PAGE SIX
STORY OF LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE
LONELIER THAN ANY OF THOSE
EXPERIENCED IN THE COASTLAND
Cape Hatteras Light Keeper Gets Recital By Fellow Light
Keeper "Down Under" off Queensland, Australia.
<■ " , - j
NOTE: The old days of lonely living in the
lighthouses of the Carolina Coastland are
history. Lighthouses have been replaced by
mechanical gadgets, visited periodically fro«y»
the mainland. No longer do we have indi
vidual light-keepers who remain on their
iob for long periods, seldom getting home.
It is therefore interesting to note how in
some parts of the world, there ore still
lonely outposts where men keep watch, and
we therefore print a letter recently sent to
Cape Hatteras by light-keeper John Jesper
son, across the world, in Queensland,
Australia.
“I am one of the three men sta
tioned here, whose job it is to keep
the Commonwealth Lighthouse at
North Reef functioning efficiently.
North Reef is a small coral atoll
about seventy miles off the
Queensland coast in latitude 23° S.
and to my knowledge is the only
bachelor station on the Australian
coast. Gladstone is the nearest
port. At high tide the island has a
perimeter of just 900 paces, so
there is no chance of getting too
far away. However, at low tide the
reef dries for nearly a mile all
round and there is quite a variety
of shells to be found. I am rather
fond of spear fishing and the rock
pools are usually full of big sweet
lip so that I get plenty of practice.
There are also big crayfish to be
found under the coral ledgeS. I
don’t often go in the water at high
tide because of the many sharks—
especially at this time of year
when they are attracted to the is
land by the young turtles which
hatch in thousands. The depart
ment supplies us with a 14-ft.
dinghy and we have only to row a
few miles offshore to find splen
did fishing grounds. Obviously we
eat quite an amount of fish. The
nearest island is just 7 miles away,
but that is too far without a power
boat.
“The tower here is approxi
mately 65-ft. high and is made of
steel and timber. The light, which
flashes 12 times every minute, is
the kerosene mantle type and we
keep the pressure of 75 lbs., up by
means of a hand pump. We each
have a four-hour watch at night
and every two hours we wind up
the weights which drive the clock
work mechanism that keeps the
lens revolving. To make sure that
we don’t go to sleep on the job,
the department last month install
ed a time-recording clock in the
top of the tower. By turning a key
in it every half hour at night the
key number and time is stamped
on a paper tape which is posted to
Brisbane every fortnight for in
spection.
“The living quarters are built
around the base of the tower and
are quite comfortable. There are
three separate bedrooms, kitchen,
living room, office, pantry and
workshop. We are supplied with
two kerosene refrigerators and a
pressure kerosene stove. The store
boat from Gladstone is by contract
with the department supposed to
call here every fortnight with our
suppies and mail, and sometimes
actually does get here on time, but
as there is no refrigeration on thd
boat, perishable stores are always
A headache Jo us during the sum
mer months.
‘‘■Lighting for the living quarters
is 110 V, and we have a diesel plant
to keep the battery bank charged.
This also suppies power for our
radio transmitter which is used to
call the mainland four times daily,
majnly to report our condition. We
diSa not a weather station and are!
not compelled to call up passing
ships, though we often do so at
night with the signal lamp. During
the day from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, we
work at keeping the place in good
repair, usually with a paintbrush.
“The pay here is reasonably
good. I received 23 pounds gross
(about s6s—Ed.) per week. After
12 months service here we receive
one month’s shore leave. There is
also an allowance for sick leave of
3 weeks for serious injury or sick-
lr-7
ROANOKE ISLAND CLUB
AND LODGE MEETINGS
v I
MASONS: Manteo Lodge, Sec
ond and Fourth Monday Evenings,
in Manteo Town Hall. Wanchese
Lodge, First and Third Thursdays,
Wanchese Lodge Hall.
EASTERN STAB> Second and
Fourth Thursday evenings in Wan
chese Lodge Hall.
ODDFELLOWS, Each Tuesday
evening in Manteo Town Hall.
REBEKAHS, First and Third
Monday evenings, Manteo Town
Hall.
MANTEO ROTARY, each Mon
day evening, and MANTEO
LIONS, First and Third Tuesdays
in Community Building.
WANCHESE RURITAN, third
Fridays, Wanchese schoolhouse.
DEGREE OF POCAHONTAS;
Second and Fourth Fridays. 7:80
p.m., Wanchese Masonic Hall.
AMERICAN LEGION, Ft Ra
leigh Post No. 26, 2nd Thursday,
7:30 p.m., Community Bldg., Man
teo.
ROANOKE ISLAND GARDEN
CLUB meets at 2:30 in the after
noon, first Thursday of each
month, in the homes of members.
MANTEO WOMAN’S CLUB,
second Tuesday each month.
Homes of members, 8 p.m.
DARE CO. SHRINE CLUB, first
. Monday each month, 8:00 p.m.,
clubhouse, Nags Head.
ness. Those are just a few facts
to give you a general idea of the
kind of life which we lead here.
I am curious to know how our con
ditions compare with those on an
American lighthouse and I would
be very pleased if you choose to
reply to this letter for that reason.
I hope you find the above mention
ed interesting.
“With best wishes to you for the
coming year, I remain, yours sin
cerely,
“JOHN JESPERSEN”
North Reef, C/o H. M. Customs
Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
WINS EXECUTIVE POST IN
UNITED STATES LINES
fl Hu- %
flflßl ■
. ‘VW** ,
*
MUCH INTEREST is manifest
in the advancement recently
of Capt. “Solly” J. Topping,
a Belhaven native who is now
General Operating Manager of
United States Lines, according to
announcement of the company
president, John M. Franklin.
Capt. Topping, born and educat
ed in Belhaven, followed the sea
for many years, and has long been
Marine Superintendent of U. S.
Lines. He is often a visitor to Bel
haven, and hunts and fishes in the
area, usually bringing with him
many shipping officials, and was
here during the recent hunting sea
son.
His immediate relatives living in
Belhaven are two sisters, Mrs. Jule
Puris and Miss Katie Topping and
a brother, Roswell Topping, who is
a retired mariner.
Captain Topping first went to
sea as a second class quartermas
ter in the U. S. Navy during World
War I. As a crew member of the
U.S.S. Lake Bridge in 1918 he
helped to thrwart an attack by a
German submarine in mid-ocean.
The vessels on which he was em
ployed during World War I were
carrying mines to the north of
Scotland for mine fields that were
being laid between Scotland and
Norway.
After the War Captain Topping
rose from third officer to Master
of vessels operated by Trans Ma
rine lines and the Grace line and
later, ships of the American Pio
neer line, a subsidiary of the Unit
ed States Lines, operating to the
Far East and Australia.
He came ashore in 1935 as as
sistant to the marine superintend
ent at the company’s home port in
New York City and in April of
1941 was promoted to the post of
marine superintendent.
The United States Unes owns arid
operates a fleet of 55 modern Pas
senger and cargo vessels, includ
ing this Superliner United States,
fastest ship in the world and flag
ship of the fleet. These vessels op
erate in regular service to and irom
Ireland, the United Kingdom, Con
tinental Europe, Hawaii, the Far
East and Australia.
Captain Topping has been active
in the affairs of the American Mer
chant Marine Post of the Ameri
can Legion and his hobbies include
stamps, gardening, baseball, Amer
icanism and the lives of former
Presidents of the United States. He
now resides in Rutherford, New
Jersey.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer
Sawyer of Wanchese a son, Elmer
Eugene Sawyer, Jr., on April 19
in Memorial Clinic. Manteo; weight
seven pounds, 14H ounces. Mrs.
Sawyer is the former Betty Jo
Love of Wanchese.
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Lindsey of
Norfolk, Va. announce the birth
and death of twin daughters in
Norfolk General Hospital. The
little girls were born April 14 and
one of them lived until April 16.
Mrs. Lindsey is a sister of Mrs.
Robert K. Gunn of Manteo. -She
and Mr. Lindsey have many friends
in Dare County, Mr. Lindsey hav
ing worked for some time at the
Carolinian Hotel, Nags Head.
COLINGTON PERSONALS
Troy Beasley is a patient in
the Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth
City.
- ---
THE COASTLAND TIMES, MANTEO, N. C.
DARE
KILL DEVIL HILLS
EXTEND A CORDIAL INVITATION TO
Jackson Homes
MILE POST 14
Fish Swim Frolic
Completely furnished ocean front
cottages for family comfort.
Screened Porches becah boardwalk
Nags Head's Finest
P. O. Box 257 Phone 8621
I
Want to Own a Beach Cottage?
Write or Phone
Harris Realty Co.
Sales Rentals
We have some desirable
OCEANFRONTS and WEST SIDE
LOTS and COTTAGES
A good investment as well as for your own vacation
Kill Devil Hills, N. C. Phone KDH 2931
FOR YOUR
PLUMBING. BUILDING and
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES
SEE
DANIELS
BUILDING SUPPLY
COMPLETE STOCKS AT FAIR PRICES
Nags Head, N. C. Phone 2566
THE CAROLINIAN
NAGS HEAD. NORTH CAROLINA
• CAREFREE
• coMfOrtable
• COMPLETE
Phone 8871 O. L. BAUM, Manager
BAUM’S RENTAL SERVICE
Kitty Hawk and Nags Head Beaches
NEAR THE FISHING PIERS
HOUSE KEEPING COTTAGES
Privately-Owned Cottages Mean a Mort
Enjoyable Vacation For You and Yours
See Us for Choice Beach Properties
LOTS AND COTTAGES
KITTY HAWK. N. C. 1». '&• BOX 14
Scarborough’s Garage
NAGS HEAD, N. C.
GENERAL AUTO REPAIRING
BODY and PAINT WORK
Specializing'in Wreck Repairing
Agent for Jeeps and Parts
GULF PRODUCTS
Rhone 89i)2 Nags Head, N. C.
JAMES SCARBOROUGH Prop.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE \ I / / '
A GOOD PAINT MAKES '’ / //.
STAG
Ready-Mixed
HOUSE
W. S.IGREGORY
Kill Devil Hills, N. C. Phone 8891
ONE OF THE NEWEST a.
EL GAY
NAGS HEAD. N. C. |
NEXT TO EL GAY COURT
Specialties in Tempting Southern Fried
SEAFOODS STEAKS CHICKEN
FOUNTAIN SERVICE—BOX LUNCHES
The Andersons Invite You To Visit The Most Complete
Shopping Center at Kitty Hawk Beach Near Mile Post 2
ANDERSON’S
SUPERMARKET BEACH STORE
HOUSEKEEPING BEACH COTTAGES
"MTAIS AN “
FOR COTTAGE RENTALS WRITE
BILL ANDERSON’S RENTAL AGENCY
OPEN YEAR-ROUND PHONE 8011 Kitty Hawk
Welcome To
DYKE’S
ESSO SERVICENTER
At the Triangle Intersection
Oregon Inlet and Nags Head Road
Washing Lubrication Tires
BATTERIES & ACCESSORIES
MINOR REPAIRS
Phone Nags Head 8666
PLAN YOUR VACATION
AT
The Sea Oatel
ONE OF THE NEWEST AND FINEST
MOTOR COURTS
OVERLOOKING THE GREAT ATLANTIC
NAGS HEAD. N. C.
ALL TILE BATHS PHONE 8611 AAA
AIR-CONDITIONED HEATED
THE VERY CENTER OF EVERYTHING
Fishing, Bathing, Recreation, AH Historic Sites
' ' '' ' !
Ocean View
Cottage Court
On the Ocean Side
Sixteen 1,-2,- and 3-Bedroom Cottages Completely Fur
nished and Equipped with Modern Kitchens.
ALL PORCHES SCREENED
Make your reservations now. Phone Kill Devil Hills 8521
or write P. O. Box 66.
P. L POWELL. Owner
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1958