The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-12
A Wonderful Light-HOus

In the northwest corner of France, in
the department of Finistere, may be
found the island of Sein, a few miles
from the coast, and about half way be-
tweet Brest and L'Orient. The island is
prolonged seward about eight miles, by
long line of descending reefs, the
greatest portion of which is always un-
der water. Projecting thus into the sea,
with no land between the end of the rect
and the far away shores of America, it
may readily be imagined that the terri
BILE swell of the stormy Atlantic is con-
stantly beating against these lonely half
drowned crags A more unpromising
site for building could scarcely be i'm
agined, and yet it was decided that the
needs of commerce demanded light
house on these far-reaching rocks, be-
cause they are in 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 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
light house service had succeeded in at
fecting a landing. In the lowest tides
the rock was about five feet out of the
water, and was about forty feet long by
twenty-five wide. The work appeared so
difficult that the engineers who recon-
mended it said: "It is a work excessively
difficult, and almost impossible; but it
seems that the supreme importance OF
lighting the reef forces us to try the I'M
possible"
1t was decided to begin operations by
covering the rock with holes foot 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, 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 get an oppor-
tunity. The fishermen commenced 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 rocks,
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 man was washed away,
his life belt supported him until he could
be picked up by the boats. At the end
of year there had been but seven land
ings; 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 en-
nabled them to work to better advantage
The result of the years work was sixteen
landings, eighteen hours of work, and
forty additional holes in the rock, be-
sides some slight dwellings.
The actual work of construction began
in 1862 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 heavy wave they fastened
to secure themselves, and they pushed
their work to the utmost when he pre-
dicted lull. All persons on the rock
were provided with life preservers and
grass-cloth shoes to prevent slipping.
| Whenever there was chance of landing,
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 next year.
In 1870 there were eight landings, and
twelve yards of masonry were laid. The
work continned in this WAY until the