Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-04

possible 10 appToacn aSalu. W gct ehe
new men of the rock, but sitter an hour
% two lines were thrown to them, and
by jumping into the sea they were res
cued.
"A few rough measurements as to
the height and dimensions of the rock
were made, but more careful survey
was necessary, and for this purpose
Mr.. John X. Trewavas, master-mason
of high repute in Oregon, was asked 10
undertake the measurements. The gen.
tleman had had large experience in
lighthouse building in England.
.'On the 18th day of September, Tie
'Corwin', with Mr.. Trewavas and
party, came down from Astoria. The
day was beautifully calm. A boat was
rowed up near the east slope of the
rock, and watching his chance, sailor
named Cherry leaped ashore on the
lodges. Mr.. Trewavas, who was an
active man, next jumped to the rock.
Before he could gain time to climb up,
however, great wave suddenly up
lifted itself and swept him off.
Lines and buoys were at once
thrown to him, but the unfortunate
gentleman was almost instantly sucked
down by the undertow, and disap-
peared. Selling q lifeline, Cherry, with
a heroism rarely equaled. dived boldly
off into the boiling maelstrom after him,
and remained for some time in the
depths of that black, dreary whirlpool,
trying to grasp him, but in vain. The
sailor was hauled out at length by
means of the line, much exhausted
$50 depressing an effect did the death
of Mr. Trewavas have at Astoria. that
when a man hired with the Lighthouse
Board to work at Tillamook, people
told him invariably that he was going
to his death.
"A Mr. Ballantvnc succeeded Mr..
Trewavas in the effort to make the sur
vey, and about month later the Cor
win again returned to the rock, this time
better equipped. A spar buoy was now
anchored Just off the east side of the
rock; and after Cherry had again landed
on the east slope, four-inch hawser
was slung from the deck of the steamer
to the peak of the rock, and along this
cable, by means of pulleys and lines, a
traveller for getting over both men and
material was rugged.
Yet so profoundly did the vessel
heave On the strong, turbulent water,
that at every lurch the middle of the
hawser, along with the traveller,
dipped under, so that everything land
ded-thc men as weli-was soaked in
sea-water.
For hauling across the men, de-
vice called the .breeches-buoy' was
rugged. consisting Of pair of stout
canvas breeches, with large circular
life-preserver round the waist of them
as girdle After buckling these upon
the person, the passenger was pulled
over, but never failed to get ducking.
and commonly landed spluttering and
blowing like aporpOise.
lit was finally decided by the engi-
neer to blast of twenty-six feet from
the summit of the rock, thus reducing
its height to ninety feet above sea level,
to form fiat foundation, or site. for
the stone light-tower. which it was pro-
posed to build Oh top of the rock. The
stone courses for the tower We're cut
and numbered, ready for laying, at
Astoria.
workmen. myself among them, with
Mr.. Ballantyne and a good supply of
food, blankets. tools, etc, were landed
from the .Corwin' as previously de-
scribed. and the work of blasting off
the top of the rock began in good earn
est. But am free to say that hardly
expected to get off that ledge alive.
1T took Us fifteen DAYS to drill in
for iron rods and ring bolts and build
a stone house for our provisions,
| powder, tools, etc. For our own shell
ter, very thick, strong canvas double
| tent was pitched at the top of the rock.
| dashed and secured every way by strong
lines to ring-bolts.
The work OF blasting then began.
Often, while getting round the west
face of the cliff. we had TO work from
| swing-stages, suspended out ninety
feet over those boiling. roaring waves.
| So tough was the basalt rock, that the
best drills of En- glish steel required to
| be re-sharpened for every two inches of
hole drilled! A blacksmith worked
constantly with US. sharpening drills.
For the blasts grant powder was
used: with each blast we We're obliged
to retreat down the east side of the
| rock.
Our orders ut first were to pile the
fragments of rock from the blasting
into the great fssure on the south side,
above spoken of. so as to fill it up. But
that idea was soon abandoned; ouI
| filing would not stay there. for though
we tumbled rocks in there which
weighed many hundred pounds. the
| waves whisked them out aS if they were
| chips.
Thus we went on there. day after
day. 'pecking' holes and blasting on
rock which tumbled into the depths
below. with little to cheer Us save the
scream of gulls, the harsh .youS!. yo'sk.
| vouk!r of sea-lions. and the gurgling
plunge of the water beneath us.
Not a nice place to spend Thanks
giving, Christmas and the holidays,
Ell? The work never stopped. The
cutter came down once week in fail
weather. bringing fresh provisions and
the mail. and getting our letters fol
home-folks.
..On the first day of January, five
new men were added to the force.
| .At Ia ar came the storm of which