, 1884-12-16
DANGERS OF THE DEEP.
MEANS TAKEN BY THE LIGHTHOUSE
BOARD TO WARN MARINERS.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning Dan
ger signals Used at sca-GonE-, Bells,
Whistles. Trumpets. Guns,
and Rockets.


The government at its different stations
uses various descriptions OF sound signals for
the guidance Of mariners during fogs, storms
and heavy weather. There Is a treacherous
intelligence arrogated by the yea that re-
quires all the ingenuity and ability Of man
to guard and fight against. There Is never a
vessel that sails from a harbor or a steamer
that goes out Of a port, laden with freight
and life. but is liable to ~ncounte some
tremendous gale or meet with mishap as
about entering her designated haven of rest
To obviate the mysterious disappearance
and the frightful calamities incident to the
sea, scientific men have bent their energies
and their knowledge gathered from all the
sources OF observation and personal expe-
rience. They have drawn upon the informa-
ton Of the worlds explorers, have collated
facts, given birth to theories, improved
methods, invented instruments and informed
the public and national governments of their
discoveries. Every practical invention and
skill OF mechanics has been experiraented
with, tried, adopted, and put into use for the
benefit Of the maritime world.
The Times-Democrat reporter called the
other day at the Office Of Commissions Day,
United States navy, in charge Of this light
house district, and learned some interesting
facts connected with the means and modes of
warning mariners of impending dangers.
Sound signals by means of gong arc some
what used On nghtships, especially In British
water, but are intended for use In close
quarters, narrow harbors, and short chan
nels. Their effective range is barely $50
yards. The use Of guns is going out Of date,
though there are Instance on record where
they have been serviceable. They have been
abandoned on account of the length Of inter
walls between successive explosions, the brief
I.rrnffrn ~ fho nrrtuI e.. If.kfItt~ - -
quenched by local sounds, its easy oblitera-
ton by a sudden puff Of wind, and other OBJ
je~ctionable reasons.
The gun-cotton rocket has been found quite
serviceablo in rock lighthouses. A charge
Of gun-cotton Is inclosed in the head OF a
rocket, which is projected to tho height Of
1000 feet, when the cotton is exploded n
the sound shed in all directions. Some OF
these rockets have been heard at a distance
of twenty-five miles.
Every United States Light station has in
use a bell signal Many of these signals are
run by clock-work machinery. The bells
weigh all the why from 800 to 5000 pounds.
They are in use all along the coast OF the
Unit d States. The distances at which the
tolling Of the bell can be heard vary accord
ing 20 circumstances and atmospheric condi
lions, are uncertain, and, like the gong, are
reliable only at short distances.
The whistling huoys, consisting Of an iron
pear-shaped bulb, twelve feet across at its
widest part and floating twelve feet
out of water, n emitting a mourn
full sound that can be heard for ff-
teen miles, is now coming into extensive
use in American, French, German and Eng
lsh waters. 1t Is the invention Of J.. NJ.
Courtenay, Of Now York. The machinery
in the bulb is so arranged that the motion of
the buoy rising and falling with the waves
produces a sound that pierces the heaviest
atmosphere, ~penetrates the thickest fog,
travelling mile upon mile, continuous, dis
tinct, warning shipmasters Of their proxim-
ity TO land and dangerous coasts,
The bell boat, a clumsy contrivance, has
been superseded by the bell buoys. The bell
is mounted on the bottom section of an iron
buoy, which is decked over and fitted with a
framework to which a S00-pound bell is rig
idly attached. A radial grooved iron plate
Il made fast TO the frame under the bell and
close to II, on which is laid n free cannon
ball. The restlessness OF the sea sways the
buoy, the ball rolls on the plate, striking
some side OF the boil at each motion with
such force as to cause it to toll This con
trivance is best adapted to shoal water,
harbors and rivers, where short-range sound
Is needed and smoother water obtained.
Locomotive whistles sounded by air OF
steam arc also in use. The sharpness OF
shrillness Of the whistle as used constitutes
the chief value, but 1t has been found to ex.
pend its force in tho immediate vicinity OF
its source, which is, therefore, regarded as
wasted. The sound is also equally diifused
on all sides, and this is considered as pre-
venting it from penetrating to great dis
tancesL
The trumpet consists Of a huge trumpet,
with a large thru at and a faring mouth. In
side there are a resounding cavity and q steel
tongue. Air Is condensed In a reservoir, and
driven through the trumpet by hot air OF
steam machinery, and is capable Of making
a shrek that can to heard at great dis
tances, extending over the water as far as
ten miles
The trumpet, however, is subject to fire.
quent stoppages during foggy weather, and
requires many repairs, which render it UNI
certain and of more danger than aid to nav
igation.
The siren consists Of a huge trumpet with
a wide mouth and narrow throat, and is
sounded by driving compressed air or steam
through a disk placed in the throat In the
disk are twelve radial Sits: back OF the
disk is a revolving plate containing as many
similar openings. The plate Is rotated 2,40O
times a minute, and each revolution causes
the escape and interruption Of twelve jets Of
air or steam through the openings In tho
disk and rotating plate. The siren Is oper-
ated under a pressure OF seventy-two pounds
Of steam and can be heard as far as from
twenty TO thirty miles
Ths success Of the United States In sound
signals has been such that other countries
have sent commissions here to study the sys-
tenn in vogue. 1t is the intention of the
Lighthouse department 10 make an extensive
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