12. It would not be an easy matter to get the glass uninjured, viz., 44 panels in all, out of frames, and being of opinion that the glazing in the lantern cannot be exposed in such a position to steady pressure sufficient to break it, except by artificial means, no useful information bearing on the present accident would apparently be gained by testing the glass under a steady pressure. Also, though the glass could be broken by impact I fail to see the practical application of the results of tests of that nature in this case.
13. As regards the feasibility of permanently maintaining the Lighthouse on the Gap Rock I am of opinion that the exposure of the Tower and buildings has been somewhat under-estimated due more to the contour of the Rock than its geographical position, and before expressing a definite opinion as to the feasibility of permanently maintaining the Lighthouse on the Gap Rock and what measures should be taken to guard against the recurrence of a similar catastrophe, I request that during my approaching visit to England I may be placed in communication with an Engineer of considerable experience in the construction and maintenance of works of this nature.
14. From the information gained during a visit to the Gap Rock on the 20th instant in company with the Harbour Master it appears that the most probable cause of the lantern glazing getting broken was a mass of water being blown against it, which seems to have occurred in this way, viz., a heavy sea rolled into the gulley in the Rock on the north-east side of the Tower and buildings, breaking on the face of the Rock fully 50 feet below the base of the Tower, the broken water towered up into the air and a portion was carried by the force of the wind against the lantern.
15. In conclusion I would point out that, with the heavy sea that was running on the 1st and 2nd instant breaking on the rocks, and the spray carried by the wind all round the buildings, it would be a very difficult, if not impossible, matter for any one on the Rock to see definitely what was going on at the time the accident occurred.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Director of Public Works
K.O.
b. 100.
Enclosure 2
229
C.O. 20253
P125803
Hongkong OBSERVATORY, 20th October, 1893.
SIR,-In answer to your letter No. 1,482 of yesterday, I have the honour to inform you that there was no strong gale on the 1st, but that it was blowing with typhoon force at the Gap Rock from the morning of the 2nd till the early morning hours on the 3rd. It was blowing with very strong typhoon force shortly after noon on the 2nd, and that lasted till midnight.
2. The typhoon was one of exceptional severity at the Gap Rock, and the disaster was greatly intensified by the unusually great length of time the blow lasted.
3. The Gap Rock is lying very near the track of the worst typhoons that have been felt in the Colony, in an exposed position, and the conformation of the sea bottom as well as the shape of the Rock cause the sea to be much worse there than in other places.
4. The damage done to the lighthouse was, no doubt, mainly due to the sea. I can hardly think that the wind alone could have much damaged such a substantial structure.
5. The lighthouses erected by the Imperial Customs of China are not placed in such exposed situations as the Gap Rock.
I have the honour to be,
...
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. DOBERCK, Director.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary, &c.
12. It would not be an easy matter to get the glass uninjured, viz., 44 panels in all, out of frames, and being of opinion that the glazing in the lantern cannot be exposed in such a position steady pressure sufficient to break it, except by artificial means, no useful information bearing on th present accident would apparently be gained by testing the glass under a steady pressure. Als though the glass could be broken by impact I fail to see the practical application of the results of tests
of that nature in this case.
13. As regards the feasibility of permanently maintaining the Lighthouse on the Gap Rock 1 am of opinion the exposure of the Tower and buildings has been somewhat under-estimated due more the contour of the Rock than its geographical position, and before expressing a definite opinion as t the feasibility of permanently maintaining the Lighthouse on the Gap Rock and what measures should be taken to guard against the recurrence of a similar catastrophe, I request that during my approach ing visit to England I may be placed in communication with an Engineer of considerable experience in the construction and maintenance of works of this nature.
14. From the information gained during a visit to the Gap Rock on the 20th instant in company with the Harbour Master it appears that the most probable cause of the lantern glazing getting brake was a mass of water being blown against it, which seems to have occurred in this way, viz., a hearg sea rolled into the gulley in the Rock on the north-east side of the Tower and buildings, breaking oa the face of the Rock fully 50 feet below the base of the Tower, the broken water towered up into the air and a portion was carried by the force of the wind against the lantern.
15. In conclusion I would point out that, with the heavy sea that was running on the 1st and 2nd instant breaking on the rocks, and thes pray carried by the wind all round the buildings, it would be a very difficult, if not impossible, matter for any one on the Rock to sec definitely what was going
on at the time the accident occurred.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Director of Public Works
K.O.
b. 100.
Enclosure 2
229
C.O.
20253
P125803
Hongkong OBSERVATORY, 20th October, 1893.
SIR,-In answer to your letter No. 1,482 of yesterday, I have the honour to inform you that ere was no strong gale on the 1st, but that it was blowing with typhoon force at the Gap Rock from e morning of the 2nd till the early morning hours on the 3rd. It was blowing with very strong phoon force shortly after noon on the 2nd, and that lasted till midnight.
2. The typhoon was one of exceptional severity at the Gap Rock, and the disaster was greatly tensified by the unusually great length of time the blow lasted.
3. The Gap Rock is lying very near the track of the worst typhoons that have been felt in the plony, in an exposed position, and the conformation of the sea bottom as well as the shape of the ock cause the sea to be much worse there than in other places.
4. The damage done to the lighthouse was, no doubt, mainly due to the sea.
at the wind alone could have much damaged such a substantial structure.
I can hardly think
5. The lighthouses erected by the Imperial Customs of China are not placed in such exposed tuations as the Gap Rock.
I have the honour to be,
.....
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. DOBERCK, Director.
he Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
you
Colonial Secretary, 30.
&c.
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