Smyrna times., 1872-10-30
Delaware Breakwater and Lighthouse

SlOCA VI llAOI lOu'
Delaware BreakWater and Lighthouse.
The Delaware Breakwater was constructed to
furnish good harbor on coast which, for
about three hundred miles, was singularly
deficient in safe anchorage grounds for large
vessels III rough weather Previous to 1880, in
which year the first stone of the Breakwater
was laid, wrecks were numerous along the |
straight Jersey coast-much more so than now |
plentiful as they still are. Great and Little |
Egg IIarbOrs, and Absecom, lying midway
! between Sandy Hook and the capes of the Della
ware, were Obstructed by bars at their narrow
inlets, inacce >sbe to large vessels, and when
sudden nor casters arose, large vessels, caught
too near the coast, could do nothing but go
ashore. Numerous Congressional committees
and surveying commissions were appointed 70
devise plans to create an artificial harbOr, and
in 1923 the matter took definite shape by
Congress making the first appropriation for
the present ''StOne pile" as 1t Is called.
The final survey was made in 1929, and in 1880
the first stone was drOppcd-the cornerstone,
as it were, Of the present structure. The work
: was then carried on with varying degrees Of
energy until the placing of the last stone In
t 1868.
S The Breakwater is situated about a mile and
three eighths from the beach, on the inside of
Cape HenlOpen, at the mouth Of Delaware
Bay, which is here about thirteen miles wide,
the famous watering place at Cape May being
on the opposite shore. The structure is merely
pile of stones, lying where they were dropped
- from the vessels, and extending in length about
= a quarter of a mile and in hight fourteen and
= three-tenths feet above mean low water The
- - depth of water is FIVE fathOms. Major Bender
=, was the constructing engineer, and Wm. Strick
j land the well-knOwn architect, of Philadelphia,
e was the Designing engineer.
- There were some thrilling scenes witnessed
y = during the building of the pile. The vessels
- mostly schooners, were anchored over the spot
70 dropping the stones, when sudden storms
:, would arise, scattering them in every direction
~ some of them occasionally going ashore. The
- constructing officers lived brig anchored il
:; the vicinity. The present lighthouse. known
- as the Breakwater Light, was built in 1913
~ replacing temporary one, now much dllapida
= ted, and adjoining the new one, with the fog bel
- = tower between. They present an exceedingly
20 :, picturesque view from the harbor, during
severe winter, when the RarbOr sometime
% becomes completely blocked with ice, tn
q" a antique and Tory villagers from Lewes, on tn
~ Delaware shore, make miniature Arctic expe
M ditions for the relief of vessels in distress. Th
~. winter of 55 and Sc is spoken of with prid
.J 'a in this respect Two seamen in boat from
IN vessel got caught in the ice, and were rescue
n1 with great difficulty by Mr. Norman and asSis
or ant. A supplementary work, called the ice
u breaker of smaller dimensions, but made i
% in the same manner, lies nearly at right angle
" to the main work, about an eighth of mil
icl further up the bay, but does not seem 10 b
~ fully successful. 1t is thought the two work
uo will eventually be connected, thus making tn
;tk harbor more secure against both storm an
bn ice
ne The present keeper of the light, Mr.. No
:. man seems perfectly amphbiOuS, as a hgh
! L H., h,, oft 81
m,ne m Breakwater, the light, and the harbor, and
-, ~ an fait in everything pertaining to lights an
~, lighthouses. He is perfectly satisfied with h
~ life, though to landSmen, accustomed to ga
- variety, it seems intolerably monOonous. Ii
IIna' walks are confined to the irregularly shape
~ - stones of the Breakwater and his amusemeI
~ ~ to fishing from the north end OF the stone pi
ain for the family breakfast The lights requll
IL extreme care, which they certainly recelv
ndt With an assistant in Mr.. Sullivan, who relieve
- the tedium of enforced ''loafShness" b
~ writing little articles for the local Delawal
nu press he must watch all variations of til
e. weather, and be ready at any moment
,,o' relieve distressed vessels, which, from tn
Nv Nv peculiar locality, are not by any NEAR
~ ~ scarce If fog arises by day or nigh
49, the fOg-bell tower must be visited, tn
clock work machinery started, and unlCck
mariners warned of the proximity of DANCE
If a snow storm RACES the exterior OF tn
on lantern must be frequently observed, and th
rk- surface cleared of snow or sleet-a partcl
nb larly charming diversion, with the win
old blowing a hundred miles an hour and til
uld temperature near zero. Sometimes vesse
zen are dashed upon the Breakwater itself Th
the barkentine White CLoud, with COAL boun
cal from philadelphia to Boston, struck during
lad north east gale in November, 1870, immed
ley ately at the lighthouse. She was trying
yer make the harbor by the opening betwee
cal the ice breaker and breakwater prope
1r and Mr. Norman's description of the re-
cue OF the crew on q spar is thrilling
ON The vessel went to pieces and some of he
'et- "bones" still cling to the walls Of the pi'
I'M Sitting on a chair, looking out of I'll
ap- window of the watch-room, at the hal
his staff an the g-bell tower, he can tell to
ms; certainty, by watching the regularly recurrin
I'M reflection Of the flash" upon the staff, whetht
md the light is is perfect order or not, and III
ley least imperfecton in Immediately attended t.
ca The light at this station is what is known as
ru- fourth-order light, with hash-attachmen
Ites The fash is produced by revolving apparatt
on of partially Opaque glass, which passes atTegu
son lar intervals before the light and obscures
cen for a few seconds, after which it sudden
rke flashes again upon the water.-Hearth an
and H0yne