Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-06-28
The Eddystone Light.

The dedication of the new Eddystone
Lightho 1se recalls the romantic history
of Its famous predecessors. The rock
on which it is built is the highest of
reef about fourteen miles souti west of
Plymouth harbor. 1t is barely visible
at high tide. This reef was especially
dangerous because ships in trying to
avoid it were apt to sail too far away
and meet destruction on the opposite
coast. The erection of the first tower
was undertaken in 1896 by Henry Win
stanley, country gentleman of Essex
and a very eccentric genius. Four
years passed before it was completed.
as the work could only be carried on
in summer. The building was similar
IL form to a Chinese pagoda, with so
many ornaments and projections that 1t
was generally deemed unsafe. But the
architect had full faith in its stability,
and hoped that he might be sheltered
by its walls in the tiercest storm that
could ever blow. One November night
in 1903. when he was there with some
workmen to make repairs, terrible
tempest arose and swept the lighthouse
away with ali its inmates. On the
same night IN Mr.. Winstanley's house
far away tie model of the lighthouse
fell to the floor and was shattered to
fragments.
The second lighthouse was planned
by John Rudyerd, silk mercer. The
material was granite and wood. All
projections were avoided, so that the
least resistance might be offered towlnd
and wave. This structure was finished
in 1909, and stood until 1855, when it
was destroyed by fire. The canse of
the conhagration always remained
mystery The three keepers in charge
were all rescued and taken on shore, but
one of them Immediately fled, and some
persons believed that he was the incen
diary, while others held the theory that
he was the victim of unreasoning ter
ror, believing that he might be suspect
ed of the crime. Another one of the
keepers died from injuries received in
trying to extinguish the flames. He
insisted that he had swallowed guam
tity of melted lead, but this statement
was not credited till after his death,
when post-mortem proved that it was
true.
John Smeaton, tine architect of the
third building, was mathematical in
strument maker. He took for his model
the trunk of an oak, and the structure
was so perfect that it served as model
for all other lighthouse towers that are
particularly exposed to the fury OF the
sea. The whole height of the edlice
was seventy feet. 1t stood for more
than a century, and proved to be fir
mer than the foundation upon which 1t
was built, for that gradually crumbled
so as to endanger the safety of the
tower.
The Eddystone Lighthouse Just fin
ished, was designed by Mr.. j. n.
Douglass, engineer to Trinity House,
the corporation which controls the coast
illumination of Great Britain. This
building is $50 feet in height above the
sea level, with light visible at dis
tance of nineteen geographical miles.
1t is difficult to imagine what induce
ments could tempt anyone to endure
the solitude of lighthouse life; but there
is considerable competition for the
situation Of keeper. The places are
usually awarded to sea-faring men who
have done some service worthy oi
recognition. The wages would seen
small in the estimation of worhngmer
in this country.
The first article OF the keepers In
structions is this: You are to light thu
lamps every evening at sunset, anC
E keep item burning clear and brigh
d till sunrising." This is the aim OF tn
keepers existence, whether he lives oi
an isolated rock in the open sea wher'
he sees no sail for days at time, an'
has only the company of wind and wave
or whether he lives where stately ship
e are continually passing and taking ad
vantage OF his benefcent warning
The number of keepers at one towe
:, varies with Its situation. In som
II places threee are employed where ther
/. were only two formerly, on account {
d an awful occurrence at the Eddyston
d before the destruction of Rudyerd
'f lighthouse. At the end OF one keeper
2 watch he went to call his eom-ade an
J, found him dead. He hoisted signal {
l. distress, but the sea was raging fTriou
st iy, and it was one month before anyor
Ie could reach the man, who was living
N such appalling solitude with only tt
compan:onship of the dead. He W:
afraid to throw the body into the SCI
thinking he might be accused of mu
ID der, so through the long days an
t. dreary nights he lived in ghastly con
ne pany.
:. One keeper at the Eddystone volunt
of rilv gave up his turn of relief for tv
e. wears. and refused to take his recreatic
in ON shore. When the third year can
p he was persuaded to go, but hber
lT lS proved dangerous he drank to exec
-, and was carried back to the lighthous
rb where he died in three days from Il
IL effects of his dissipation, though he h'
n previously been noted as a sober, steaC
man.
81 One day in 1862 two black flags we
in seen floating from Longships hSf
as house near Landsend. Though IT,
to were understood as a signal of distre'
M 10 relief could be sent for three daI
M owing to the heavy sea- When - be
rooobad fba nlaea the Oecunant fou