Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-07-13
From our Port Townsend Correspondent.
Visit to Tatoochee Island.
THE LIGHT.
THE LIGHT.


THE LIGHT.
A recent visit to Tatooche Island
has enabled me to procure some inter-
csting information relative to the uses
and economy of lighthouses, as we'll rs
of the island itself-intcresting from
the fact of its being the extreme north
west portion Of our Territory, and con-
sequently the extreme northwest cor
ner Of the domain of the United States.
Tatoochc Island is q collection of
conglomerate rocks, or immense bould-
crs, rising from the OCEAN at the en-
trance of Fuca Straits, and separated
from the main land of Cape Flattery by
a channel about three quarters Of mile
wide. The largest of these rocks is the
one on which the lighthouse is situat-
ed, and contains on its surface all area
of some twenty acres of rich soil, COW
cred with luxuriant grass. The island
rises purpendicularly on all sides from
the water, and ut its highest point is
ninety feet above the level of half tide.
Between the group Of islets formed by
these bouldcrs, on the eastern side, is
the only landing for boats, and from
this narrow beach the ascent to the top
is made by means of rude steps cut in
the rock, serving simply as a toot-path.
All heavy articles of stores or provis-
ions are hoistcd up the cliff by means
of derrick.
The lighthouse consists of dwelling
house of sandstone, forty by twenty
eight feet, and story and half high.
On the lower floor are four rooms, scrv-
ing az occasion requires as parlor or
slecping-room, dining-room, kitchen,
and'storc- room. Above are four sleep
ing,rooms, for the keeper and his three
assistants.
From the centre of the house rises
the tower, cighty-fivc feet from the
ground, on the summit of which is
placed the lantern, illuminated by a
Frcsnel light of the first order.
AS most of your readers as well as
myself may feel interested to know
what Frcsncl light is, Twill condense
from an article on lighthouses that /
very opportunely found in an old num-
Der of Putnam's Monthly:
Every wcll.conditionedlight-h -
says the writer, "might appropriately
bear the inscription which Sostratus,
the architect of the Alcxandrian Phar-
ro', affixed to the most benefcent OF
the worlds seven wonders, "DHs serr-
atoribus pro narigtntibus''- TO the pro-
tecting gods in the behalf of seame'i.
Though we dispense with consecrating
rites, very object for which we iIIumin-
ate our coasts involves conservation and
supIication by its inhercn: nature. The
spirit of this ancient inscription should
undcrlie mans efforts when he girds
himself for conflict with the ocean.
Of the many remarkable structures Of
this class that are historically known
to us, the limited space of a newspaper
article will admit of mere glance.
The colossus Of Rhodes, bniIt by Chares
b. G. 800, has been considered on very
slight grounds to have performed the
functions Of u lighthouse. 1t was
partly shaken down by an earthquake
about eighty years after, and SO late as
672 A. d., the Saraccns cold the brass
composing it to a Jewisl, merchant Of
Edissa, for a sum equivalent to $3.50, 900.
In front of Alexander's Monumen.
tai City became the site of the first un-
questionable lighthouse on record.
Pliny says it cost I, $50, 900, and Stra-
bo says it was built Of many stories Of
white stone. JoseIlus 'ssse'ts that
it could be seen thirty.four miles,
which would correspond to n heigth
Of $50 feet. But these and other moro
extravagant statements are entitled to
only = qualified evidence. It il most
likely, though quite uncertain, that =
common wood ars on the summit was
the method Of lighting Il. i h Alto