The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27
GREAT LIGHTHOUSES.
Many of Them Are situated I'm th. NJ
Perilous Places Tuc.~tr.hl.

many OF Thorn Are Situated I'm the Most
Perilous Places Imaginable.
mere are between six hundred and
seven hundred lighthouses off the En-.
glish, Scotch and Irish coasts, and many
OF them are situated in seas which have
the reputation of being among the most
steadily tempestuous in the world. The
Fastnet light, off the southwest coast OF
ireland; the Calf Rock light, not far
from the Fastnet; the Bishop Rock
light on the "Howling Dogs as the
ledge off the Scilly Isles are called; and
Dhu Heartach light, off the west coast
OF scotland, contest the honor of occu-
plying the stormiest and most dangerous
positions on the coast of the British
Isles; although the Eddystone light
house, near Plymouth, is cut off wholly
J. from communication with the shore.
Unlike those American lighthouses
which are situated at distance from
shore, the British lighthouses do not
appear to be provisioned for long Pc
Rod. During recent heavy storms of
the European coasts, the ight-keepers
OF Fastnet were not only cut off from
communication with land, but were com
PEELED to make signals that they were
short OF food. Several gallant and I'M
successful attempts to relieve them were
made by volunteer crews before they
were finally reached with supplies.
The keepers of the chief British off.
shore lighthouses, as is the case with
American first-class lights, now consist
OF three men. Several years ago, when
the lighthouses were in charge of two
men. one of the keepers at the Long.
ships lighthouse died at his post during
storm.
The mans companion was forced to
remain with the dead body for many
days and nights, and at the same time,
OF course. to keep the lamps in order.
The strain of this horrible situation
upon his nerves was so great that before
he was rescued he had become hopeless
~ insane.
The Calf Rock light stands upon a
rock which is from sixty to ninety feet
high, and the light rises ninety feet
above the rock. The Fastnet light is
nearly one hundred and fifty feet above
the water, but the fury of the Atlantic
is so great that the waves are said often
to pass in sheets over the lanterns of
both, and to hide the tops of the towers
for two minutes at time.
1t is impossible to approach either the
Fastnet or the Calf Rock light except in
the calmest weather. In the rebuilding
of the Calf Rock house, which took four
years, the workmen were provisioned
in this way: A log was anchored, by
means of rope, out at sea on the lee
ward side of the rock. To this log the
provisions, encased in rubber bags,
were fastened by men in boats, and the
log was then drawn in by the men on
the rock.
1t was still more difficult to construct
the Wolf light, in the British Channel
Seven years were required to built it,
and in one particular stormy year, 1862,
only eighty-three hours work could be
done between March and December, so
tempeStuous were the seas.
The Dhu Heartach lighthouse is
forty-eight miles from Oban, the near
est town. No boat is allowed to touch
the rock upon which it stands, and all
visitors to it are hoisted from their boat
by means of long derrick. A visitor
thus describes the process by which he
went upon this rock:
when the boat is in position, rope,
with loop at the end of it, is dropped
into the stern. You put one foot into
the loop, hold tightly to the rope with
both hands below the block, and are first
hoisted into the air, and then pulled
downward upon the rock.
''There you are clasped in the strong
arms of one of the keepers, and before
you are released from the friendly grip,
you are treasured by kindly voice, bid
ding you Welcome to Dhu Heartachp"
Youths Companion.