THE STORY OF THE FASTNET LIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 24

THE STORY OF THE FASTNET LIGHT.

Sailing from New York for Liverpool, liners make the Fastnet Hock their eastern landfall. The Fastnet is a pinnacle surrounded by deep water on all sides, situated about 4J milos south-west of Cape Clear. So' turbulent) are the currents washing round it that only about twelve times ftv ths year can a man step out of a boat on to the rock. In 1849, the Corporation of Trinity House sanctioned the construction of a lighthouse on theFastnet Rock, and the following year a warning beam shone from the island for the first time. *Tho site for the tower'was the highest point of the rock, the lantern was a 38,000 candlepower apparatus, and the height of-the building was 173 feet above low-water '"ark. This' structure, remained in its original state for a decade, but the keepers of the light had many moments of misgiving. With westerly .'gales very heavy seas swept right over the rock, waves foamed up the cliff and struck such violent blows on the tower that it trembled at the shock. Once a heavy cask lashed: to the rail of a gallery 135* feet above high:water was dislodged by a. sea aud swept away. Nevertheless, the tower defied the elements successfully for a number'of years. By 18S4 it was apparent that the 'Fastnet building was very Wioiisly impaired, joints aiid bolts having wasted, and plates worked loose. , Repairs ■'■■were rapidly made, for it was essential that the old light should remain working until its successor (for which plans were almost complete) was rea-dy for use. Mr. William Douglass,-designer of the new lighthouse, boldly planned his structure, net to be erected on the summit of the Fastnet, but upon a shelf actually below highwater mark, maintaining that in this position on the extreme west end of the rock, the tower would receive the blows of the heaviest seas before they rose j to their full height. Great blocks of Cornish granite, up to four or five tons weight, ,were ordered to be prepared for j the courses, and weye numbered and laid by on the mainland ready for building to start. ■ At this shore depot a special steamer was stationed, and men, tools, and all stores, were assembled. In August, 1896, the first small band of masons and labourers landed on Fastnet ■and began. to prepare the foundations of the new lighthouse.' Often they were working at the risk of their lives. Kavanagh, the foreman,, sometimes remained on the island for' ten months at a time, arid season after season passed by Las the noble building was raised story by story. On 19th .May,-1903,. six. and a half years after the beginning of pperations, the old Fastnet, light blazed out. j for the last tims, aud the next day a temporary- beacon was installed, pending the erection of the complete plant. All the mechanism was safely landed on the evening of 10th October, ready for hoisting, but during the night, a. tremendous sea got up, and somo of the machinery was smashed, and some parts washed away. Despite these trfals, the work was resumed, and on 271! v June, 1906,. the rays. of. the .present Fastnet light shone out for the first time officially. It had cost .from start to finish over £GO,CCO. Kayanagh, the foreman of construction, lived ion the Fastnet almost continuously from 1896 to 1903, and heSet .every stone of the tower with his own hands. The work having been completed Kavanagh .came ashore, and within a (week was dead.-, ■ : . . :