Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

382 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. STONE DESCENDING BY CABLEWAY FROM BEACHY HEAD TO THE SITE OF THE NEW LIGHTHOUSE. {Photo, Messrs. Bullivants, Limited.) tower. Thus the boat was enabled to lie at a safe distance away from the worst of the broken water and without risk of being stove in. The first operations were to dress back the face of the rock, and to cut dovetails for bonding the new masonry. This work was tedious, and could only be performed at favourable times. When at last the dove- tailed casing of the old tower had been carried above mean-tide level, a dozen men were stationed permanently in the lighthouse for the purpose of seizing every opportunity of proceeding with the preparation of the outer surface for the new casing, when the weather was too rough for landing the whole of the working gang. Between low-water level and half-tide the work of dressing back the old masonry was no child’s play, for at quite un- expected moments a huge wave would come rolling in, completely- deluging the men. Therefore a life-line for each man was pro- vided, all the lines being secured to a chain encircling the tower. After the first year the task of battling with the sea became less arduous, thus permitting more fre- quent landings and longer hours of work. As the mas- onry rose above the vertical base, platforms for the masons were fixed around the tower, with nets be- neath drawn lightly to the outer wall. This enabled the men to work with some feeling of security above the wild commotion at the foot of the rock. To facilitate the work of hoisting and setting the stones, a rotatory crane was fixed Safety Nets. on the lantern gallery, but this appliance was superseded by the central crane illustrated in Fig. 22, consisting of a hollow wrought- iron mast 40 feet high, with two jibs for hoisting and setting ; while above the top mast was fixed a Trinity House lantern provided with a powerful double flashlight. The landing and erection of the heavy mast was a work of extreme difficulty, but when once in place the crane proved of great assist- ance. In order to expedite the handling of stones landed on the top of the vertical base, a steam boiler and winch were secured to the platform in the position indicated by Fig. 22, and protected by masonry break- waters. As final illustrations of the almost incon- ceivable violence of the seas breaking upon the Bishop Rock, we may mention the follow-