The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-19
WAS THE
BEACON OUT?
Such a Condition May Be
Responsible For the
McCarty Wreck. =

Shipping men at the port OF
Philadelphia are asking, "what is
the matter with the Harbor Of
Refuge at the Delaware Break
water7 Is it hoodooedl" 1t cer-
tainly would seem so from the story
which came from that locality yes
terday'
The wreck of tine schooner Har-
old ]. McCarty was described
Wednesday. The McCarty, mis-
led by the Grant beacon on the end
Of the new stone pile, which is
being built TO break the force of
the waves, went full upon the for
midable obstruction and was wreck
ed.
No one could explain the disas-
ter, as the light was burning. Judg-
ing from what happened around
the Breakwater THURSDAY night,
it is question whether its warm
ing beams. were shining constant
ly throughout the interval between
sunset and sunrise. Any number
ofsupcrstitious sailors can be found
who will swear that in their opin-
ion ghostly hands extinguished the
nocturnal illumination
Many a story has been written
of the Breakwater spectre, whose
manifestation in the form of ftful
light drew many ship from its
course.
Of late, however,the ghost has not
revealed himself, and nothing has
been amiss before the wreck OF
the McCarty.
This is what the Maritime Ex-
change put on its disaster book
yesterday:
Lantern on east end Of the
Harbor of Refuge exploded dur
ing night. Total loss. A tempo
rary red light will lie displayed un-
til new lantern can be procured"
On Thursday night the lantern
mentioned, which is Of the regula-
ton pattern apopted by the Light
house Board, and mounted on a
post 80 feet high, began to exhibit
strange vagaries.
Alternately it would flare up to
startling brillancy, and again di-
minish a fttul freely CLEAN, scarce
ly perceptible 100 yards out to
sea.
The keeper gazed at it anxious
ly. Visions of the wreck of the
yatch Rebecca, the loss OF the two
Steelman schooners and of the
Haroald' McCarty passed again
through his mind. He peered sea-
ward where in the gathering gloom
of early evening many vessels
could be seen struggling for
safe haven.
The beacon, however, continued
burning, and after watching it for
all hour, its custodian left the
scene. Scarcely an hour had pass
ed when the keeper. looking again
toward the end of the stone pile
saw inky blackness.
Now. the keeper affirms that the
light was out, and that in frantic
haste he jumped and ran over
the ragged rocks to relight it, In
momentary expectation of hearing
the resounding crash of some ves-
sci as it went on the fated rocks.
However before he got to the
lamp, it again commenced to burn
brightly. He carefully examined
it, and found it to be all right.
Again he commenced weary Wig
il, which lasted until nearly dawn,
and which was accompanied by
similar manifestations.
Within few minutes of the
breaking of the morning strange
thing occurred. With a startling
report the big beacon exploded,
showering the sea with missiles.
The keeper, thoroughly alarmed
gladly heralded the event Of the
suns first beams on those lonely
rocks.
An investigation later revealed
the fact that several schooners had
headed blindIy for the rock, but
their masters were wary, and le-
NAMED where they were when they
saw the eccentricities Of the sup
posed warning light.
Some curious explanations are
given for the disaster Of the lamp.
Secretary Stanwood. Of the Mari
time exchange, says, bad oil, l
guess" The old sailormen think
differently.
"Thay lights a liant" they say,
"and in its failure 10 lure ship
to destruction it blew itself up
when morning came for spite"