Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-22
ELECTRIC BEACON SHIP.
Description of New Vessel De-
signed For Diamond Shoals.
WILL BE PROPELLED BY STEAM.

Lights of the New Craft Which Is to
Defy the Gales and Seas on Hat
terss VIII De the Most Powerful
Displayed From Any Lightship
AAoat-Her Fine Equipments.
Extending out into the Atlantic
ocean for 13 miles and paralleling the
Cape Hatteras coast for a consider
able distance are the much dreaded
Diamond shoals, upon which the gov
ernment once contemplated placing a
S1,OO0,OOO lighthouse and on which
several Intellectual attempts were
made at such construction. There for
three years u light vessel has success
fully ridden out many of the severest
gales sweeping that part of the ocean,
breaking away occasionally, but always
managing to make safe harbor except
In one instance, when she beached and
was hauled off much damaged. 1t had
been proved that a light vessel could
stand the shifting sands and the heavy
blows, but the experience of the first
vessel put there showed that another
kind was more suited to the dangerous
task of marking the treacherous shall
low spot. Now a new lightship Is to
be located there designed to hold no
matter how the winds blow and the
seas run, and, If there is enough bot
tom, always to swing tightly to her
anchor, says the Washington CORE
spondent of the Baltimore Sun. This
vessel will soon be completed and Is
to be stationed off Hatteras In August.
She will be n steam propeller and cleo
trio lighted, and when finished will be
one of the first, if not the only one, Of
her kind ever launched.
The government contract calls for
n craft 112 feet in length and a depth
of over 10 feet, with three decks, the
main and spar decks running the full
length of the ship, while the lower
deck is broken by the forward coal
bunker and the after bulkhead of the
engine room. The hull will be divid-
ed by water tight steel bulkheads into
five compartments and the quarters
and storerooms are so arranged as to
meet all requirements of safety and
comfort.
The accommodations of this vessel
are to be forward of the main deck
There will be two hollow steel masts,
through which will be run the wiring
Of the masthead flashlights to throw
rays many miles to sea. These lights,
three in number, on each mast, are to
be adapted to both electricity and oil,
the latter being used in event the dyna-
mos fail to operate. The cluster mast
headlights will be so feet above the
water line. These lights will be the
most powerful displayed from any
lightship afoat and should be seen at
least IS miles distant. The cluster will
consist of six 100 candle power 100 volt
lamps, and they will be controlled by
an automatic flashing device driven by
n belt from the dynamo shaft Steam
Is to be supplied the vessel, which Is
to have sufficient power to take care Of
herself and make harbor If by chance
her cables part.
When No. 72, as she is now officially
known, Is on her station off Hatteras,
her mooring tackle will comprise a
heavy mushroom anchor shackled to a
chain which leads through the main
ho"SSi iOiC III oteIl VI tlt snip W
n steam windlass. In addition to this
mooring tackle the vessel will have a
1000 pound harbor anchor, a kedge
weighing $50 pounds and 100 fathoms
of 1S inch stud link chain with a
breaking strength of $4,000 pounds.
Amidships, on either beam, will be
swung two whaleboats of about 20
feet length and 6 feet beam. The spar
deck is protected by gradually rising
steel wait flaring somewhat at the
knightheads until at the stem proper
1t has depth of five feet. In addition
to the steam whistle the lightship is
provided with a steam siren for use in
thick and foggy weather.
No lightship constructed will be more
complete and none perform such i'm
portant duties. A large crew will care
for the vessel and see that the lights
burn properly every night and that the
whistles are in order.
Members of the lighthouse service
are confident that this vessel will hold
her ground and that very stiff blow
will be necessary to cause her anchor
chains to part. No. 70 will be painted
n snow white and in large black letters
on her side will be these words, "Dia-
mond Shoal Lightship."