The Portland daily press., 1882-10-23
THE 1.-TWO LIGHTS
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRADE.
Spirited Protest Of Prominent Citizens.

LINZ Or IdE BOAhD OF TRADE.
Spirited Protest OF Prominent Citizens.
! A meeting was held agreeable to call, at
the Board of Trade rooms, Saturday morning,
OF all persons interested in the proposed dis
continuance by the lighthouse board Of one
OF the 1.-TWO Lights" at Cape Eliza beth. The
meeting was largely attended, showing the
great interest felt in the matter and as the fol-
lowing report indicates a very full expression
OF the sentiment of our citizens was obtained.
| A communication from Captain Alfred T.
Small was read. This sets forth disaster
hat occurred in 1856, when the lights were
changed as at present proposed. The follow
ing is what Captain Small says;
In the month of May, 1855, I sailed from
Portland, master of the new bark "Occident,"
| 3lO tons register; bound to Buenos Ayres.
| When off Cape Elizabeth we lay becalmed
from p. m. until a. m the following morn
| ing, the lights about three miles distant At
mat time there were two lights on the Cape;
one revolving and the other fixed light
On my return passage from Buenos Ayres
bound to Portland, with cargo of wool and
hides, we arrived on the coast in January,
1856 After passing Cape Cod had the wind
southeast and haZy atmosphere, with moder-
| auo ur6SZ6S AS we dpDrOacnou Inc 0Ofbn
shore, steering northwest by north, we made
what appeared to us revolving light, which
we took TO be Wood Island Light, and steered
the course for Cape Elizabeth, the weather be-
coming more hazy, and lights not appearing
distinct
At about the time we calculated upon we
made wo lights, and supposed them to be
Cape Elizabeth Lights. We continued our
course to the east vntil we were In position to
run for Portland Head Light, which we did.
NOT mo b fba nh b~U
to have doubts as to our position, and in the
act OF hauling by the wind, off shore, we made
breakers ahead, and before any action could be
taken, the bark was cast broadside upon the
shore, which proved to be to the eastward of
Scguin Light on Arrowsic Island. The dis
lance from Cape Elizabeth to Arrowsic Island
is about the same as Wood Island to Cape
Elizabeth. The lights proved to be Seguin
and Pond Island.
After my arrival at Bath was informed
that the lights on Cape Elizabeth had been
changed, by the not lighting of one and max
ing flash light Of the other, which was the
cause vi the total loss of the bark ,Occident,
and loss and damage to cargo
Hon. Samuel E. Spring stated that he char
tered the bark "Occident," and that Capt
Small's statement is correct. He said that the
proposed change was recommended by Com
mander Picking, late of this Lighthouse dis
trict.
Hon. I. G. Jersey stated that there is also
an order to change Martinicus light He
thought that there ought to be protest against
any change whatever in the lights on the
coast of Maine. He pointed out by the light
house chart what mistakes would be made if
the proposed change is accomplished.
Capt. Benjamin j. Willard stated that sevei-
al vessels were lost about twentysix years ago,
when the Cape lights were changed as propos-
ed now.
Capt ]. B. Coyle protested very strongly
against the change. He said he should prefer
to have all the lights between here and Boston
removed for the safety of his boats rather than
the proposed extinguishing OF one of the Cape
Elizabeth lights. He regarded it as very hsz-
ardous to make any such change, as the sound
ings and all approaches to the Kennebec river
are very similar to those OF Portland harbor.
The lights were established on Cape Elizabeth
fifty years ago. for good and substantial rea-
soDs then, and the reasons for their continu-
ance remainsnow as strong as ever.
W. W. Thomas made a spirited protest
against the change He said that the entire
disregard of the rights of this community by
the lighthouse board is simply infamous.
A. L. Hobson said that now foreign vessels
can enter this port without a pilot If the
change is made no strange vessel can come in
without pilot.
Hon. w. W. Thomas, Jr., spoke eloquently
against the change. He said that to discon
tinue one of the Two Lights was equivalent to
putting up false-beacon. He called attention
to the fact that this is an English steamer
port. He did not believe that any similar
changes were proposed at other ports where
these steamers touch.
Capt Washington Ryan thought that if any
change is to be made in lights, the less impor-
tant ones should go first, but the Cape Lights
are the most important on the whole coast.
Capt j. w. Deering said that the soundings
off Cape Elizabeth and Kennebec river are
very similar. II the lights are changed
stranger would not know in heavy weather
whether he was off the Cape or in the vicinity
of the Kennebec.
Capt. j. S. Winsow corroborated the state
ment of Capt. Deering and gave the results of
his practical experience with reference to the
similarity Of the above soundings
On motion Of Capt. j. w. Deering it was
voted that Congressman Reed be requested to
use his personal efforts to prevent the proposed
changes in the lights, and if necessary go to
Washington and look after the matter.
B. f. Furnish said that he was with Mr..
Reed when the latter's attention was called to
the proposed change. Mr. Reed wrote to
Washington and promised to use all the ef-
forts in his power TO prevent the change.
1t was voted that the Secretary send tele-
gram to Commander Picking, Secretary of the
Light House board, requesting him to use his
influence to prevent the proposed change until
the arrival of Mr.. Reed or the receipt of the
action of the Board of Trade.
Captains Ryan, Winslow and Deering were
appointed a committee to confer with Mr..
Reed and to furnish him with written infor-
nation in regard to the effects of the proposed
cL anGe; which he may use in representing the
matter to the Lighthouse Board.
The following remonstrancs was drawn up
aud signed by over sixty individuals and
firms
We the undersigned, citizens of the State
Of Maine, hereby respectfully protest against
any change being made in the present system
of lighthouses Oh this coast, believing that no
change can be made especially in the long es-
tahlished headland lights without endanger-
ing life and property for years to come
1t was voted to send copy of the remon-
STRANGE to Eastport Bangor, Bath, Boston,
Newburyport, Rockland and Portsmouth for
signatures.
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA