The west end light has passed through many vicissitudes, and the keepers have experienced innumerable thrills. At this point the ocean is devouring the island rapidly. In 1873 the tower was raised in what was considered a safe position. It was placed some distance from the water’s edge on a favourable knoll, and thought to be immune from the gnawing of the sea for many years to come. But Nature disposed otherwise. The awful winter of 1881 played havoc with the island. One mighty gale carried away a solid chunk 70 feet wide by nearly 1,400 feet long. When the summer came, and an inspection was made, fears were entertained concerning the safety of the lighthouse. The keepers had observed violent tremblings, for the tower vibrated considerably under the smashing blows of the waves. Nothing could be done that summer, and it was hoped that the succeeding winter would be milder, to enable plans to be prepared for the construction of a new tower in a safer position. The keepers, however, were urged to keep a sharp eye on developments, and to be prepared for any emergency. The winter of 1882 proved to be worse than that of the previous year, and the island suffered more than ever. The keepers and their isolated comrades viewed the advance of the waves with ill-disguised alarm. Would the island around the light hold out until the spring? That was the uppermost thought. Every gale brought the waves nearer, and at last it was recognized that one good gale would finish matters. So the men prepared for the emergency. The demolition of the tower commenced, a race between the waters and human labour. The men worked well and had just got the superstructure away, when there was a creak, a groan, and a crash! The foundations, which had been undermined, disappeared into the Atlantic. In less than ten years the hungry ocean had carried a mile of Sable Island away. [Illustration: _By kind permission of Lieut.-Col. W. P. Anderson._ A MAGNIFICENT CANADIAN LIGHT ON THE PACIFIC COAST. An octagonal tower, 127 feet high, built of ferro-concrete.] [Illustration: _By permission of the Lighthouse Literature Mission._ THE WEST END GUARDIAN OF SABLE ISLAND, THE GRAVEYARD OF THE ATLANTIC. This tower replaces the structure demolished by the waves.]