, 1877-05-25
a Wonderful Lighthouse.

the Department of Finistere, may be
| found the Island of Sein. q few miles
| from, the coast, and about halfway be-
| tween Brest and LOrient. The island
is prolonged seaward about eight miles,
by long line of descending reef, the
greatest portion OF which is always un-
der 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 At
lantic is constantly beating against
these lonely, half-drowned crags. A
more unpromising site for building
could scarcely be imagined, and yet it
was decided that the needs of com
merce demanded lighthouse on these
far-reaching rocks, because they an un-
happy prominence as the scene of
terrible losses of life and property, and
because the prevalence of fogs made it
impossible to give mariners sufficient
warning from the distant island.
A commissioner examined the reef,
and it was finally decided to select a
rock known by the fisherman as Armen,
although when the selection was made
none of the engineers or sailors of the
lighthouse service had succeeded in
even etfecting landing. In the low
est tides the rock was about five feet
out of water, and was about forty feet
long by twenty-five wide. The work
appeared so difficult that the engineers
who recommended it said: "It is q
work excessively difficult, and almost
impossible; but it seems that the su-
preme importance of lighting the reef
forces us to try the impossible"
1t was decided toIbegin operations by
covering the rock with holes afoot deep
to be subsequently filled with bars of
iron extending upward into the masonry,
thus connecting with the rock and con-
solidating the latter, of whose strength
there was some doubt. As it was only
at rare intervals that it was possible to
get on the rock, contract was made
with the fishermen of Sein, whose dali
ly occupation would enable them to
seize every favorable moment to bore
these holes whenever they could get an
opportunity. The fishermen com
menced work in 1867 Whenever there
was any chance of landing, the fishing
boats fastened to the rock, and two
from each boat, with tools and life belts,
jumped on the rock, and while 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 water from the waves that broke
over their heads. If a man was washed
away, his ife-belt supported him un-
til he could be picked up by the boats.
At the end of the year there had been
but seven landings; only eight hours
of work had been done, and but fifteen
holes had been sunk on the highest
part Of the rock. 1t was the first step
toward success.
During the next year the difficulties
were greater, as the work was done on
the lower parts of the rock; but the
price was increased, and experience
enabled them to work to better advant-
age. The result of the years work was
sixteen landings, eighteen hours of
work, and forty additional holes in the
rock. beside some slight dwellings.
The actual work of construction be-
gan in 1869. Bolts of wrought iron
were inserted in the holes, and masonry
with small stones and quick cement was
begun. An experienced sailor lay on
the rock, with his back against one of
the bolts and his face to the wind, and
gave warning to the workmen of the
state of the sea. When he announced
the coming of a heavy wave they
hastened to secure themselves, and they
pushed their work to the utmost when
he predicted lull. ALI persons on the
rock were provided with life preververs
and grass-cloth shoes to prevent slip
ping. Whenever there was chance of
landing, a little steamboat started for
the island, towing the small boats which
alone could reach the rock. All stone
was landed by hand, and also the
cement, which was done up in small
bags. At the close of the year twenty
five cubic yards Of masonry had been
laid, all of which was found intact when
work was resumed the next year.
In 1870 there were eight landings,
and twelve yards of masonry were laid.
The work continued in this way until
the close of 1875, at which date the total
amount of masonry in the lighthouse
was four hundred and fifty cubic yards,
and the structure was eight feet above
the highest tides. The success of the
work therefore appeared certain. The
finished tower will have flashing light
of the second order, at a height, of
ninety-two feet above high tide. If the
rock had been larger, first order light
would have been built. The tower will
be solid up to ten feet above high tide,
and above that it will have eight stories
of rooms for keepers, stores and a. fog
bell. The total cost of the work up to
the close of 1875 was seventy thousand
dollars.
FIaURATIvEIY SPEAKING Progress