File:Thrilling adventures by land and sea. Being remarkable historical facts, gathered from authentic sources (1852) (14800064093).jpg

Identifier: thrillingadventu00bray (find matches)
Title: Thrilling adventures by land and sea. Being remarkable historical facts, gathered from authentic sources
Year: 1852 (1850s)
Authors: Brayman, James O., 1815-1887, ed
Subjects: Adventure and adventurers
Publisher: Buffalo, G. H. Derby and co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
is perhapsworth recording. The lighthouse, was kept by aman named Thompson. His only companion was anold negro man; they both lived in a small hut nearthe lighthouse. One evening about dark they dis-covered a party of some fifteen or twenty Indianscreeping upon them, upon which they immediatelyretreated into the lighthouse, carrying with them akeg of gunpowder, with the guns and ammunition.From the windows of the lighthouse Thompsonfired upon them several times, but the moment hewould show himself at the window, the glasseswould be instantly riddled by the rifle balls, and hehad no alternative but to lie close. The Indians mean-while getting out of patience, at not being able to forcethe door, which Thompson had secured, collected pilesof wood, which, being placed against the door andset fire to, in process of time not-only burnt throughthe door, but also set fire to the stair-case conduct-ing to the lantern, into which Thompson and thenegro were compelled to retreat. From this, too,
Text Appearing After Image:
ATTACK ON THE LIGHTHOUSE. BY LAND AND SEA. 23 they were finally driven by the encroaching flames,and were forced outside on the parapet wall, whichwas not more than three feet wide. The flames now began to ascend as from a chim-ney, some fifteen or twenty feet above the lighthouse.These men had to lie in this situation, some seventyfeet above the ground, with a blazing furnace roast-ing them on one side, and the Indians on the other,embracing every occasion, as soon as any part ofthe body was exposed to pop at them. The ne-gro incautiously exposing himself, was killed, whileThompson received several balls in his feet, whichhe had projected beyond the wall. . Nearly roasted to death, and in a fit of despera-tion, Thompson seized the keg of gunpowder, whichhe had still preserved from the hands of the enemy,threw it into the blazing lighthouse, hoping to endhis own sufferings and destroy the savages. In afew moments it exploded, but the walls were toostrong to be shaken, and the explosio

Note About Images