The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-02-23
4 Wonderful Light House.

4
| a Wonderful Lighthouse. .32.
In the northwestern corner of France. III
the Department Of Finisterre, may be found
in the Island of Sein, few miles from the
coast, and about halfway between Brest
and Lorient.- This island is prolonged sea-
wards about eight miles, by a long line of
| descending reef, the greater portion Of
which is always under water. Projecting
thus into the sea, with no land between the
end Of the reef and the far-away shores of
America, it may readily be imagined that
the terrible swell of the stormy Atlantic is
constantly beating against these lonely,
half drowned crags. Amore unpromising
site for a building could scarcely be inag-
ined, and yet it was decided that the needs
OF commerce demanded a light house on
these far reaching rocks, because they had
attained an unhappy prominence as the
scene of terrible losses of life and property.
and because the prevalence of fogs made it
impossible to give mariners sufficient war
AsAAA& AAVAA VaAV N1obtaA1b lSA&lus 45L4
= A commissioner examined the reef, and it
was finally decided to select rock. known
by the fishermen as Armen, although when
the selection was made none of the engin-
GERS or sailors of. the light house service had
succeeded in efecting a landing. In the
.oWest tidessthe rock WAS about five feet out
of water. and about 40 feet by 25 wide, The
work appeared SO difficult that the engin-
eers who recommended it said: "Itisa
work excessively difficult, and almost i'm
possible; but it seems that the supreme
importance of lighting the reef forces us to
try the impossible" a5i..-a
1t was decided to begin operations bv
covering the rock with holes a foot deep
and about q yard apart. These holes were
extending upwards into the masonry, thus
connecting with the rock and consolidating
the latter, of whose strength there was some
doubt. 2..s' - =.
d. As it was only at rare intervals that it
was possible to get to get on the rock, a
contract was made with the fishermen Of
sein, whose daily occupation would enable
them to seize every favorable moment, to
bore these holes whenever they could getan
opportunity. H., a.. -'.....,... .-.t'......
=, The fishermen commenced work in 1867.
Whenever there was any chance for land
ing the fishing boats hastened to the rock
and tive men from each boat, with tools
and life belts, jumped on the rock, and
whle holding ON with one hand piled the
hammer or the jumper with the other.
They worked with feverish activity, and
every few minutes were saturated with wa
ter from the waves that broke over their
heads. If a man was washed away his life
belt supported him until he could be picked
up by the boats. sstl HOP ~ e+13ii5At
At the end of the year there had been
but seven landings, only eight hours work
had been done, and but fifteen holes had
been sunk on the highest part Of the rock.
Il was the first step toward success
During the next year'th difficulties were
greater, as the work was done on the lower
parts of the rock, but the price was inereas-
ed, and experience enabled them to work to
better advantage. The result of the years
work was sixteen landings 18 hours of
work, and 40 additional holes in the rock,
besides some slight dwellings. aoH~-
The actual work of construction, began
in 1885, Bolts of wrought iron were in
serted in the holes, and masonry with small
stones and quick cement was begun. An
experienced ssilor lay on the rock with his
back against one of the boats and his face
to the wind, and gave warning to the work
men Of the state of the sea, When he an
nounced the coming of "a heavy wave they
hastened to secure themselves, and they
pushed their work to the utmost when he
predicted a lulL sasA1 persons on the orock
ereprovided with life-preseryers and grass
cloth shoes to prevent slipping. itEaao1,
.al1All stone was landed by hand, and also
the cement, which was done up in small
bags. gAt the close of the year rs cubic
ardsofmasonry had been laid, all Of which
was found intact when work was resumed
the next year. Ls3zss5sgs o5& gsai 81
S d In 1870 there were eight landings and 12
yards of masonry were laid.ia@Theg work
continued in this way until the close of
1875, at which date the total amount OF ma
sonry in the light house was 455 cubic
yards, aud the structure was eight feet
above the highest tides. The success of
the work therefore appeared certain. y
!, The finished tower viii have flashing
light Of the second order, at a, height of SO
feet above high tide. If the rock had been
larger first-order light would have been
built The tower .wilI be solid up to. ten
feet above high tide, and above that It will
have eight stories or rooms for keepers,
stores and fog bell.
The total cost of the work up to the close
Of 1875 was SO, 900. u Il. ~
l49 QUTCKsILvER FtRE ALARM.-As Are sig
nal, to indicate the breaking out of a. fire,
which has lately been patented in France
by Hagelin, operates 40 follows When