Nothing daunted by these difficulties, our engineers set to work, and commenced the erection of the workmen’s sheds. These were planted on the isle of Bréhat, at about three leagues’ distance from the rock. In addition to the fact that this island possesses numerous perfectly sheltered harbours, it is placed by the currents under quite peculiar conditions with respect to the rock of the Héaux: the ebb-tide swings from the island to the rock, and the flood rushes from the rock to the island; and it is exactly at low water that disembarkations must take place. Finally, the island presented all the resources desirable for the accommodation and provisioning of the numerous artificers whose services were called into requisition by so considerable an undertaking.
In one of the havens a jetty of rough stones, about 170 feet in length, was constructed, to facilitate the embarkations and disembarkations, which would necessarily be very frequent. The harbour, that of La Corderie, was exactly opposite the Héaux. In addition to the boats which transported to the rock the materials prepared in the island, a very large flotilla was employed in conveying the rough materials, drawn from all quarters, to the island. The granite came from the Ile-Grande, situated about ten leagues to the westward; the lime from the basin of the Loire; Saint-Malo furnished the timber; and, finally, as the wells of Bréhat did not supply sufficient water for the additional population and the uses of the artificers, water, as well as provisions, was obtained from the mainland.
Sixty artificers formed the “army of labour” organized to carry out all M. Raynaud’s bold designs. Lodgings had to be provided for them, inasmuch as the navigation was too uncertain, and the time during which boats could anchor much too short, to admit of their being daily carried back to the mainland. Fortunately, at a very short distance from the place chosen for the works, two aiguilles, or needle-rocks, were found, sufficiently elevated to remain constantly above the level of the water. The interval between them was filled up partly with rough stones and partly with masonry, until an elevation of thirteen feet above the sea was secured; and a platform was thus constructed sufficiently durable for the purpose to which it was intended to put it. Here were planted the huts of the men, and the framework of a beacon which was to carry a provisional light. You may suppose, gentle reader, that there was no room to be wasted. In the beacon was placed, besides the store-room and the keeper’s lodgings, the chamber for the accommodation of the engineer; his bivouacking hut was on the right; by blowing up a portion of the rock, a long but narrow apartment was obtained for the overseers; on the left, in front, stood the kitchen and larder; at the side, the workmen’s dining-room; behind, their sitting and bed-room, which was well filled. The beds were placed as close to each other as possible, in two tiers. A third range was situated in the refectory, above the table. And, lastly, on a projecting crag, to the left, means had been found to erect a small forge, which had but one defect, that it was often impossible to keep it lighted at high water.
At first the workmen were allowed to supply themselves as they pleased with provisions; but some cases of scurvy having broken out, the engineer felt the necessity of enforcing upon them a regular bill of fare. For this purpose he established a canteen, and bound down its owner to keep a stock sufficient for six weeks’ supply, as a precaution against possible bad weather, which might cut off all communication with the mainland. At this canteen each workman was compelled to obtain his rations. Other hygienic measures were adopted. The hammocks were every morning exposed in the open air, and once a week the lodging-rooms were lime-washed. Once a week, too, the whole company bathed. Thanks to these precautions, the terrible malady whose approach had been apprehended was driven from the island, and the sanitary condition of so great a number of men herded together in a very limited compass remained constantly satisfactory.
Every day, as soon as the tide had ebbed, the artificers repaired to work, and the hours for meals were so arranged that no interruption took place while the tide lasted. When the rising waters forced them to abandon the rock, a bell gave the signal. They then hastened to cover with a cement which hardened instantaneously the portions of masonry which had just been finished, and took refuge in their abodes. Sometimes, however, it would happen that the sea rose with unusual rapidity; woe, then, to the tardy! They had no other resource but to throw themselves into the water before its depth became dangerous; an amusement for the on-lookers, and almost their only one. Thanks to these measures of order and supervision, the engineer had not to regret the loss of any of the members of his laborious little colony; although, during the course of their works, many ships, and, still more unfortunately, several visitors, perished.
Let us now say a few words respecting the work itself.
The principal difficulty of the operation consisted in erecting the submarine portion of the building. Once the level of high-water mark was reached, the men could not only carry on their labours more conveniently, but were relieved from the most critical chances. Thenceforth they had nothing further to do with the sea than as regarded the process of landing, and to a certain extent they built upon an island. But on this artificial island everything depended, and in its formation every precaution had to be studied.