Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE STORY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE. 375 THE STONE IN PLACE. {Photo, Chancellor.) were carried away bodily from the lower courses at the height of 37 feet above high- water Ipvel. The Wolf Rock tower in the open sea between Lizard Point and the Scilly Isles was commenced from the designs of James Wolf Rock Lighthouse. Walker in 1862 (Fig. 14). Al- though the base is some feet below high-water level, the engineers were able to construct good landing- places, where materials could be delivered as opportunities arose, and used as required. The difficulties and dangers attending the execution of engineering works on storm- beaten reefs may be realized when we state that in the vicinity of the Wolf Rock waves have been observed of a height of 32 feet above the level of the sea, or 64 feet from crest to trough. As for landing and embarking men in rough weather, the only resource of the engineers, on many occasions when the sea suddenly got up, was “ the rough-and- ready mode of being dragged through the surf and hauled into the boat like drowned rats.” The lower part of the Wolf Rock tower was built in steps, which are undesir- able because they cause shocks and vibrations which tend to disturb the masonry rather than to increase its stability. For the same reason the vertical base of the new Eddystone Light- house (Fig. 15) was much criticised at the time of its construction in 1878-82. Ex- perience has proved, however, that this feature, introduced by the engineer, Sir J. N. Douglass, has had the effect of New Eddystone Lighthouse.