was when a steamer caught fire as it was traveling through the Straits. Imagine the excitement as well as fear and alarm of the nine children late one afternoon in early December as they spotted a steamer ten miles up the Straits headed full steam at McGulpin Point and on fire. Especially distressing was such a happening when they realized their father had gone to town. Death had taken their beloved mother so they were left alone to take any necessary action. As the boat drew nearer with the whistle blowing full blast, they could see members of the crew – a gruesome sight – fighting for their lives, silhouetted against the raging flames. It took quite a while for the boat to make it to shore, but it came steadily on with every man on board still at his post. By this time the residents of the town had been attracted by the spectacle and many had hastened to the Point to aid in rescue work. Best of all for the children alone at the lighthouse, their father had returned and they felt secure once more. Once the burning boat bottomed out in the shallow water, the one rowboat on shore made continuous trips between the boat and land, bringing only two crewmembers ashore at a time until all seventeen had been brought safely to shore.