The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-11
HOPES ANCHOR SUPERSEDED.
4 New Style Has Been Invented
Which Is CrOwding II Out.
Chicago Record.

For hundreds. perhaps thousands. OF
years the general shape of the anchor has
remained unchanged. The one found In
the woods of West India island and sup
posed TO have been brought over from
Spain by Christopher Columbus differs
little from those in use at the present day,
though somewhat longer in the shank.
The appearance OF the oid-style anchor
is familiar To every one, but the details Of
its operation, which Is not so simple as IL
seems. may not be so Well known. Ii con-
sLSts of a long, straight shank bearing AZ
its end two recurved branches, or arms,
called the flukes. Each fluke is broadened
at its outer end into shape somewhat
resembling that OF the wei-known ace OF
spades. At the other end of the shank is
"a ring, TO which the cable Is attached. and
Just below the ring Is "a straight cross
piece. caHed the stock, longer than the
fiukes, and at right angles 10 them. Now.
as the fiukes and the stock are NJ right
angles to each other it follows that they
cannot both lie fiat on the ground at the
same time. and as the stock is the longest
IL generally assumes "A recumbent position
and the fukes are forced 10 stand upon
end. one pointing up into the air or the
water and the other downward into the
ground. As soon as the strain comes upon
the cable the fiuke which Is pointing down
ward strikes into the sand. mud or gravel
OF the bottom, just as plowshare strikes
into the ground when the horses start.
The only use OF the stock IS 10 keep the
fiukes in Il position where they viii bite
instantly when the strain comes.
The device Is ingenious, but has some
serious defects Perhaps the worst OF
these is that one OF the fiukes or one end
of the stock is always pointing upward
and that the cable is liable 10 catch upon
il and turn the anchor around so that the
fiukes viii not catch and the anchor VIII
drag Its unwieldiuess ia another objec-
tionable feature for. with the stock point
ing in one direction and the fiukes In an
other, a large heavy anchor IS one or the
most unwieldy objects imaginable. IT Is
sometimes so constructed that when not
In use the stock can be folded against the
side Of the shank, but even then IL - one
OF the most inconvenisHt and unhandy
articles In the vessels equipment, and IL -
fortunate that the sailors Of the lake
marine are so seldom called upon 10 make
use Of their ground tackle
Last fall. however. an anchor was pat
ented that does away with all these dis
advantages. and already IL has been
adopted by some of the largest vessels on
the lakes II has no stock and can be
slowed by hauling In the cable until the
shank = drawn mp into the hawser pipe.
leaving only the head and gukes project
ing and these lying fiat against the side
OF the vessel The head and fukes are
cast in one solid piece and attached 70 the
shank bv q ball and sock-t Joint. which
permits them to rotate freely for certain
distance i'm any direction. Thus when the
anchor 81 dropped 10 the bottom IL lies fat
upon the ground and there are no project
ing parts for the cable 10 catch upon. As
soon as the strain comes the aukes turn
downward tin they form an angie % about
- degrees with the shank. and strike into
sb- ground Just as the blade Of hoe VIII
strike into soft sand when drawn forward
by the handle In the old anchor only one
ruke took hold at a time. bat IN the new
one both work together, giving much
greater holding power
LIoyd's shipping register gives table
showing thaf a sailing yacht or three TO
i've tons requires z9-pound bower and
ss-pouua stream anchor. while one Of 10 10
70 ton. should be provided with bs.er
weighing IL pounds ard stream anchor
% ~ pounds a fisherman who has made
a practical test states that Iz-poHnd an
Choir o. the new type will bold an ls-ton
boat In tlaewater and that Il Is entirely TOO