A LIGHTHOUSE VIGIL

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 12

A LIGHTHOUSE VIGIL

STOBY 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 modal for meritorious services from the committee of Lloyd’s. This is an honorary award in recognition of Miss Langton’s 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 sens 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 tbe 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 previously awarded to a woman, but the silver medal was conferred upon the wife of a ship’s captain.