The erection of this tower upon a straggling low-lying reef 24 miles off Iona, and exposed to the full fury of the Atlantic, ranks as one of the world’s engineering wonders.
The confidence of the Commissioners in the ability of their engineer was so complete that he received the official sanction to begin, and in 1838 the undertaking was commenced. The engineer immediately formulated his plans of campaign for a stiff struggle with Nature. One of the greatest difficulties was the necessity to transport men, supplies and material over a long distance, as the Scottish coast in this vicinity is wild and sparsely populated. He established his base on the neighbouring island of Tyree, where barracks for the workmen, and yards for the preparation of the material, were erected, while another colony was established on the Isle of Mull for the quarrying of the granite. A tiny pier or jetty had to be built at this point to facilitate the shipment of the stone, and at Tyree a small harbour had to be completed to receive the vessel which was built specially for transportation purposes between the base and the rock.
Another preliminary was the provision of accommodation for the masons upon the reef. The Atlantic swell, which rendered landing on the ridge precarious and hazardous, did not permit the men to be housed upon a floating home, as had been the practice in the early days of the Bell Rock tower. In order to permit the work to go forward as uninterruptedly as the sea would permit, a peculiar barrack was erected. It was a house on stilts, the legs being sunk firmly into the rock, with the living-quarters perched some 40 feet up in the air. The skeleton type of structure was selected because it did not impede the natural movement of the waves. It was an ingenious idea, and fulfilled the purpose of its designer admirably, while the men became accustomed to their strange home after a time. For two years it withstood the seas without incident, and the engineer and men came to regard the eyrie as safe as a house on shore. But one night the little colony received a shock. The angry Atlantic got one or two of its trip-hammer blows well home, and smashed the structure to fragments. Fortunately, at the time it was untenanted.
The workmen, who were on shore waiting to go out to the rock to resume their toil, were downcast at this unexpected disaster, but the engineer was not at all ruffled. He promptly sent to Glasgow for further material, and lost no time in rebuilding the quaint barrack upon new and stronger lines. This erection defied the waves successfully until its demolition after the Skerryvore was finished.
Residence in this tower was eerie. The men climbed the ladder and entered a small room, which served the purposes of kitchen, dining-room, and parlour. It was barely 12 feet across—quarters somewhat cramped for thirty men. When a storm was raging, the waves, as they combed over the rock, shook the legs violently and scurried under the floor in seething foam. Now and again a roller, rising higher than its fellows, broke upon the rock and sent a mass of water against the flooring to hammer at the door. Above the living-room were the sleeping-quarters, high and dry, save when a shower of spray fell upon the roof and walls like heavy hail, and occasionally percolated the joints of the woodwork. The men, however, were not perturbed. Sleeping, even under such conditions, was far preferable to doubtful rest in a bunk upon an attendant vessel, rolling and pitching with the motion of the sea. They had had a surfeit of such experience during the first season’s work, while the barrack was under erection.
BARRA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE, SCOTLAND.
The tower is 60 feet in height, but owing to its position on the cliffs, the white occulting light is 683 feet above high water, and is visible 33 miles.
By permission of the Lighthouse Literature Mission.