The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03
a.
.FASTNET LIGHTHOUSE
is SOLID STRUCTURE.
Most Expensive Tower Ever.
ErcctedrGreets American Tour-
lists From, Irish Coast.
is BUILT, 81 G R 4 II II +
Light Of 10000 candlepower
Cleans Around Every Five
Seconds.
S BUILT or OR AN 1T T,
ouEENsrowN, Nov. 2

The new lighthouse just completed on
the Fastnet rock, small pinnacle OF the
eoutbeast corner OF the coast Of Ireland,
and familiar to Americans as the first
part OF Erin they see on tile eastward
voyage and the last on the westward, Is
not only the latest example of lighthouse
construction on wave-washed rock, but
the most expensive tower ever erected,
having cost no less than $4,000. II mas
been built by the Irish Lights Board. and
is one OF the most important beacons on
our coasts. The rock lies in the direct
route for Atlantic shipping passing the
south of Ireland and Is thus danger
which IT Is of the utmost Importance to
light adequately
The new lighthouse displaces the old
cast-iron tower. This latter was ninety.
one feet high and stood on the summit
OF the rock. II was not long, however.
before It was discovered that the cast
iron tower was not stable enough TO
withstand the severe buffetings OF the
waves TO which the rock is subjected.
The Fastnet is exposed 70 the full fury
OF the Atlantic during south and north
west gales. The waves often dashed over
the top OF the lantern 173 feet above the
normal level OF the sea. On one occasion
full cup of coffee standing on the table
in tho top room was thrown to the fioor
when heavy wave thundcred against
tho rock and submerged the tower.
Under this continual pounding large
masses of rock were dlslodged from the
pinnacle undermining the tower. FROM
time to time this erosion was repaired
until at last Mr. Douglass decided to re-
place the structure by u more modern one
of stone.
Cornwall Supplied Stone.
The granite OF which the lighthouse is
built. came from the auarries in Cornwall.
Altogether 2oT4 stones were worked into
the structure, ranging from one and three
quarter tons apiece In weight and repre-
senting total weight of $500 tons The
inches above high-water mark. To keep
inches above higfiwater mark. 10 keep
out the storm tho keepers can close the
heavy teak door and let down over It a
heayy gun-meta1 casing.
The laying of the lowest course was
frequently delayed owing to the rough
weather experienced. but whenever the
weather was fine excellent progress was
maintained che greatest number OF stones
laid In connection with the lowest courses
in n single day being twenty-five. 1t took
exactly four years TO complete the tower
from the setting of the first stone.
A humorous incident occurred in con-
nection with the fitting up OF the oil pipes.
a plumber went off from the mainland
to carry out this part of the construction.
hut he became SO frightened after his
first day on the rock by the witness and
loneliness OF the situation that nothing
could induce him to remain, and he was
accordingly taken off by the lifcboat-
Power of the Lantern.
The lantern which caps the masonry
tower Is of the very latest pattern by
Chance, of Birmingham. 1t is Of the
dioptric type, and the light is derived
from series of incandescent burners.
giving power of 1860 candies.
The power of the rays thrown from the
100 candlepowcr burners is intensified by
tho lenses to some 10000 candlepower.
The light liz brilliantly white, closely re-
sembling the beam projected from an
electric searchlight. the duration OF the
flash being threc-twenty-ifths of sec
ond.