept. IA,
1716, the light was first "kindled," to
use the expression of the chronicler
Of the day.
For some years the shipowners and
merchants of Boston agitated the proJ-
ect of establishing Il lighthouse at the
entrance to the harbor. The general
court took the matter up on petition OF
John George and others. The town
officials of Boston also considered the
proposition and urged the colonial au-
thorities to make an appropriation to
erect a suitable light At last ia
vorable action was taken by the au-
thorities, and the building of the light
on the outer Brewster began.
When the light was ready to put into
commission George Worthylake was
appointed keeper. lie and his wife
and daughter were drowned two years
later.
Benjamin Franklin wrote a ballad
, on the drowning of the family. The
salary of the first keepers of the light
was $3.50 year.
On the death of Worthylake Captain
John Hayes, a shipmaster, was ap-
pointed
The early lightkeeper had many OH
err duties to perform besides looking
after the light He had to act as pilot
for vessels and discharge the duties of
health officer of the port. In the case
] of vessel being in distress it was
| his duty to go TO its rescue.
In 1920 the lighthouse was burned
and rebuilt. Again in 1751 the light
house and other buildings were burned
! and were again rebuilt.
/ Robert Ball, the keeper who succeed
ed Captain Hayes, remained until the
] British fleet sailed from Boston to Hal
flax during the Revolutionary war. Ac-
cording to the stories at that time, Ball
sailed away with the fleet and never
returned.
The British wantonly destroyed the
harbor property, including the light,
before they sailed away when they
evacuated Boston. Thus it is that
! the island ON which Boston light stands
is the last soil in Massachusetts Occu-
pied by British armed forces.
The destruction of the light was n
great loss to mariners and the mer-
chants, and shipping interests induced
Governor John Hancock to send Il sre
cial message to the Massachusetts leg
iSlature recommending an appropria
ton for the rebuilding of the light
With commendable pronptitude tho
legislature complied with the request
of Governor Hancock. and plans Were
made for one of the finest and largest
lights ON the coast This was in l7S0.
The new structure was of stone. Gi
lamps furnished the light Then Tx
government took over the lighthouses
and assigned their care and mainte
nance to the treasury department, un
der whose jurisdiction they still re
main. The island and the light were
formally coded to the United State,
government in 1900.
The treasury department has Away.
given Boston light a great deal of at
tention because of its Importance ant
because it is the most widely know
landmark to the entrance to the see
ond port in America.
1t has been improved and enlarge;
from time to time, and the accommo
dations for the keepers and their fam
lilies are all that could be desired. De
spite its age the light station is, 70
all practical purposes, essentially mod
ern and up to date. 1t displays al
incandescent oil vapor light, giving
white flash of 100000 candle power ev
cry thirty seconds. visible sixteen mile
in clear weather, and as an auXiliar
aid in foggy weather sounds n power
full first class siren, with "A double bias
of five seconds each every minute
Boston Globe.
Some Exception.