LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 141, 23 April 1879, Page 2

LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE

1 Life in a lighthouse must at all times be a dreary existence, and when illness occurs the sense of isolation must be terrible indeed, The lighthouses off the Bunnah coast are, it seems, very insufficiently inspected; and a story told by the' Rangoon Times' of ono thus neglected 'will, it is to be hoped, lead to some better arrangements being adopted in future. A Telegram having been received at Eangoon stating that the light on Alguada reef was not visible, the steamer Celerity was despatched to ascertain the cause. The light was found burning all right, but signals of distress were flying. On tlie captain of the Celerity landing, he discovered that two of tho men in the lighthouse Wfvk dead while a third was lying in a p)fl carious state, Thelighthouse-keeper statwP that signals of distress, such as" I want immediate help " and " Man dying,', had been exhibited by him for about twenty days; but although several vessels and steamers had passed by, no notice whatever had been taken of these appeals for assistance. He, therefore as a last resource

darkened the'light on the Bassein side, feeling certain that this step would not fail to attract attention to the lighthouse, It seems worth consideration whether, on the ground of humanity alone, a system of telegraphic communication might not be established between those who live in lighthouses and those who live on shore,