58 Commercial The government recognized the bravery of these Souris rescuers. A life- saving team was organized under Captain Norman Mcintosh and a special dory kept available for such emergencies. A storm signal spar was erected c. 1902 in what is now by the Department of Transport. It was replaced in 1914 with a sixty-two foot steel tower with two arms: one for day signals and one for night signals. The weather forecast came to the Customs House and the appropriate signals were hoisted on the tower. The day signals were made of huge black woven baskets, one cone-shaped and the other a cylinder. The night signals con¬ sisted of red or green lanterns enclosed in a case.23 But the greatest safeguard for ships at sea was a lighthouse. The East Point Light was built in 1866, but it was not until 1880 that the Souris light went on with Angus MacDonald its first keeper.24 He was followed by Mac La Vie , George MacDonald and Frank Mcintosh in 1918. A range light went up on the end of the breakwater in 1881. When Emmanuel McEachern , Conservative, returned from the 1871 ses¬ sion of the J. C. Pope Coalition Government , he was given a supper in honour of the passing of the Railway Bill. It is recorded in a letter to the Editor of the Argus that, at that gathering, plans were made for the arrival of the first railway cars in Souris . They would have a "demonstration in the best style possible".25 The railway cars did not go out from Charlottetown until four years later and then they got stuck in the snow and remained there until May of 1875.26 However, when the great day arrived, Souris was ready. Argus letter continued: At an early hour, all the bunting was flung to the breeze. A magnificent arch was erected across the track near the depot bearing the following inscription: Hurrah for the Railway and those who gave it. J. C. Pope —Father of the P.E.I. Railroad . Hurrah for the labourers who do the work was printed in large letters on the depot.The cars arrived at 5 o'clock p.m. when over 300 persons got on board and had a short ride just for the fun of it. And, on returning, passed under the arch, giving at the same time three cheers for the local Government , three for the contractors and three for the engineers. At dark a big bonfire was lit on the beach followed by a dance in the Town Hall. We may say that, in celebrating the occasion, party politics were left entirely in the shade...although Souris is considered by some to be "one of the last places in the world" that in this instance she has proved herself to be what she really is, one of the smartest little villages in British . It was a gala celebration, but headaches soon followed. Most Islanders, like those in Souris , strongly approved of building the railway but wanted to be sure it came as close to their district as possible. Souris and Tignish branch lines were to be built after the main line from Alberton to Tignish was completed, a delay of three years or more. They were not satisfied. Voters on the branch lines hounded their politicians with the result that the Premier promised the lines sooner. The Opposition cried corruption and bribery, the House was dissolved and, in the election of 1872, Premier J. C. Pope was defeated.27 Ironically, once in power, the Liberals promised con¬ struction of the branch lines would begin immediately.