The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-12
MINO Ed 81 Gil NE.
The Historic storm which DesrroyesS
the Orfssinn1s Structure. Eis$


Th e Historic storm which Desrroyes
the Original Structure fs
The lighthouse On aIinot.s ledge
stands within the shadow of a tragedy.
1t is the second structure erected upon
the ledge. The first lighthouse and the
lives it held We're claimed by the sea
Begun in 1917 and completed in No
ve1uber, 1s4S, it was overwhelmed in
April, 1851. It's destruction was the
most tragic event in the history Of our
lighthouse establishment The struc-
ture was an octagonal toyverSsupported
upon wrought iron piles strengthened
by braces. The piles penetrated five
feet into the rock. On the Braces. thir-
ty-four and half feet above the rock,
the keeper had constructed platform
for the storage of bulky articles and
had fastened. to the lantern deck. sixty
three feet above the rock, tive and a
hnIf inch huwser, which he had an
cilored to seven ton granite block.
Along this liawser articles We're hoist
ed up to the platform and there land
ed. These Improvements We're con-
venient and fatal, not, however, to the
keeper who made them, for he was on
shore when the storm which has be-
come historic for it's fury burst over
the coast.
On Monday, April IA, 1851, there was
strong easterly gale blowing. AT that
time there were on the tower two as
sistant keepers and friend of the
principal keeper. The visitor became
frightened at the first indicat ton of 4
storm, and in response to signal from
the tower boat put off for Cohasset
and took him ashore. On Tuesday the
wind swung around to the northeast,
the most dangerous quarter from
which the elements can hurl them
selves upon NIinot's, as they then re-
joice in the accumulated fury Of miles
of wind torn sea. By the 10th it had
increased to hurricane, and the tower
was so completely buried in the heavy
seas that nothing of it could be seen
by the group of anxious watchers at
CohaSset.
About o'clock in the evening of the
10th the platform was washed ashore.
Then the watchers knew that the wa
ter had risen to within seven feet of
the tower. At nightfal1 it was seen
that the light was burning. 1t was OBJ
served at dtful intervals until 10
O'Clock that night. when it was finally
lost to sight. At 1 O'Clock on the morn
ing Of Thursday, April II, just at the
turn of the food, when the outStrea1n-
ing tide and the inruShing hurricane
met at Nlinots, a violent tolling of the
lighthouse bell was heard. After that
no sound rose above the din of the
storm. About 6 o'clock in the morning
man walking along the shore saw a
chair washed up little distance ahead
of him. Examining it. he recognized II
as having been in the watch room Of
the tower. After this discovery no one
had any doubts of the tragedy which
had been enacted behind the curtain Of
the Storm When it lifted naught was
seen over AIinot'S ledge but the sea. its
white crests streaming triunipli;.ntly l.
the gale.
It is believed by those competent tc
judge of such matters that the dcStrHc-
ton of the tower was due 20 tho SIR
face which the platform constructe-?
by the keeper offered to the waves AND
to the strain of the hawSer upon the
structure. Every time this hawsei' y-as
struck by 4 sea it actually tagged II
the tower. There seems also little
doubt that the sum appropriated b.
congress for the building of. the light
house was insufficient by about Two
thirds for such q structure rs the peril
Gus situation called for.-Celtury.