STORMS, ROCKS AND GUIDING LIGHTS

Port Alfred has experienced some tempestuous weather this winter, reminding us that the dangerous southern coast of SA boasts many shipwrecks, at least 400, although some have never been found or weren’t noted, with at least 50 around Port Alfred. It’s fascinating to stand on the West Bank pier in the dark of night and watch the blaze of lights from the Fish River Lighthouse light up the sky in a programmed rhythm warning sailors of our treacherous coastline. Admittedly these days, there are GPSes telling the ships where they are, but sometimes technology fails. Today lighthouses are often out of bounds unless a permit or permission to visit is made available from the lighthouse keeper.

In 1897, Port Alfred had a lighthouse keeper, a Mr Slavin, who kept the town’s light ablaze. He was 70 years old, six foot tall, and an ex-guardsman. The light was a paraffin-burning lamp which shone through prisms, thus providing the beam of light. As a sideline, Mr Slavin sold Port Alfred keepsakes made of seaweed pasted on cardboard, costing one penny.

1897 was a year of bad weather, and huge waves battered the Eastern Cape coastlines.

Port Alfred was badly affected and had a strong sea surge with high waves flooding low-lying areas.

All through a three-day period of relentless bad weather, Mr Slavin kept the light burning. Never concerned for his own safety, he waded through kneedeep waterto keep the lamp alight. Both East and West piers were under water, and in spite of the real danger of being swept out to sea, he kept the light shining. Eventually, when the storm had blown itself out and calm returned, the townsfolk discovered that some of the concrete blocks making up the pier and weighing 15 tons had been moved onto the beach. Mr H Driffield, an eyewitness, said, “We the village spoke praisingly of the old lighthouse keeper who had so nobly done his duty; but at far as I know he got no other praise or recommendation, nor looked for either, for a performance, which for cool courage and devotion to duty was undoubtedly outstanding.” It was indeed.

The Great Fish Lighthouse built and commissioned on 1 July 1898, after many delays and at an original cost of £10,000, comprises a 9m octagonal tower painted with vertical black and white stripes. Two black vertical stripes flank the broad central white stripe of this lighthouse, resembling a tuxedo with a red roof light cap and matching railings being the red bow tie and matching cufflinks. The revolving electric lamp flashes every 10 seconds over a range of 32 sea miles with a focal plane height of 85 metres. The lighthouse is built 800m from the shoreline and 75m above sea level. The Kowie Museum has pieces of some of the old reflectors on display. One is a round circle of curved glass and the other has glass reflectors embedded in a shaped metal stand. The Lighthouse is open to visitors. The Museum is open mornings on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9.30am-12.30pm inclusive. Contact curator@ kowiemuseum.co.za

Pictures: SANDY BIRCH PERFECT TIMING: The last photograph of the West Pier signal beacon, seconds before it was washed into the sea on 24 June 2009. In the second photo, seconds later, only the plinth is left. The pier was completed in 1887 and the signal beacon was placed there circa 1890. In the early 2000s it was moved back about 20 metres, presumably because it was too exposed to storm damage.

MIRRORING: Lighthouse reflecting lens.

ABOVE: Original light casing.

ABOVE: Detail of prisms.