Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-03
How a Lighthouse Was Built.


| The mountain system of Brittany has
a sort of continuation in a series of reefs
and gneiss rock which jut out in a
broken line westward of Finisterre On
| one of these broken rocks, called L'Isle
| de Sem, there stands lighthouse, but
| the real danger lies to the westward,
! and the rocks there have literally bris-
! tied with wrecks of vessels making for
Brest. In 1860 the committee for light
ing the coast of France decided to erect
a lighthouse on the extreme end of the
| danger, and, after a careful examination,
NJ. Ploix, the consulting engineer, de
| cided on the Armen Rock as the best
site. At the same time he did not at
tempt to depreciate the prodigious diff
Guilty OF the attempt, and characterized
it as NEARLY impracticable." The cur
rents are so strong and the sea runs so
high that neither NJ. PIoix nor the other
engineers, nor the Director of Light
houses was able to approach nearer than
fifty feet. All they were able to ascer-
tain was that the rock was gneiss, about
eight yards across and twelve in length,
and that it was just visible at low water.
After settling their plan of operations
they applied to the fishermen of the
neighboring island of Sem, as most
familiar with the locality and danger to
commence the necessary works. These
men undertook the task, and, provided
with life belts, began to watch regularly
Tor the best opportunity of landing on
the rock. AS soon as they got their
chance they crOuched down on the rock,
and, clinging on with one hand, with the
other worked away with coal-chisel so
as to sink a sufficient number of sockets
for the insertion of the iron clamps
Every now and then a wave would break
over the rock, drenching them with foam
and spray, and not unfrequently one of
the party would be carried right off by
the heavy sea- but would soon be picked
up by the vessel kept purposely on the
watch.
At the end of the first season 1S60
seven landings had been effected and
eight hours work done, which suffced
for the sinking of fifteen sockets, while
the following year the weather was more
favorable, and forty new holes were
pierced, some of which were below water.
In 1869 the blocks of stone were first
placed in iron clamps about yard long,
riveted into the sockets. The blocks
were all hewn according to pattern and
joined together with Parker Medina ce-
ment. The work of dropping them into
position was exceedingly laborious,
owing to the violence of the sea; but two
of the officials were constantly in attend
ance urging on the wOrkmen, and at the
end of the season twenty-five blocks,
each about yard cube, had been sue
cessfully made. In 1870 other landings
took place, and eleven cubes were laid,
and in 1871 as many as twenty-three, the
work by this time becoming easier as
further progress was made. A steam
launch is now used for the conveyance
of material, and, sort of masonry scat
folding having been built, the builders
have succeeded, during the first half of
this years season, in placing in position
no less than eighty-seven blocks. The
expense, however, as may be imagined,
has hitherto proved considerable Each
of the forty-five holes pierced during the
first two years cost upward of 1900
francs, and on Dec. 81 last the charges
had amounted to more that 189, 900 francs
The light is to be revolving one of the
first order, and ninety-seven feet above
high-water mark; there are to be seven
stories in the house, and there will also
be steam whistle for use in foggy