The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-06-24
SIGHTING THE STEAMERS
How AN EXPERT DOES IT AT THE
YIRE ISLAND STATION.

Recognising steamer by Her Smok"
J =. 0.s.vr Upssss "Details Before She
Tops the Horizon Line.
!" TX hours bsfore an Atlantic liner
| is made fast TO ber dock the
| IL announcemcnf of her arrival of
Fire Islasd Is made known In
New York City It 10 impossible to
estimate the great value OF such informa-
tion. Persons have abundant time to
prepare for the coming OF friends, aud
from places as far distant as Philadelphia
or Albany parties can come and be at
the steamers landing before the gang
plank Is thrown out. Carriages can bo
summoned and dinners arranged for, and
In many other ways can the coming
friends bo properly attended to.
Tho first land sighted by tho majority
Of incoming steamers is Fire Island
beach. Every one has heard OF Fire
Island. It is not an island, but the end
OF long and narrow strip Of land be-
tween tho ocean and the Great South
Bay, about forty miles from New York
City. Among the earlier seaside resorts
In this country Fire Island held con-
spicuous place. IL has been place OF
marine observation for nearly ten years.
The observatory was formerly on top of
the famous Surf Hotel, but 80 satisfac-
tory became the results OF enterprise that,
about five years ago, the Western Union
Telegraph Company erected substantial
wooden structure near the ocean shore,
suitably arranged for habitation and for
the watching and reporting Of vessels.
Mr.. Peter Keegsn, who had already
shown marked ability for the work re.
quired, was placed in charge and Is there
to-day, accompanied by his wife aud
children. The life in winter on Fire
Island is extremely lonesome. Commun-
ication with the main shore, across the
bay, Is only had few times a week, and
the lighthouse keeper aud his family and
the life. saving crew are the only neigh
bors Mr.. Kcegan has. The past year he
has been placed in telephonio communi-
cation with all the life-saving stations on
the south shore of Long leland.
1t doubtless seems to many people an
easy task-that of observing passing
steamers and telegrsphing the facts to
New York-but when one considers that
most OF the vessels are from fifteen to
eighteen miles away, and that many OF
them 90 by in the night time aud in fogs
and cloudy weather, then some idea can
be obtained of the skill and training
necessary to successfully perform this
work.
But once in all these years has Mr..
Keegan reported a wrong vessel Ho
was expecting certain steamer OF the
Bremen Line. Unknown to him new
steamer had been sent over in place OF
the regular one, aud it was very natural
that he should report the one which he
had every reason to expect would arrive.
The observatory is wooden building
about forty feet in height, and lies back
from the beach about two hundred feet.
1t is surrounded by waste of saud, aud
in the winter it is an extremely lonely
place. Bay Shore, about ten miles dis
tant, is the nearest point on the mainland.
The top room OF the town is the observa.
tory proper. II is suiuii room with
window. on the four sides aud lookout
aperture facing inward. On small
table is a telegraph Instrument, which Is
connected by wire direct with the West
ern Union Office in New York City. a
bookcase is well filled with standard
works, and upon the walls are pictures
of some o. tine best known ocean
steamers.
Mr.. Keegau las never been on board
OF one Of these steamers, and says he
doubts il he could recog gnize them If he
saw them passing through the Narrows.
His acluaintaucc with vessels comes from
n long range, and he has To make AN ex.
animation OF General outlines and details
sucn rs would escape the notice OF other
people. But ono" has he been able to
read the name OF passing vessel, and
that was few years ago when the
Amcriauo came within three miles Of the
shore.
Mr.. Kcegan keeps careful record OF
the departure OF all incoming steamers
also report. Of storms, adverse winds,
icebcrgs, and everything that would be
ap, to cause delay, and from his
knowledge Of a steamer average speed
lie approxlmatcs her arrival, and thus
fixes the time when il is ncces, ary for
him TO be on the watch.
At night, all steamers, when opp 1site
Fire Island, send up signal. The signal
of the Inmau line is two blue and red
lights followed by a rocket showing blue
and red stars. The Cunard steamers
hurn :wo itoInan candles, showing six
blue balls These signals merely indi-
cate to what line the steamers belong.
To distinguish what particular vessel il
is careful observation of the side anG
stern lights has TO be made. 1t is often
with great difficulty that signals can be
seen at night. AS soon as steamer
comes in sight the observer must fix his
gaze steadily upon one of the lights uu-
til the signals are given. The work is,
of course, very tedious.
The signals in the daytime are given
by means of coIored flags, and at long
distance are very deceptive. Beyond a
few miles colors cannot be easily distin-
guished, so that the flag signals are gen
erally of little value. Mr.. kecgan de.
pends almost entirely upon the outline
Of the steamer, the position of the
smokcstack, cabins, lifcboats, smoke,
etc, and also upon the course of the
vessel.
For instance, on one Ol<cstack Of
| the Servia is n square white mark, while