Sailor the dog rings fog bell, Wood Island Light, ca. 1903
Contributed by Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
Description
The dog in this picture is Sailor, was famous for ringing the fog bell at Wood Island Lighthouse.
The keeper, Thomas Henry Orcutt (1886-1905) watches as Sailor clasps the rope attached to the bells' clapper in his mouth.
Articles about Sailor were found in newspapers as far away as Georgia, Iowa and Wisconsin. He was loved by local mariners because as they passed Wood Island in their boats, they would toot a greeting and Sailor would dash to the bell and give a salute on the great tocsin.
View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory Network.