White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-02-23
American
Heroines
By
LOUISE M. COMSTOCK
Kate Walker

walker, VINO SLOOQ Out 4 leel ~ 'nSHe'
with her shoes on, remained faithful
to her trust. tending the giant beacon
on Robbins Reef in New York bay
During these years veteran boatmen
estimate that Kate Walker saved as
many as Is lives.
The young Kate had come TO thls
country from Germany. and opened
boarding house at Sandy Hook. Here
hei excellent cooking made very fa'
vorable impression on Capt. JACOB
Walker, keeper Of the Sandy Hook
lighthouse. They were married I'D
1882 Shortly afterwards Captain
Walker was transferred to the light
house on Robbins Reef. Four years
later he became iii of pneumonia
Kate not only nursed her husband, but
tended for him the huge light that was
his trust. Upon his death. she was
officially appointed keeper al R"po'hs
Reef by President Benjamin Harrison.
There were two small children at
the lighthouse in those days. Every
morning the young mother rowed them
across the bay to school on Staten Is
| land. Every evening she called for
them. She became an excellent oars
woman and distinguished herself time
and again by the courage with Whlcn
/ she braved high seas to launch her
small boat and row out to the rescue
of people who were In grave danger.
Not once during her thirty-odd years
Of guardianship did the light on Kob
bins Reef fail.
Robbins Reef lighthouse Ia one OF
the most important in this country
guarding a busy marine thoroughfare.
By day and night the ships from the
seaports of the world pass 1t by. NOV
ing in and ont Of New York bay. Kate
became able to recognize every snip
by the sound Of it's whistle. once
when in New York city, the sudden
blare of factory whistle caused her
10 stop short. "If didn't know that
the Richard p. Morse had been
scrapped years ago. she exclaimed.
would have said that was her whistle.
SO sure was she Of her identif1catlon'
that inquiry was made. 1t developed
that the whistle was indeed that OF
the discarded ship. purchased ny lne
factory for it's own USE
With the passing Of years Rates son
Jacob grew old enough to be her anie
assistant. In 1919 she retired 1ro,'
the service and went to live IN w
tie white cottage on Staten lslai'o
whore the beams of the light on KIDD
hins Reef could steal into her bedroom
window at night. assuring her that al
was well on the high seas.
"Tom" Hunley
m 1862 there was enlisted In the
| Union forces engaged in the Civil
war drummer hoy named Tom Hun
lev. He was frail little fellow. whom
the soldiers often teased with lookins
more like a girl than hoy Ruf me-
father Jeremiah Hunley. enlisted ir
the same regiment kept Tom close a
his side. and protected him not onl!
from the taunts but even from I'M
friendship of their comrades In arms
And for three years little Ton
drummed the Northern troops alon'
their weary marches and into desper
ate battle. and only two people. MI
own father and General Grant. eve
knew TINT he was no drummer boy
hut little girl
Toms father carried the scorer Il
his grave few years after the clos
of the war. And General Grant toll
none. So that 1t was not until q
years after her heroic deeds that TIL
drummer boy herself. then q white
haired old lady. Mrs. Anna Glnd n
Oakland Cnlif.. told the strange stor,
Jeremiah Hunley and his five moth
erless children lived In border state
When the Civil war opened. two son
TONED mp with the Union side. tw
With the Confederates Then the II
ther was called Afraid to leave hi
onlv remaining child Anna. then to
wears old alone. friendless In COZ
tested territory he cut off her hal
dressed her in boys clothes. told ne
TO answer to the name "Tom' an
set Off to Join the Union army. Fe
two vears atom" CALAMITY acc0mn:
MED her father through some ut tn
blnodiest battles of the war. her s.
cret unsupported.
Then. one day. General Grant II
spected his troops. He was parftc'
| larly struck with the diminntive drnr
| mer hoy. decided she was foo sna
| for action and ordered her mnsterf
| ort and scnt home to her mother
| There was only one thing for her r
| ther to do Az soon as he could On
q private hearing with the gener
he explained TINT the drummer h
was no hoy bnt his own daughter al
laid before him the circnmsfanc
] which had prompted the deceptio
i He begged that he might be allow
tn keep her with him. And Gc.er
| Grant straightwav shook the litt
| drummer's hoy's hand. swore hmst
| to keep her secret. and ordered h
retained In the service.
Thus II was not until the end OF t
war that little Anna Hnnley return