Sun, February 18, 1895

OLD PLANTATION LIGHT.

Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Lighthouse serviceWeather -- FreezesTransportation -- Railroad - Steamboats

Almost Overturned by the Ice and Abandoned by Its Keeper.

Assistant Keeper Kirwan, of the Old Plantation lighthouse, about three miles south of Cape Charles City, Va., was compelled to abandon the lighthouse yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. He at once notified the United States lighthouse inspector at Baltimore of the dangerous condition of the structure.

Mr. Kirwan states that since yesterday the ice in the bay has been breaking up and is moving toward the ocean. The pressure of the ice against the lighthouse has caused it to lean over so that the water has run out of the tanks and submerged the floors. Last night the lighthouse shook so that he was compelled to put out the light and remove the valuable lens for fear of it breaking and causing a conflagration. He says the lighthouse cannot stand two more tides.

Old Plantation lighthouse is the same one which suffered so much damage from the ice two years ago, when the keeper was compelled to abandon the house. It was afterward strengthened and was supposed to be perfectly safe.

The warm weather of yesterday and today has caused the ice to break up and the situation here has a critical aspect. The night run of the steamer New York from Norfolk to this place has been temporarily abandoned, the day runs being made by the powerful tugs of the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad Company.