In order to foster the growth of the sea-traffic with China, these unattractive waters demanded full illumination, while the rock-girt shores of China and Japan were similarly in need of protective outposts. Japan was particularly enterprising in this forward movement. The country was emerging from the state of suspended civilization in which it had reposed so calmly for centuries. The rising forces were not slow to realize that unless they safeguarded steamship traffic their ports would wait in vain for the ships from Europe. In fact, the mercantile interests of the Western world bluntly stated that unless this course were followed their ships would not come to trade.
Japan at that time had not capable men at home for the purpose of completing the first part of a comprehensive coast-lighting scheme, and it was acknowledged that years must elapse before the country would be able to walk alone in this field. Accordingly they sought Britain’s assistance. The Stevenson family, as narrated already, elaborated a comprehensive scheme, which was accepted. The structures were prepared in Britain, sent out piecemeal to Japan together with a force of competent men, and erected at the desired points.
Upon this foundation the Japanese built up their excellent lighthouse service. The Eastern pupil, in his own estimation, became as competent as the Scottish teachers. At all events, Japan has since completed all works of this description at home and unaided. China followed suit, but in this instance it was due to British initiative purely and simply. The British Inspector-General of the Imperial Maritime Customs took up the question. He appointed an engineer-in-chief, to whom the construction and repair of the lights were entrusted. The chief engineer was provided with a coast inspector, upon whom devolved the responsibility for the personnel and the maintenance of the stations, he in turn being assisted in his exacting and, at that time, difficult work by a corps of zealous officers.
Although the countries concerned and the shipping companies of Europe appreciated this forward policy, one class of individuals resented this introduction of Western ideas into Oriental life. This was the population who lived by wrecking and piracy. They recognized the fact only too well, that, if brilliant beacons were to be permitted to be erected freely throughout these troublous seas, their despicable but remunerative calling would cease. Their solution of the problem assumed a characteristic Chinese and Malay form; they endeavoured to wreak their revenge upon the lights. Now and again there were sharp tussles between the engineering staffs and these high-water brigands, but firearms well handled by the white men invariably got the better of the argument. Pirates caught in the attempt to tamper with the lights received very short shrift. One engineer who had seen service in these waters related to me that in the early days the amount of lead expended in protecting a light from these marauders exceeded the quantity of this metal used in the tower itself.
The Malacca Straits, from their exceedingly dangerous nature, constituted a happy hunting-ground for these gentlemen, and the lighting of these waters was effected as soon as possible. Among the innumerable menaces abounding, a shoal some sixteen miles west of the coastline was particularly harassing to mariners. It became known as One Fathom Bank, and the shallowest part was only about 18 feet below the surface at high-water. When these waters were guarded first, a lightship did duty; but the position is so open, and is so exposed to the full fury of the monsoon, that she frequently dragged her anchors, so that the warning became somewhat uncertain.
Accordingly, it was decided to supersede the floating light by a permanent structure, and a lighthouse on stilts, similar to those familiar to American waters, was erected in 1874, and emitted a white flash once a minute. Although this ironwork structure was pounded mercilessly by the seas, it withstood all assaults completely, and was only superseded eventually owing to the ever-increasing exigencies of commerce, which demanded a more powerful and elevated light.
The present tower was commenced in 1907. The engineers appreciated the fact that they were being called upon to carry out an undertaking in an especially trying position. The bank is well out to sea, and when the monsoon is in full blast waves 8 feet in height thunder upon the shoal, their ferocity varying according to the state of the tide, which rises and falls a matter of 14 feet. The difficulties attending the building of the Rothersand and Fourteen Foot Bank lighthouses under closely similar conditions were not forgotten, and the prospect of building a huge caisson on the mainland, and then towing it to the site to be sunk, was by no means attractive, even if the fullest avail were taken of the spells of calmest weather.
Therefore an alternative method of construction, possessing the qualities of being simpler, quicker, and less expensive, which was advanced by a well-known firm of engineers in Singapore, Messrs. Hargreaves, Riley and Co., upon the designs of Mr. O. P. Thomas, received the closest consideration. This scheme proposed a lighthouse constructed on piles, with the focal plane 92½ feet above water-level, wrought in ferro-concrete.
The project was somewhat novel and daring, because, although this constructive principle had been adopted previously for stations upon the mainland, it had never been utilized in connection with exposed sea-lights. The system recommended was that known as the Hennebique, which had been employed extensively for buildings, bridges, sea-defences, and other works. The proposal was investigated thoroughly by the Hon. A. Murray, M.Inst.C.E., the Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-General for the Straits Settlements, and, as it met with his full approval, the work was handed over to the Singapore engineers to fulfil upon the lines advanced.
The structure comprises the main building, including the living-quarters, supported upon piles disposed in two rings, an inner and an outer, about a central pile, the whole being well braced together. The shape is octagonal in plan. From the roof of the living-quarters, to which point the outer piles are carried vertically from the sea-bed, these members rise with an inward rake, forming an octagonal pyramid, with the lantern and its room below forming the apex.