Complex sentence: It was begun in 1870, in answer to the disastrous loss of a large number of ships during the 1860s at the site; in particular, two schooners ran aground and broke up in 1867.
Split into simpler sentences: It was begun in 1870, in answer to the disastrous loss of a large number of ships during the 1860s at the site. In particular, two schooners ran aground and broke up in 1867.