Smyrna times., 1924-09-24
TRY TO SAVE HENLOPEN LIGHT
Engineers Say Famous Lighthouse on
Delaware Bay Can Be Preserved
Citizens of State Aroused

-Cltlzens of State Aroused
Historic Cape Henlopen Lighthouse.
condemned by the United States Cow
eminent, can be saved from destruc-
tiOn, according to engineers, who have
examined the foundations of the great
white tower, and pilots of the Della
ware Bay and river. Built on the
fiat sand of the actual cape point bv
the British in 1925, the light and tow
er have served as guides for sea-far-
ing men for 1879 years. The tower
now standing was erected in 1864. It
is of brick and painted white. Before
the sea ate away great portions of the
beach it stood well back from the high
water line and was safe, but with the
years the shore line has changed and
now the water runs up to the founda-
tions at high tide. Heavy northeast
storms, which are particularly dang
erOus around this "hell hole" of the
sea, have formed a great sand dune
at the base of the old tower. The
dune is world famous for its length
and height. Banking high about the
base of the tower the dune formed an
added protection against the strong
winds and podnding seas. The fore
end of the big pile has been eaten
away by the action of the sea until
now the concrete and stone base of
the tower is exposed to the elements.
During a storm the tower sways so
much that the keepers must leave for
safety's sake. Captain John Gray,
keeper of the light, has been ordered
to abandon the tower on October /.
Plan To DemOlish it Brings Protest
1t was first planned to demolish the
landmark before it toppled into the
surf during a heavy storm. This
news aroused the patriotic interest of
all Delawareans and about a month
ago the civic, fraternal and service
clubs Of the State formed committee
known as the Cape Henlopen Light
house Preservation Committee. En-
ginners were retained and instructed
to survey the tower and its base and
determine what could be done to keep
the lighthouse on the sands of the
Delaware cape. When the old light
stops functioning its place will be
taken by a temporary tower. erected
farther inland Last week John Lyle
Harrington former president of the
American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers, with c. Douglas Buck, State
Highway Engineer of Delaware, and
several other men examined the tower
during a heavy northeast storm and
reported that it was possible to save
the historic structure. Just what
methods will be employed to keep the
tower from falling into the sea have
not yet been determined but one Of
two plans will undoubtedly be follow
ed. Either the hulls of two or three
old steamships, filled with sand and
concrete, will be sunk V-shaped in
front of the tower or a bulkhead of
stone and concrete built in front of it.
Suggest Sinking Hulls of Two Ships
Pilots and other sea-faring men Of
the section champion the first method.
They point out that many jetties have
been built in front of the tower and
all have been destroyed by the sea.
If the hulls of the ships are sunk the
currents will be changed by their
presence in the water and the beach
will make out" to the hulls and thus
the tower will be protected, by a long
stretch of beach. The tower was built
with money raised by lotteries by
British. During the British attack
on Lewes during the War of 1912 the
tower was partially destroyed by fire
and rebuilt again by the United States
Government.