The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-09
Isl FIT. BEACON
is SOUTHWEST
TENDED LIGHT
IN U.S.A.
BY SUSAN MeAvoY

ful modern beacon which shines Is
miles to guide merchant ships,
shrimpers, naval and pleasure
craft on their voyages through the
waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Tortugas Light is the southern
most tended light Of the USA. It's
million and one half candlepower
is to-day automatically operated.
Towering Isl feet above fhe
sandy. evergreen island on which
II stands. lighthouse keepers in
HE olden days used to have TO
climb l94 steps TO light The bea-
con 10 help mariners.
Saturday / climbed those steps
for good look at the island and
the sea around me.
II was my first lighthouse climb.
ing since Cape Hatteras which
shines through the graveyard OF
The Atlantic off the outer banks
of North Carolina.
| had formerly thought the black
and white candy striped light al
Haiteras the most beautiful beacon
house on the Atlantic coast.
Saturday, the towering dignity
and the setting Of Tortugas light
facing the hexagonal ruins OF rosy
brick, that are Fort Jefferson
changed my mind.
OF black and white the tapering
tower built in 1858 rises from its
bed of eyergreens, white sands,
and turquoise sea TO put all other
lighthouses out of competition.
My hostess of the weekend; Mrs.
Joseph Santini, wife of Fort JEFF
ferSon's Boat Superintendent; rode
over with her three children in the
boat to see the light.
The children. Sandra, Is, 10,
Jr. 10, and Martha, six, scamper-
cd up the familiar terrain en- the
beach.
We adults were greeted by two
Of the four Coast Guardsmen
permanently assigned 10 Logger.
head station, and two civilians
who off the ship "HYdrosr apher"
with their erewmates are
making new charts Of the waters
off the Florida Keys.
Coast Guard Chief Peter De Boer
of the station was in the kitchen
Of the attractive one story Coast
Guard quarters. making lunca. The
inen from the Coast and GeOdetic
Survey, therefore escorted us to the
base Of the lighthouse and led the
way up the 1874 steps.
Reminding myself that ] had
climbed some of the highest :cathe-
dral domes in Europe l took Il slow
going up, stopping to look out over
the pines and palms when the going
seemed too steep.
Fiaally Hazel Santini and I
reached the top. The men we're al.
ready there, standing on tie iron
balcony. high over the island.
Though II was hot humid day,
the breeze was so strong at that
altitude, We were soon cooled off.
Tony Canaleio the only civilian
on the station. has tended the light
for II years, He explained the ruins
near the harhor Of LoggGrhead.
Formerly the lighthouse keeper
and has family lived in the brick
house Since il burned in is4a. fam
lies sre no longer permitted on
The all man,key. Tony comes in to
visit bis ten children and wife. for
two weeks, after a months duty
Al iaggerhead.
Lots Of the old keepers are dy.
ing off. he told me as we rode
down to Loggerhead Thursday on
the Coast Guard 50 foot boas.
He pointed cut Rehecca Shoal
light with its five room house
mounted en- iron stills.
This Is an automatic hEh,--ihe
house hasn't been lived :in for
wears
he sc0se. q familiar ard well
loved SIGHT Tor mariners i'm shs
danger eos khoai waters, is; being
tern down BY IRE Ftorida Ersefer
Co. agent Sssvsk told RE on she
trip down. Ms eempany Is sspalr.
ire and selsdIFYins ire tcsrsrlY
vnls0s light ssruefuve. sNd re
hevss wilI be taken srses ard
Heated lnss KEY West.
An automatic light tower will re-
place the white frame house q Tire
lSSo's. whieh from the air looks
ike = esra house Ard stllts.
TIE mariner Is never ous 81 rAnEs
a Lights On hsS trip wexsearss 10
ToT;usas THIS ls esSersiA: slnrs
ihe waiers arnuna Reheeea sad the
fngtagas are filled wIsh SaaElaNs
Ersza reefs ard shoals.
fasassiay song aoNn and :Sgnaay
Samlmg back. tsae Coast giuArd
eEw@ saa the esstl4An yaes4 cFsw
sass us apFw Messed asgh some u
Ok eaina#sg as~r in useAaSsFs
haa heass - sAs russss trip