HEROIC VIGIL IN LIGHTHOUSE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143783, 6 May 1912, Page 3

HEROIC VIGIL IN LIGHTHOUSE.

How Mrs. Peter Borque, alone with her baby in the Bird Reek Lighthouse, oft the stormiest area ol the Nova Scotia .coast, kept tho light bunting and the log-bell lolling lor ten terrible days and nights after her husband died, is related in a thrilling message from the Canadian Government steamship Seal, which rescued the mother and baby in on exhausted condition.

Bird Rock islet, in tho Magdalene group is nine miles from tho nearest habitation, and is visited four times a year by tho lighthouse supply vessel. On March 17 the Seal hoard distress {iignals from tho lighthouse, and found Mrs. Borque and tile infant nearly dead. After they had been revived, Mrs. Borque related her heroic story. “Eleven days ago,” she said, “my husband slipped while entering the lighthouse during a storm, and plunged into the sea. 1 tried to threw him a lifebelt, )iut he was beaten to death on tho rocks. Ever since baby and I kept tho light and the fog signals going. For a day or two J thought I would go mad, but I forced myself to keep up, realising that the light must not go out nor tho fog-bell lx-, silent. My lioor baby suffered terribly. There was food enough, but I could not take time to cook it, for tho weather was the worst experienced for years. The baby cried constantly. I had to hold her in my arms for warmth. It was •frightfully cold. Every time 1 crawled up the tower to attend to the lights 1 carried the baby with mo. Day after day I prayed for help. For five days and nights I did not close my eyes. On Dio sixth day, when I awoke after a brief sleep, I seemed to hear a voice whispering, ‘Have courage.’ Every hour I could see the baby’s face grow paler and thinner, and when she slept I feared s lio was dying Only the knowledge that tho lights were burning kept mo sane. Finally I became so weak that I remained liesido the lights constantly, believing that if I went away I would not have 3 Dio strength to return to them. I never realised before how much suffering a human being could endure. When I saw' the Seal I wept for joy. Summoning ray remaining strength, I tolled tho l, c .|| with the agonising fear that tho men on the vessel might not hear tho distress signal. When I saw the Seal come towards the lighthouse I fell exhausted.” The Government will probably grant Mrs.. Borque and Lor child a pension for lifeT