The following pages are founded on Mr. Smiles' Lives of the Engineers," vol. ii.; "Smeaton and Lighthouses" (edition 1844); "Les Phares ;” “Lighthouses and Lightships," by W. H. Davenport Adams; and Smeaton's own account of the "Eldystone Lighthouse." Some minor authorities have also been consulted. THE STORY OF JOHN SMEATON. A CHAPTER I. ANCIENT AND MODERN LIGHTHOUSES. S soon as man began to go down to the deep in ships, and to extend his enter prise from sea to sea, so soon must he have recognized the necessity of lighthouses; or, at least, of some system of signals by which he might guide his course at night when approaching a perilous coast, or seeking to enter the wished-for harbour. His first attempt in this direction was probably nothing more than the kindling of a huge fire on some elevated promontory or headland, or on the summit of some lofty hill, whence its warning glare could be seen for miles around. 8 LIGHTHOUSES OF ANTIQUITY. But as, on windy nights, much difficulty would be experienced in keeping up the blown and scattered flames, no doubt he would soon conceive the idea of providing a sufficient shelter. So obvious was the value of these fiery beacons, and so impossible did it seem to the ancient mariner to navigate the dangerous seas without their help, that he was led to ascribe their origin to supernatural wisdom. According to the Greeks, they were invented by Hercules. There is good reason to believe, however, that long before the ocean was furrowed by a Greek keel, light-towers or fire-beacons had been erected by the Libyans and the Cuthites along the low and perilous shores of Lower Egypt. During the day they served as landmarks, and during the night as beacons. Their purpose being essentially sacred, they were also used as temples, and dedicated to the gods. Regarded by the seaman with reverence as well as gratitude, he enriched them with costly offerings. Some authorities suppose that charts of the Mediterranean coast and of the channels of the Nile were painted on their walls, and that these charts were afterwards transferred to sheets of papyrus. The priests in charge of them taught the sciences of hydrography and HOMER AND THE FIRE-TOWERS. 9 pilotage, and how to steer a vessel's course by the aid of the stars and planets. On the summit a fire was ever burning; the fuel being placed in a machine of iron or bronze, composed of three or four branches, each representing a dolphin or some other marine animal, and all connected by decorative work. The machine was fastened to the extremity of a strong pole or shaft, like a mast, and so placed that its radiance was mainly directed seaward. The impression which the fire-towers produced on the mind is finely described by Homer in a well-known passage of the "Iliad :". "As to seamen o'er the wave is borne The watch-fire's light, which, high among the hills, It is said that the first regular pharos, or lighttower, was erected by one Lesches, on the Sigean promontory, at the mouth of the Hellespont. Though the most ancient, the honour was not reserved to it of bequeathing its name to its successors. This honour was bestowed on the celebrated tower erected on the island of Pharos, off the harbour of Alexandria, which served as a model for some of the noblest lighthouses built in later ages. Thus, it was the type followed by the |