The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26
NONE LIKE HER ANYWHERE
IRREGULARITIES or THE NEW SANDY
HOOK LIGH7SHIP.


Tho First Revolving Light Anoat In Tai,
country, ButIt 10 English aud Nav Nos
"ork-tnck's Marvellous Forecnstie
Lying ut pier in the yard OF the Unito,
states Lighthouse Board on Staten Island IA
one oil the most interesting little shlps in tho
world tho now lightship that Is to reulac.
tho Old red hulk that has boon bobblne ma
rolling about for years on tho Sandy Hoot Ia,
TO mara the channel into the harbor. Sbo 4.
especially Interesting to scafnrng people. bnt
no one could look ut her without wan inp IA
know something more about her than can h.
seen from the pior.
There Is a hui painted rod. as tho old m.
was that Is liz feet long and about 90 foa,
broad. but 1t stands much h CHER out OF vn,or
than an ordinary cargo vessel OF the snn.
sze would do. oven whsn not loaded. Tbnr.
arc two double masts the sticks Of each m i,
being about two foet apart and firmly fa.t.
ened together ut tho top by crossbeams m.
larger mentor OF each double mast proec,s
several feet above the other member and ths,s
Is o curious round tarR on 1t to distinguish II
from the mast OF any other kind OF shin that
might be anchored or there.
But II Is when ono goes on board with litns
knowledge OF nautical affairs that the boat hs.
comes unusually interesting First. there ia a
little steam engine that is placed there solelv
to work valve. Tho new lightship has cot
two big stenm boilers and twolve.inch ipp.
horn. and whenev,r the weather comes on 40
thick that the crew cannot see the pojnt n,
Sandy Hook that horn will be started q. below.
ing in way to make miserable the natiyes
from Seabright to Rockaway Beach
Another new feature is revolving light No
Other ightship iu America has light OF this
kind. and the experts who are putting one ON
this ship are not sure it will work. The Ian.
tcrns on this lightsh!D consist o. vlas. casss
that fit around the must and contain circle OF
lamps tho combined rays OF which would
illuminate tho entire horizon with ordinary
good refectors behind Them. That is the way
in one lantern the rohectors are so arranged
that the rays Of zach set Of three lamps are
h s"Se Tas snns h
around it, and there. Is clock machinery
woa,Ssr il no If hap rsxoSe 10 II IN. wn s.
Culinary through the lurching Of the, ship.
to the mariner looking for port at night In
blizzard, according to the officers. 1t Is mot I'M
Cutlery Is Of brtsh 10 npd wan se m
chased for trial in 1873. but was never before
1iissd to ship II It does not work. some Of
invent one that will work, even though tho hulk
were rolling her spars under In n blizzard cold
decks to save her from laundering.
Choppins ice OF the decks. by the way. is not
at TIA an ns unusual ds, ~ Of IA Thtsnip
the big steam wIndlass. Llchtships are moored
by anen .9 and chains Of very much greater
would usn. AMI once q month tho crew must
heayo In the chain end examine every link. and
wear has taken place sufficient to permit the
shipto break adrift in ngnle. such work az
windlass was enough to make any body croan:
It. was UP and down" the day long. and no
TIL. SHIP IS e place St the 'n %onthly insp.ctien
Will be nothing but picnic.
~ In sp,e; o, hoEeysr lshshIps
and even the force q tie wind in a piain 100:
with, crash the chain parts. and the crew
climbs ont on deck at midnight, maybe and
say Safety more lies out n To- s ses
iO1Rd b H9a a &S, a ride the Ysyss
adrirt she sailed from the eapss Of tho f DsIa.
ware to Cape Hatteras. and was allie to sail
wage; One leg Of each double mast is ior
~ In one respect the now lightship is unique.
RsF Mil fhs
will make tho seaiaring public believe It, but
the fact is that the bottoms Of the bunfs in
are PLACED the best quality Of hair mattresses
Gould the old harnacle with rings In his ears
happen into that forecastle he would dou.e his
car. have q phil at his forslock aud. sfter ask.
ing pardon. fly ,np tho ladder. thinking he had
large. light. and airy-the most comfortable
home seaman ever lived in at sea.
The now ship is to be put in place ON Aug l.
She " i'll carry crew Of ton all told-a Captain,
q mate. first and second engineer, cook,
and five men. 1t costs about $1,000 Q year to
maintain an ordinary lightship. but the new
one with its steam outfit and extra mon. will
cost more.
OF the value Of the now lights. a. already
said: there is q little doubt. Tho nash light
machinery may not work. Another objection
to 1t. In any event, is that il flashes once In
flash lights on the American coast. such a.
In ton seconds When, shipmaster H. Lost
and picks up flash light he wants to pick Il
up again right away, and he may miss 1t On.
tirely II the interval 10 too long. An interval
OF ak seconds Is about right at this point.
Then the fog signal. unless there Is q imbre
In Its shout different from that OF all oihef
steamship whistles. may not be always odec-
tive. 1t may be mistaken for a steamer whistle.
but 1t Will In any event serve to keep other ships
off the lightship. Lost mariners. In their anxi-
city to find the lightship. have been known to
run her down. But 1t should be sail here that
the new ship Is SO divided by bulkheads that u
cut In two the parts would float.