The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-07-11
ENoLANp's LlcHTsHlPs.
rhere Arc Fifty-six Scattered Along the
Britain Coast.

ahere Arc Flfty-Six Scattered Along 1ns
British Coast.
There are no less than Sc lightships
or floating lights anchored of the coasS
of Great Britain. Ireland, Man. the Sciiiy
md the Channel islands, and there may
be some more which have been aoueu
since the last official revision OF ths
list. K lightship is, as the name in'
niles. a stout built vessel. strengthened
70 resist the CONSTANT beating OF the
waves. which is moored in the open sea
~ the end of some shoal or shallow
or in the neighborhood of some danger
Gus rock, in order that the beacon wnisn
II exhibits may warn mariners Oh Inc
peril.
A good number of these lightships are
anchored off the stormy and rocky
south and west coasts oil ireland III
the most desolate situation that can 70
conceived. The official account OF the
saltecs floating light, for instance, de-
scribes IL as Eight vessel in 80 fathoms
off Conjngbeg rock southermost OF
Saltee islands," The floating lights on
the Arklow bank are described as "hghc
vessels in rs fathoms two miles from
sand of bank" and slight vessel IN 10
fathoms. from N. end OF bank Q. r. oy
e. one-half L. three and one-quarter
miles"
There is kind of livery peculiar
to lightships by which they can be rec
ognized in the day. 1t admits OF rev
variations, but they are slight. Inc
South Arklow light has black null.
ornamented with white stripe. IL
carries three masts, and there Is a device
/ representing half globe overa globe at
the mainmast head.
Nv night the lightship exhibits either
fixed light, which is always visible.
or else revolving one, which acts IKE
searchlight and sweeps the entire
range of the horizon in the course OF
minnie. or 20 seconds, according to cir.
cumstances.
These floating lights are all under the
control of the corporation OF the Trim
!. ify house. which stations, repairs ana
, inspects them, collects the dues which
are intended for their maintenance, and
) paws the men who are in charge OF them.
The Seven Stone lightship, which has
3 all the latest Trinity house improve
!. ments. is moored off the Lands End,
e at AZ fathoms, by mushroom anchor
e weighing 40 hundredweight, and Sl5
t fathoms of 1H-inch chain cable. In
/ the event of her breaking adrift she Is
y provided with sails. The cost OF her
# fully equipped for sea, with her IAN
t. tern and her fog-signaling apparatus
L Ia siren), was about a9,5oo.
l. These lightships are manned, as
Is rule. by two men, who are supplied with
y stock of provisions for two months
at the end of which time they are visited
he inspected and reprovisioned, ana also
rr with a surplus in case the weather
1e should render it impossible to come out
vs. to them. This precaution is wise one
u for the business of running alongsiof
is or sending a boat to lightship is DIM
p cult enough at any time, owing to tnS
w dangerous nature of its position and u
he the persistent wash of the waves; bu
OF in stormy weather there is considerable
re danger. and cases have been known
is when men have been reduced to thei
last ration before it was possible TO ge
er near enough to effect n transfer o.
'e- means of jibboom.
er. The man intrusted with this pos
no. must be superior to the ordinary sea
at man. He must have certain amount
,or knowledge as an engineer, in order tina
IN he may be able to attend to the machine
his that work the light, and also TO max
ted any slight repairs that may be II
\. ouired. He must have some knowieog
of the glaciers art, for the panes
? the lantern are sometimes broken Q
the force of the waves, or by soone
,be hurled up at them, and he must De an
to replace the damaged ones with spal
dia ones, which are kept on board.
to A rood deal of clerks work falls
rial his lot. He has to keep accounts.
Iec- las also to keep regular log, or da
the book. in which he enters reports OF u
ack weather, of the ships that pass, OF az
eep events of interest, and any irregular1ti
hey which may happen. Sometimes his u
adv includes an account of a shipwreck.
in Light dues are demanded from shi
,ay. that go that way, but they are coiiect
suf- at the nearest port, not at the lightsnl
.nt- AS rule the men take aiterna
net watches at the light, one awake ana
aui- other asleep. If the light is revoivil
ma one it goes by clockwork. Inns mas
ex- be wound up, and then it goes autom'
tied ically until it runs down, which eve
ina is announced by bell. During !
rms day their time is practically free-or
loss both must not leave the hghtship
ink the same time. There are the meals
Iari- be got ready, clothes to be mend
rtly the decks to be sluiced, lines to be
rom tended to, the weather to be obser'
sted and the log to be kept. There is b
one which can be used for fishing purpos
zion AS rule the life of lightship keel
ma is a very desolate one. The post
lent long intervals brings him letters and
r of occasional newspaper. Lately me
our ment has been started by the edito'
Truth TO supply lighthouse and ha
ship men with old newspapers, ant
has been taken up by number
!. ladies. Packets of newspapers are
imp to the Trinity agent of the nearest p
lcel' and forwarded when convenient.
ioop fe*<.~~ which the men have writer