Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-09-17
LIGHTHOUSES IN WAR.
How They Can He Used TO Lure an Ensmy-s
ships TO Destruction,

ships TO Destruction,
The lighthouse keeper has his spec
ial duties in times OF war. and Il IS in
his power 10 render valuable service
20 his country's cause. The e1tln-
gushing Of the Lights in the bay was
the beginning Of a policy which was
outlined early in March by the Light
house Board.
Al that time general instructions
were issued 20 the keepers OF the light
houses ordering them TO famillarlze
themselves and their assistants with
all the requirements incident TO the
exlgencles OF war. The extinguishlng
OF the shore lights will be a last re-
sort. as the extensive commerce OF for
elgn merchant vessels would be ser
iously interfered with by H. The or
der TO put out these lights will only
come in case OF actual danger OF in
vaslon by foreign men-of-war.
In considering the various means by
which the lighthouse keeper can rem
der service In war time. Il ls necessary
70 know something OF the lights them
selves. In every lighthouse station
the beacon has some characteristic
with which the mariner Is familiar. or
which he may readily recognize by an
examination OF his chart. In some
cases the beacon is a fixed. white light
which never changes. but sends Us rays
far out TO sea. where the watehful pilot
recognizes Il at a glance.
Other lights change from red 10
white. or the reverse. or show a disk.
one side OF which Is white and the
other red. The approaching mariner
knows az once 10 what direction he
should steer. II the red light Is on
the right and the white on the left
side Of the disk. he knows that by
keeping to the left he will find a safe
channel. while dangerous shoals await
him In the opposite direction. OF
course. Il Ia obvious that the light
house keeper by reversing the Colors
on the disk could do inestimable dam
age to unfrlendly vessels In all such
cases II Is obvious that our own ma
riners must be warned In time Of the
changes contemplated.
Other lighthouses have a beacon
flashing white at regular intervals.
Thus the characteristic OF the light az
Fire Island Is zone fash every min
ute" II this we're changed. 10 that
the light would fash only once In two
minutes. the mariner would be as
badly on as II there were no light az
all With the idea In his head that
be had reached a point near Fire Is
land, the unusual signal would signify
10 him that his calculations were
wrong. and that no was In an entirely
different locality
Another means BY which the pilot
gauges bis location Is the distance OF
visibility OF the light. Shlnnecock
Light. for example. Is a fixed white
light situated on Panquogue Point. on
the north side OF shinnecock Bay. l..
l.. one mile from the line OF sea beach
and about midway between nontauE
Point and Fire Island light stations.
II Is visible ut distance OF iSA nau-
teal miles. Now. II Il we're known
that an enemy's ship were approach
ing, the light could be screened 10 as
not 10 be visible at all or to be visible
at a half or quarter Of the usual dis
lance. The vessel might thus be led
Into a trap before is pilot realized his
proximity 10 the dangerous coast
The changing Of fog signals has also
been contemplated as an effective
means Of decelylng the enemy, II Is
the opinion Of those most familiar
with tho subject. however, that In
cases Of actual invasion OF our waters
BY the enemy's ships the signals would
BE- discontinued altogether.
The characteristics OF FOG signals are
Indicated by the length Of blasts aud
the intervals at which they are given.
and 10 is thought that changes might
be misleading even To- our own pilots.
Looking ~ the Ratings.
$50 that young man wants % marry
fou?' said Mabels father.
Yes was the reply.
do you know how much his salary
-"
NO; but It's an awfully strange CO.