"There are no words to express the feelings that induce a sailor to offer fervent prayers when he sees this mark of sympathy expressed by his fellow men. Suddenly he sees that he is no longer alone in the midst of the ocean waves; he sees that people are caring for him with paternal solicitude."

by Russian Naval Lieutenant Lavrentiy Alekseyevich Zagoskin on sighting the Lighthouse at Sitka, Alaska, in 1839!!