Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-01-13
How a Lighthouse was Built.
From the London Academy.

The mountain system of Brittany has
a sort of continuation in series of
reefs and igneous rocks which jut out
in broken line westward of Finisterre.
On one of these broken rocks called
L'1sle de Sein, there stands light
house; but the real danger lies to the
westward, and the rocks there have
literally bristled with wrecks of vessels
making for Bremen. In 1860 the COM
mittee for lighting the coast of France
decided to erect lighthouse on the ex-
IRENE of the danger, and, after a careful
examination, NJ Ploix, the consulting
engineer, decided on the Armen Rock
as the best site. At the same time he
did not attempt to deprecate the pro.
digious difficulty of the attempt, and
characterized it as ''nearly impractical
BILE. The currents are SO strong and
the sea runs SO high, that neither M.
Ploix nor the other engineers nor the
director of lighthouses was able to APP
proach nearer than SO feet All were
able to ascertain that the rock was
gneiss, and that it was just visible at
low water. After settling the plan of
operation they applied to the fishermen
of the neigbboring island of Sein, who
are most familiar with the locality and
danger, to commence the necessary work.
The men took the task, and, provided
with life belts, began to watch regular
ly for 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 cold CHS
ell, so as to sink sufficient number of
sockets for the insertion of the iron
clamps. Every now and then a wave
wonld break over the rock, drenching
them with foam and spray. and not I'M
frequently one of the party would be
carried 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 1S6S)
7 landings had been effected and s
hours work done, which sufficed for the
sinking of Is sockets, while the follow
ing year the weather was more favora-
bic and 40 new holes were pierced, some
of which were below water It 1869 the
blocks of stone were first placed in iron
clamps, about a yard long, rivited into
the sockets. The blocks were all hewn
according to pattern, and joined to-
gether with Pak@r- Medina cement.
the work of dropping them into posi-
ton was exceedingly laberious, 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 20 blocks, each
about yard cube had been successful
~ laid. In 1870 other landings took
place and II cubes were laid, and in
1871 as many as %, the work by this
time became easier as further progress
was made. A steam launch is now used
for the conveyance Of material, and, a
sort of masonry scaffolding having been
built, the builders have succeeded, du-
ring the first half of this years season,
in placing in position no less than 81
blocks. The expense, however, as may
be imagined, has hitherto proved con-
siderable. Each of the As holes pierced
during the first two years cost upwards
of 1000 francs, and on December 31st
last the charges had amounted to more
than 1900 francs. The light is to be
a revolving one of the first order, and
81 feet above high-water mark; there
are to be seven stories in the house,
and there will also be A steam whistle
for use in foggy weather.