A LIGHTHOUSE VIGIL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 57, 4 September 1926, Page 20

A LIGHTHOUSE VIGIL

STORY OF A GIRL'S HEROISM.

Miss Ethel Langton, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the keeper of the lighthouse at St. Helen's, Port Berbridge, Isle of "Wight (England), has been awarded the bronze medal for meritorious, services from the Committee of Lloyd's. This is an honorary sward in recognition of Miss Langton'a great courage and endurance in keeping the lighthouse lamp burning for three days during a series of gales in March. Owing to continued adverse weather .conditions', Miss Langton was left alone in the lighthouse in the third week in March. Her parents, forced by lack of supplies to make a dash for the mainland in stormy ieas in order to collect fuel and food, were unable to return to the lighthouse, owing to the renewed fury of the tempest. Alone on the lighthouse, the girl took charge of the lamp and kept the warning light flashing. It was worked by clockwork, which required rewinding every four hours. So at four-hourly periods the girl went out on to the platform that surrounded the lamp chamber and, in spite of the elements, wound up the' spring. This continued for three days and nights, and the girl had for sustenance one half of a loaf. As soon as the weather permitted, the light house-keeper and his wife returned. Lloyd's medal for meritorious services was, instituted in 1893, and with very few exceptions its recipients have been members of the mercantile marine. The committee,, however; felt it would be only fitting that Miss Langton's name should appear among those who have rendered outstanding service in ministering to the safety of life at sea. The bronze medal has not been previousl;; awarded to a woman, but the silvor medal was conferred upon the wife of a ship's captain.