The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-01
DECEPTIVE FOG SIGNALS.
Lieut.-Com. Merren Explains How At
nospheric Conditions May De.
feet Sounds.

fleet Sounds.
The following correspondence between
Secretary Merry, of the San Francisco
Chamber OF Commerce and Lieut. Com
mander Merreli. inspector Thirteenth
lighthouse district, relating to the loss Of
the steamship Umatilla and the claim OF
the officers of that vessel that the Point
Wilson fog siren was not In operation the
morning OF the Umatilla wreck. Is self
explanatory:
Editor of the Daily Commercial News
Sir: send herewith the letter OF Lieut..
Inspector Of the Thirteenth lighthouse
district, which Is self-explanatory. Also.
please find inclosed q clipping from the
Oresonians which y valuable In this con-
a warning TO navigators that steam fog
signals are entirely unreliable? Nothing
can be more conducive TO the stranding OF
pendenee on fog whistle or siren which
may be at work as per regulation. and
still be inaudible to the navigator. II Is
fog signal had ever been established at
the location from which he is awaiting
the warning. Respectfully yours.
WILLIAM l.. MERRY.
Secretary and Treasurer Chamber OF
Lighthouse Establishment.
Office OF the Lighthouse Inspector.
Portland Or, Oct. "a. 1896.
Chamber of Commerce. San Francisco.
Cai.-Gentlemen. I beg to acknow ledge
the receipt OF your communication OF oc-
tober IS. and In reply thereto l have to
state that you have been misinformed re-
garding the fog whistle at Point Wilson.
Having seen the reports in the public
not in Operation ITO at the time Of the unfof-
tuuate wreck OF the Umatiila, ! immedi-
ately investigated the matter and have
.ssus s shas Ths keeper
at Point Wilson has been long In the
service and has earned and merits the
ported statement that the signal was In
operation would have great weight with
me. but fortunately In this instance he 10
abundantly supported by trustworthy Wit
nesses.
In this connection would call your at
fention TO the inclosed cutting from the
Oregonian OF October Is:
"A circumstance which might help to
bear out the assertion that the fog horn
on Point Wilson was sounding the morn
Ing the steamship UmAtiiia was wrecked
occurred Friday about noon. As the Flyer
10 Tacoma. she ran through several belts
of fog. many OF which were not over 20
or 30 yards through When she was
Robineon's point she came out Of fog
hank and could see tho light station and
fog horn on the point quite clearly. and
large steam whistle. but no sound reached
the pilot house. Capt. Jordison called bis
pilots attention 10 the matter, and both
whistle for several blasts. but no sound
reached the boat When about quarter
OF mile from the point. and while the
worked az per regulation. as 4, had been
since tho station was visible the full
sound OF the large whistle Immediately
struck the boat. the echo reboundins TO
a. eli IA to H1-
ferrnine Is where did the sound go tor
Just how high II went above the steamer
cannot be estimated I. may have been
In some manner DETECTED by the fog bank
fust little TO the southwest OF the sta
ton. As the strange phenomenon lasted
for fully two minutes. and for space Of
half a mile of distance. II must prove
that sound from any kind OF whistle may
be made and yet ships within certain
radius. on account OF ai1ioSpneElc con-
eitionS. be unable 10 hear IL.
The conditions therein mentioned are by
no means unusual All seafaring men are.
or should be aware that the range OF au-
dibility of all fog signals IL subject 10 as
Vet unexplained and eccentric variations.
and thai the failure 10 distinguish the
sound OF signal from position where
ore woaid ordinarily expect to hear IL is
anything bgt conclusive evidence that the
| signal is not IN operation. In this connec-
| ton would respectfully refer YOU to a
| publication 81 the lighthouse board en-
titled. THE Modern Lighthouse Service"
There was an abundant SUPPLY OF water
at Point wilson AZ the time the Cmatiiia
Was wrecked some i4.a gallons having
beer delivered at tire station on Septezn Der
- On which date the supply III the ctstsrns
WAS reduced 20 foUr feet. an amount
which the keeper Is instructed 10 keep al
WIS In reserve.
Both this year and last year. owing 10
ar unusual lack Of rain and the occur
renee 81 more than the average number Of
hours Of FOG during the months Of August.
September ard Oct oAer. IL has been nee
e<SaTy 10 transport water 10 most 90 TIE
fog stgrsl stations on PugeS sound, par
ttcz1}Aray tAns@ on the south shore Of the
Straits OF Juan de Fuca- Last rear I, was
necessary IN some cases 20 order thar ire
signals be sounded AZ Intervals eafy. TAX
Ing sp their regular characteristic. as pub
ashet In the light Ess. whenever vessel q
whistle Vas heard 81 the vicinity. This
| year. rrcfsstng by the experiences OF NV
predecessor | have been able se keep az,
ard there has been no interruption OF TIA
signals In AIRY case
That the water surrfy At the Sound sta
~tc-s >acuit h~ increased and II rrar.t-
ca bic. ne made independent % the annual
rainfall cannot be questioned
STEPS 20 remedy this defect zre urs.er
consideration tn fact experiments fs,sir~
10 the rendering the water smrrlv .nsa
pendent OF the rainfall have already bee,
srxsersSf The IigrsAcuee hcarxs - rsrIfx
aware Of the situation and. DOUBTLESS Nas
3nss Appreciation os the necessities 81
tire case.
yrr6er IRE circumstances II Z. ns,s-.,,,
whether anv action on the part OF ve.c.r
association Is necessary.
] arr. gentlemen, very respectfully YOURS
JOHN p. AERREY.ys
Lieutenant Commander T. & "