The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-03
SIGHTING 4 STEAMER.


How the People Are Nott0oN q the Ar.
rival Of IN Kxpscted Vessel.
When we read in the Eaglt that the
Aurania was sighted off Fire Island at
three o'clock. how many persons know
how that piece of information was OBJ
tanned, or realize the importance Of
such news? It means that the vessel
has been seen six hours before she will
land her passengers in New York, thus
giving abundant opportunity for people
on shore to prepare for the arrival of
their friends. A person in Philadelphia
or Albany receiving this information
can reach New York and be at the
steamer dock before the gang-plank is
thrown out. 1t is only within seven
years that observations have been taken
from Fire Island, and only within the
past year that there have been proper
facilities for making such observations.
Heretofore the public have had no init
nation of the arrival of an incoming
steamer until she was sighted off Sandy
Hook, allowing, if the tide was ia
vorable, only two or three hours
notice in New York City. The Fire
Island station is said to be the longest
distance observatory in the world, as it
certainly is in this country. The insti-
tuition was started and is run by the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
but its success is due to one man, Mr..
p. Keegan, the operator. There is
probably no other man in America
who can fill his position to-day. When
hn< oer ~ nh VxyhSp t1 ~
seldom, the observatory is closed, the
company having no man they would
dare trust to make observations. 1t may
ut first thought appear singular that
such is the fact, but consider moment.
The tracks of the ocean steamers on an
average are thirteen mile from the OBJ
servatOry. At that distance the out
lines of vessel are very indis-
tinct except in very clear
weather, and at times the unframed
eye can hardly distinguish any object
whatever. Then think of the large
number of steamers to be recognized
and their names correctly reported, for
there must be no mistakes. 1t will not
Go for Mr.. Keegan to telegraph to New
York that the Aurania is coming when it
is the Servia, for see how many people
would be disappointed. how many din
ncrs prepared for guests who would not
arrive, how many hacks hired TO no
purpose and what confusion all around!
MIR Kecgan. therefore, must not make
a mistake. and he rarely does. But how
can he know all of the vessels?
A young man recently applied to the
superintendent of the Western Union
Company for the position of assistant
to Mr.. keegan, stating that he under
stood the business thoroughly. The
superintendent asked him how he would
distin guish one steamer from another
from Fire island?
Il would read her name by using the
telescope" was the reply.
IF you could not make out the name
what would you do?''
II would take boat and row out to
the vessel"
..In that event it would only be mat.
ter of time which reached the shore
first, the mans body or the boat" said
Mr.. Keegan, when the incident was re-
lated to him.
Only once has Mr.. Keegan been able
to read the name of vessel passing his
station. and that was few years ago
when the Amerique came within three
miles of the shore. Mr.. Keegan has
never been on board of one the Eu-
ropean steamers, and he says if he was
to see one passing through the Narrows
he does not believe he could tell the
name, so accustomed has he become to
distinguish vessels at long distances. He
could tell the name of a vessel quicker by
seeing her masts and smOkestack eigh-
teen miles from Fire Island than by see
ing her hull, deck and rigging from
Fort Hamilton. Seeing SO much of the
hull, he said, would throw him off his
reckoning. Some years ago this gen.
tleman came to Fire Island, and began
to make his observations from the Gu
pola of the Surf Hotel, which was con-
nected by wire and cable to New York.
So successful was his work, and it be-
came of SO much value to the shipping
world, that last year substantial OBJ
servatory, sixty feet high, costing over
$4,000, was erected back of the
hotel and near the shore ON the ocean
side of the island. Here Mr.. Keegan
lives with his family the year round,
and in quarters that are very comfort
able and pleasant in summer, but lone
some in winter. However, Fire Island
lighthouse and life-saying station are
near by. Mr.. Keegan is an intelligent
man as may readily be imagined, BY a
glance at the class of books in his room
which he makes his companions during
his long vigils. He is, of course,
greatly aided in his work by knowing
when to expect certain steamers. but II
often happens that two steamers of the
same line are expected about the same
time, and then his knowledge of minute
details come into play. For instance,
on one smokcstack of the Servia is
a square white mark, while
on other steamers of the Cunarders the
mark is oblong. Certain vessels carry
their sails in peculiar manner and
others have heavy rigging. One steamer
has derrick in certain place. and
there are hundred other distinguish
ing marks to the trained observer. BY
careful observation Mr.. Kecgan has
noted all these details. Each line has
its own course. From one port hole in
the lookout room at a certain angle he
watches for steamer of the Guion line,
and from another port hole the Inman,
and SO on.-Brooklym Eagle.
Victorious Sparrows.