Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE STORY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE. 381 ally built for the construction of the Great and Tattle Basses Lighthouses in Ceylon, had little ship. The only thing then to be done was to dip the stone once more, and to wait Landing the Stones. been fitted specially for the re- ception of stone blocks, stowed on elm rollers in the hold. The inside of the steamer is partly shown in Fig. 22, which illustrates the ingenious and elaborate arrangements made for landing materials. At the south side of the rock— where the water is very deep and ample space existed for manoeuvring—three moorings were laid down, and three strong iron mooring stanchions were fixed on the rock. (See Fig. 23.) When the steamer arrived with her cargo Fig. 23.—DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW BOAT WAS MOORED AND STONES WERE CONVEYED TO BISHOP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE. she was moored by stout hawsers ; and the stones were then raised one by one from the hold, hauled for a calmer interval. But this was not all, for every now and then the backwash from the rock was strong enough to snap the hawsers one after another, like so much packthread, Fig. 22.— CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVED TOWER OF BISHOP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE. DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING METHOD OF LAYING STONES. leaving the vessel attached to the outer moorings, but in danger of wreck amid the leaping waves and a tide running at the pace of from four and a half miles to five miles an hour. Even when things were going as well as could be ex- pected, the lurching of the steamer often caused the blocks to rise and fall several feet. To guard against injury. through the water, and finally hoisted to the required position on the tower by aid of the tackle represented in Fig. 22. Difficulties rpjæ process may seem from encountered. , this brief description to nave been very simple and easy, but those who know anything about the rolling swell of the Atlantic will be quite prepared for the statement that considerable trouble was experienced from time to time. Very often the blocks of granite, on emerging from the water, were struck by waves and set swinging from side to side, the movement being augmented by the heavy rolling of the heavy mats were placed to receive the stones on the landing-place. Fortunately, no serious mishap occurred beyond the loss of one stone, which was jerked off the deck truck on which it lay, over the bulwarks, and into the water, as the result of a heavy sea striking the vessel abeam. Instead of the rough-and-ready methods of landing and embarking men adopted in the building of former lighthouses, the working party were passed to and from the landing - boat by , ° J the Stones. means of a rope connected with a winch fixed on the gallery of the old