August 5, 1875 -
James Corgan
Principal Keeper left for Houghton at 4:30 p.m. with Steam
Launch "Little Will" for inspection. Went to L'Anse saw there
the Hon. Jay Hubball from this district who informed me that I and my
wife were to be removed from this station, the cause thereof he did not
know. Also of the removal of P.C. Bird of Eagle Harbor and Ashman of
White Fish Point Light. And in anticipation of removal I sent in my own
and my wife's resignation to take immediate effect. Which I do willingly
and without the slightest regret except the gratulation of my enemies
and I should have resigned ere long had I not been forced to, from the
mere fact of the L.H. Board revoking the order for a 2nd assistant at
this station. And I envy not the successor of mine of his acquired
position hoping only that he and his successors will be as competent and
perform the duties imposed as faithfully as has the subscriber and that
he may leave of his own free will not by the caprices and by any
"red tape" that might happen to think his removal necessary
for the good of the service because he does not bend his knee or pull
his forelock to them but prefers being a man and be treated as such. And
now to my successor I leave this journal to continue to mark events as
true and impartial as I have done also the rest of the books which I
think he will find as correct and well kept as most LH records and not
like a number of keepers known to me who are unable to keep their
accounts and get others to do so for them, and cannot keep track of less
than one gill, for fractions of a gill would overrun their arithmetic.
As a keeper ceasing to exist, I give to
my successor a wish that he may have all the good luck possible for one
man to have as long as he keeps this station for he needs it especially
in boating. And from his enemies Oh Lord deliver him for they are
manifold.
Aug. 22, 1875
- Henry Pierce
Arrived at this station and relieved James Corgan from duty
as principal keeper of this light and assumed charge thereof on Friday
the 24th of the same month. James Corgan left on the same day that I
assumed charge of this light station on his own steam launch
"Little Will"
May 19, 1882
-Henry Pearce
Reuben Hart left Copper Harbor at 8 a.m. for this station
alone in his own sailboat a good one with wind SSE and blowing a good
fresh breeze. He made several stretches coming down passed Gull Rock
about 4 p.m. and lay to at two mile point of isle. He seemed to be
engaged in fixing something around the boat for over one half an hour,
he being observed by Mr. Corgan, Assistant Keeper at Gull Rock. He was
next seen by his assistants Mr. Henry Fergeson and John Gustafson when
just emerging from behind the north fog signal coming out of the north
bay on his last stretch out before coming about to enter boat landing.
Wind fresh at time and he kept on running close and [sails] reefed down
and crossed the outer end of the reef that runs out E of LH. He then
came about and headed for boat runway with a free sheet. Shortly
afterwards he shipped a portion of sea, he immediately commenced to
throw out stone which he had in for ballast, but before he got many out,
another sea came and entirely engulfed him and the boat completely out
of sight. This when he was not more than 500 feet away. The boat
appeared again and seemed to right herself for a moment, but only for a
moment, she then capsized on her beam and by this time Mr. Hart appeared
and climbed onto the upper most part of the boat and divested himself of
his outer clothing and motioned to his two assts. They standing by the
boathouse door at the time. They made a pusillanimous attempt to get the
LH boat out of the boat house, but Fergeson 1st Asst. refused to assist
Gustafson 2nd Asst. to get her more than partially out of the house,
saying they could not go to him, saying they could not handle the boat
although begged by Gustafson to make an attempt to save the life of
their principal. But no he would not. He allowed him to drift past and
away from them imploring them by signs to come to him. He was so close
that the two assts. ran out onto the rocks in an attempt to throw him a
rope. They saw him over two hours afterwards when lighting the lamp
still clinging to the upper most fragment of the boat and floating and
drifting toward the Canadian shore. This is the account given to me by
John Gustafson in the presence of Henry Fergeson on Sunday, May 21st 1
p.m.
To think of the suffering of that poor
man drifting to his doom, with the two men he had chosen [as assistants]
in plain sight to aid him in his lonely task of keeping this station and
t hey standing idly by and see him for hours drifting hopelessly away to
a death, that the Indian torture is no more cruel and hanging a relief.
I repeat I cannot think of it that it don't make my flesh creep. And
still those men have a slight balm for their consciences "if they
have any." They engaged themselves with Mr. Hart with the explicit
understanding that they were not boatmen. Gustafson could row a boat
some, but could not sail. Fergeson could do neither, and therefore Mr.
Hart knew their inability. But still I cannot nor will not try and
mitigate the condemnation that is due them for their cowardly action.
They admitted that there was no sea at Crib and that there would have
been no difficulty in getting the boat out. Fergeson soon afterward
started around north side of the island to light a signal fire on the
west end thinking that I had returned with Mr. Hart, he could then
attract my attention and make known to me: when I would come to him, of
the sad accident and have me go to his rescue. But as fate would have it
I came part way to the rock that afternoon and the wind being so much
ahead and fteshening I returned to Copper Harbor. Mr. Corgan called my
attention to a signal fire on point of island. Launched my row boat and
went over there and there found John Gustafson, 2nd Asst., who first
imparted to me the news of Hart's sad fate. I walked around to LH and
saw Ferguson and Gustafson and they solicited my aid in the matter and
desired to telegraph the Inspector CDR. J.C. Watson relative to the
accident and that they were unfit to perform the required duties at the
station and wished to leave immediately.
May 22, 1882 -
Jams Corgan
Arrived at Eagle Harbor and telephoned the following dispatch
from the Delaware mine to the District Inspector, "Reuben Hart
Manitou keeper capsized and cast away evening of the 19th towards
Canadian shore. Assistants utterly incapable and wish to leave the
station immediately. Will await your answer. At 8:30 p.m. I received
answer as follows, "To Jas. Corgan,. Eagle Harbor. Take temporary
charge at Manitou, employ two men if assistants desert. Employ man to
assist at Rock, Write particulars. Watson, Inspector." I then wrote
him the particulars as heretofore stated. I also sent a telegram to
Reuben's mother at Duluth.
May 23, 1882 -
James Corgan
I started from Eagle Harbor at 6 a.m. for Copper Harbor, cold
riding, snowed last night, ground almost covered at Delaware (mine).
Arrived at Copper Harbor at 10:15. Commenced making endeavors to get two
men to go to island with me for I have no desire to keep the company of
those incompetent cowards. Could not find anyone who is competent who
wants to go.
May 24 - James
Corgan
Left Copper Harbor for the Rock at 12 p.m. with Chas. Corgan
and Thos. Letcher. I will leave Corgan at Rock and take Dan Corgan to
assist at island and then will put those two assist. ashore.
May 24, 1882 -
James Corgan
Got to the Rock at 3 p.m., landed and stayed a short while.
Took Dan Corgan and left for Island and got there at 5 p.m. and found
that the LH Tender Warrington had been here at 10 a.m. and got weather
note and left in search of the missing keeper in obedience to a dispatch
sent by the Inspector. She took a couple of circles and then left for
Passage Island where they are erecting a LH.
May 25, 1882 -
Kames Corgan
Took inventory of all the groceries here belonging to keeper
at invoice prices to be returned or sold to incoming keeper. Arranged
everything with assistants and relieved them of any duties and will put
them on first steamer passing down.
May 26, 1882 -
James Corgan
They had not long to wait, the Barge Iron Chief came along. I
launched the Rock sailboat and run out to her and put them aboard at 4
p.m. and returned to the Rock and remained overnight.
May 27, 2882 -
James Corgan
Returned to the island at 12 p.m. and found that the
WARRINGTON had been here at 6 a.m. but had no tiding of the missing
keeper or boat.
May 30, 1882 -
James Corgan
Dan started for Copper Harbor with the mail at 10:30 a.m.,
the wind being light he will have to row most of the way. The
coincidence is striking as the above noted Friday being a conspicuous
day in the happenings of Mr. Hart and assistants, it being on Friday
April 28 that they first came here and a Friday, May the 19th, that he
was cast away and on Friday, May 26 that they again left the station for
their return ashore.
September 6,
1883 - James Corgan
This is my first entry in this journal since Aug. 16, 1875
and I then little thought I should be requested to again take charge of
this station even for a limited period and least of all under such sad
circumstances and I earnestly hope that I nor no other person may be
called upon in the long future to assume the duties here under similar
circumstances. I now again commit to the incoming keepers the charge of
these books and entries, in same and wish them whoever they be. Health
and happiness, unanimity, competency in their duties and a will to
perform them when called upon, and especially if life is at stake. So
that the pages of this journal will never again be used to transcribe
heartless desertion of one keeper by another as in the case of Reuban
Hart by his lst and 2nd Assts. Henry Fergeson and John Gustafson on May
19, 1882 at 5 p.m. Hart's boat was picked up by a merchant Steamer.
fifty miles NW of here over three months after his loss. The boat having
been floating around in the lake and had not touched shore. It was taken
to Duluth, his body was never recovered to date.
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