The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
LIGHTsHIP ON DIAMOND suoA1.
she Will show Tive Powerful Electric Lights
ana Have n Fog siren.

WASHINGTON, sept. o.-Tho Lighthouse Board
has sent broadcast to mariners a notice that
within three weeks the dangerous Diamond
Shoal, of Cape Hatteras. will be marked by
q lrst.class vessel. bearing two power
full electric masthead lights and n fog
siren that will blow q blast audible twelve
miles in the heaviest weather. The location
of this ship, however, by no means ends the dis
cussion by members of the board as to the prac-
ticability Of tho experiment, and there
are a number Of officers on 1t who think
the placing a vessel there is hazardous
in the extreme, and will place in
jeopardy the lives Of every man on board of her.
The most outspoken Of these members is Fight.
ing Bob Evans. who for years was naval sec
rotary Of the board. and who has opposed tho
establishment OF Il light vessel off Hattcras for
years as perilous and an entirely experimental
undertaking.
Capt. Evans believes that q big lighthouse
should be constructed on the shoal, and ex-
presses tho opinion that no light vessel could 10
moorod there which would stand the terrific
poundings Of tho seas.
There IL no chain that can be forged" no
said this evening. that will hold No. 80 on
Diamond shoal for any lcnRth of time. There Is
a current at Diamond Shoal which sends tho
sands shifting around at n terrific rate and In
q snort time Will cut any Cnaln, OF weaken
1t 30 that the first heavy gallo will
cause 1t to part. When that happens
the Diamond Shoal lightship will almost
certainly drift ashore and the sixteen mon on
her will be lost. / have seen n buoy chain on
that ehoal worn as bright as nickel, and SO thin
that you could part II with q slight blow. In my
opinion this experiment Of tho Government will
prove costly
Admiral Walker, when President of tho
board two years ago. also opposed the estab-
lishment OF u light vessel on the shoal, and the
army men have TO n man favored. the building
OF a great lighthouse: Capt. Wilde; the present
weather the gales OF ,Hatteras as well as that
does of South Shoal, and he is willing to bet
that No. 90 viii prove a success. Congress
for the lighthouse. and a majority of the board,
therefore, decided to try a lightship.
Tho now vessel will be the most powerful ever
built for the service. She wall be anchored in
fi5s $ ' .si Ire 5s'snls eds a'' ,o4sr T s'ffnihi 1 ,Rs
water decpens to loo fathoms. She will
lanterns encircling each masthead. a fixed white
light for twelve seconds duration. followed by
an eclipse OF twelve seconds. In each lantern
light. These lights will be fifty.scven feet above
the water, and on n clear night should be visi-
bic thirteen miles.
Provision has been made in case the electric
without eclipse will burn. No. 90 has a flush,
deck. two masts. u smoke pipe, and fog signal
bet wee masts. Her hull will bo painted red.
with the words diamond shoal' in large white
letters on each side.
During thick or foggy weather a l2-inCh steam
chime whistle will sound blasts OF five seconds
duration. separated by silen: intervals OF forty
five seconds.
II 69 weathers tho gales this winter the Light
house Board will be satisfied that the expert
ment is a success.