Corsewall Light & Fog Signal Station, Sept 4th 1892.
This lantern was erected by James Wells Engineer, John Westwood Millwright, James Brodie Engineer, David Scott Labourer, of the firm of James Milne & Son Engineers, Milton House Works, Edinburgh, during the months from May to September and relighted on Thursday night 15th Sept 1892.
The following being keepers at the station at this time, John Wilson Principal, John B Henderson 1st assistant, John Lockhart 2nd assistant.
The lens and machine being supplied by James Dove &Co Engineers Greenside Edinburgh and erected by William Burness, John Harrower, James Dods. Engineers with the above firm.
> I hope the current engineers leave a better note for the engineers of the next century.
I don't like what you are saying. A more poetic note is not "better". You think it is, and that certainly can be your value but you are not the one fixing the light house.
It is perfectly fine if all they did is to just write down who they were and what they were doing. They don't owe you some poetic inspiring letter just because they were in a place you associate with poetry. And certainly it wouldn't be "better" in an objective sense.
In fact it would be less true if that is not the feeling they had. If they were sitting there thinking "need more grease so this bearing doesn't seize up" but wrote "Beacon stands steadfast,/ Waves crash 'gainst its ageless stone—/ A hymn to the stars." That would be worse, because it would be inauthentic.
I think the point is that this type of content of the message usually goes on something like an engraved plaque or a something that would go in a public records office.
In fact, no one would have even clicked on this story and it would not be on HN if the story were "dusty plaque found in lighthouse".
A "message in a bottle", especially at a lighthouse, conjures the romantic idea of a secret easter egg.
I get what you are saying, but try to understand what was being said by the person you were responding to as well!
To be honest I was surprised at the newsworthiness given it was hidden in the lighthouse (not a message in a bottle at sea) and then in that context only 132 years old. If I started lifting floorboards and breaking plaster at home I'm fairly confident I'd find something older.
At school we buried a 'time capsule' for the millennium I think for 50 years thence. That'll be cool for the pupils in 2050, but it won't be news.
You're in the UK, the article is in the NY Times - 132 years old seems older to an American than it does to you, that combined with the message in bottle in lighthouse and Scotland all together sparked interest.
It was written by hand, in a rather poetic, inspiring, and exciting handwriting! At least, I find it so.
The bottle likely helped preserve the paper and the writing. In addition, I'd guess that they used good quality paper, because Iron Gall ink - which was in vogue at the time the letter was written - is fairly corrosive and can eat through paper.
Addendum: I also find the bland (under)statement of their work comforting and inspiring.
It's just a lighthouse engineer's form of marking the territory they built/operated like a modern day software easter egg. Their life's work was not a romance or linguistic creation, for better or worse. "Just the facts, m'am"
Actually this actually sounds more like a forgotten formulaic ritual you were supposed to do for good luck whenever building a lighthouse, not even a true attempt to communicate in this instance. If that is your point then I agree.
Text of the letter:
Corsewall Light & Fog Signal Station, Sept 4th 1892. This lantern was erected by James Wells Engineer, John Westwood Millwright, James Brodie Engineer, David Scott Labourer, of the firm of James Milne & Son Engineers, Milton House Works, Edinburgh, during the months from May to September and relighted on Thursday night 15th Sept 1892. The following being keepers at the station at this time, John Wilson Principal, John B Henderson 1st assistant, John Lockhart 2nd assistant. The lens and machine being supplied by James Dove &Co Engineers Greenside Edinburgh and erected by William Burness, John Harrower, James Dods. Engineers with the above firm.
What a missed opportunity! A note in a bottle in a lighthouse seems like the perfect opportunity to be more poetic, inspiring and exciting.
I hope the current engineers leave a better note for the engineers of the next century.
> I hope the current engineers leave a better note for the engineers of the next century.
I don't like what you are saying. A more poetic note is not "better". You think it is, and that certainly can be your value but you are not the one fixing the light house.
It is perfectly fine if all they did is to just write down who they were and what they were doing. They don't owe you some poetic inspiring letter just because they were in a place you associate with poetry. And certainly it wouldn't be "better" in an objective sense.
In fact it would be less true if that is not the feeling they had. If they were sitting there thinking "need more grease so this bearing doesn't seize up" but wrote "Beacon stands steadfast,/ Waves crash 'gainst its ageless stone—/ A hymn to the stars." That would be worse, because it would be inauthentic.
I think the point is that this type of content of the message usually goes on something like an engraved plaque or a something that would go in a public records office.
In fact, no one would have even clicked on this story and it would not be on HN if the story were "dusty plaque found in lighthouse".
A "message in a bottle", especially at a lighthouse, conjures the romantic idea of a secret easter egg.
I get what you are saying, but try to understand what was being said by the person you were responding to as well!
To be honest I was surprised at the newsworthiness given it was hidden in the lighthouse (not a message in a bottle at sea) and then in that context only 132 years old. If I started lifting floorboards and breaking plaster at home I'm fairly confident I'd find something older.
At school we buried a 'time capsule' for the millennium I think for 50 years thence. That'll be cool for the pupils in 2050, but it won't be news.
> only 132 years old.
You're in the UK, the article is in the NY Times - 132 years old seems older to an American than it does to you, that combined with the message in bottle in lighthouse and Scotland all together sparked interest.
Is authenticity better than inauthenticity? If you think yes - is Ted Nugent a better artist than David Bowie?
It was written by hand, in a rather poetic, inspiring, and exciting handwriting! At least, I find it so.
The bottle likely helped preserve the paper and the writing. In addition, I'd guess that they used good quality paper, because Iron Gall ink - which was in vogue at the time the letter was written - is fairly corrosive and can eat through paper.
Addendum: I also find the bland (under)statement of their work comforting and inspiring.
These days it would be a post on Instagram or Twitter. Nobody will find those in 100 years.
It's just a lighthouse engineer's form of marking the territory they built/operated like a modern day software easter egg. Their life's work was not a romance or linguistic creation, for better or worse. "Just the facts, m'am"
Actually this actually sounds more like a forgotten formulaic ritual you were supposed to do for good luck whenever building a lighthouse, not even a true attempt to communicate in this instance. If that is your point then I agree.
BBC report including text of letter https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje0x5j7wgjo
http://archive.today/frW01
Would like to see a link where I can read the whole thing.
It says “out of whiskey, send more ASAP to the lighthouse”.