The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-10-08

snaVe an emerald CLINT, ana that fits
in with his background too. He was
born in Galloway, Ireland, and the
brogue Of the "Ould Sod is still
with him though he came to this
country with his parents when he.
was babe, he said. at was Pitts,
burgh where we lived first. Since
then I've Travelled all over the wide
world. It's strange that I'm here,
attendant Of the light for n years,
who never cared much for stayin'
in one place." he chuckled.
We stopped at 4 little white stand
with = covered niche. Fleming ex.
planned, That's where we kept the
registry. Many's the day when the
lighthouse was open to the public
and we had as many as 400 people
traipsin' up the stairs. But II got
too much for one man to handle
and they don't keep the three Of
Us that were here these days.
He showed me the last guest book
and the final entry, January rs, 10
Is. A Key WesteS had written the
closing signature: Mrs. H. Numa
Tedder.
rRYsT FoR LOVERS
Before entering the door az the
base of the tower, we paused under
the big canopy Of the king-siIe ban
yam tree nearby. Fleming pointed
to q bench and . loveseat in the
greenfiltered shade. This was q
fzvorite place for courtship Of the
gurrls and boys in the old days.
Quite q coy corner for the young
lovers, until they put = spotlight in
the banyan. This tree was planted
~ years ago when Capt. Demerrit
started II from q wee Bit Of sprout.
And now would ye look at Il. The
air roots are for reaching over into
1t. Pearson's yard" he said.
He showed US the neat array OF
yard care equipment: the ri
handled rakes, shovels, troweis and
clippers used 10 keep the shrubs
and flowers around the grounds.
when we come down from the
light, I'll show you = rare shrub.
It's called Madagascar Pink Ball. !"
THE BIc CLINE
He unlocked the narrow door a.
the base and we stepped up into
the entry. Our voices sounded hol-
low and reverberating. ITS 81 feet
10 the platform and there are III
steps," Fleming stated. so take
il easy rs we 20 up. Keep your
eyes on my back II you feel your
self getting dizzy"
I glanced up through the tubular
structure. It made me dizzy inst to
look at II. The stairway wound up
and away out Of sight in q tight
spiral. I thought Of The inside Of
chamhered nautilus shell, Of
giant corkxcrew, Z perpendicular
tunnel, Of the circular canal in an
enormous ear. and II nightmare
once had when coming out az
maeistrom Of ether.
After that there wasn't time for
thinking. Just for taking deep
breaths, a. We started the climb.
Up and around. and up, boring
slowly higher and higher, gripping
the slesder handrall. trying 10 keep
eyes ahead and not notice the dr0p
Tar below. Tie steps are narrow az
cns end. wider 1t he other. ard
The sides are open. not encased
F0ctxaep echoes CO TIE iron surface
are exaggerated ~ TIE encased
CHAMBER d brick. pictured tie
raurderers in tk@ tower ereeping up
70 aEsassin1te TIE Ilstis princes. /
tkuuEht IL kcw 4 must he ca Q
lonely dark ns9hs with tie wird
h0Nllng Ike . hanahee I remenn.
hered ! movie where fke killer
stalked his PREY - huFf ths victim
cuwn. oewn Then sud1ezly re
wheeied aruun6 TIE laSs hFn nd
stood 81 TIE lop 81 re xortsx -
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JoAn Fiemng epans9 - Ger