The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-26
ELECTRIC BEACON SHIP.
Description Of New Vessel De-
signed For Diamond Shoals.
WILL BE PROPELLED BY STEAM

Lights Of the New Craft Which IL 10
Defy the Gales and Seas on Hat
terns VIII BE the Most Powerful
Displayed From Any Lightship
Anoat-Hcr Fine Equipments.
Extending out into the Atlantic
ocean for l3 miles and parallellng the
Cape Iiattcras coast for n consider.
able distance are the much dreaded
Diamond shoals. upon which the gov.
eFnment once contemplated placing a
Sl,OOO.O00 lighthouse and on which
several Intellectual attempts were
made at such construction. There for
three years a light vessel has success.
fully ridden ont many Of the seyerest
gales sweeping that part of the ocean,
breaking away occasionally. but always
managing TO make safe harbor except
I'm one Instance, when she beachcd and
was hauled off much damaged. II had
been proved that a Hight vessel could
y
blows, but the experience Of the FIRST
vessel put there showed that another
kind was more suited TO the dangerous
task of marking the trcacherOus shall
low spot. Now a new llghtship is to
be located there designed to hold Nc
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
spondcnt Of the Baltimore Sun. This
vessel will soon be completed and Is
TO be stationed off ITatteras I'm August
She will be n steam propeller and elec.
trio lighted, aud when finished will be
one Of the first, If not the only one, Of
her kind ever launched.
The government contract calls for
a craft 1l2 feet I'm length and a depth
Of over II 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 dlyid-
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 10 be forward Of the main deck.
rr,I..,., ,r-UI L.. t,,-o b,f1,,t- atoaT tDoete
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 I'm event the dyna-
mos fail 10 operate The cluster mast
headlights will bee 80 feet above the
water line. These lights VIII be the
most powerful displayed from any
lightshlp nfloat 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
a 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 II by chance
her cables part
When No. -, as she Is now officially
known, IS on her station off IIatteras,
her mooring tackle will comprise a
heavy mushroom anchor shackled TO a
chain which leads through the main
hawser hole In the stem Of the ship to
a steam windlass. In addition to this
moOrlng tackle the vessel will have
. 600 pound harbor anchor, n kedge
weighing $50 pounds and 120 fathoms
OF rs inch stud link chain with
strength Of 10000 pounds.
Amldshlps, on either beam, will be
swung two whaleb0ats Of about 20
feet length and feet beam. The spar
deck is protected by gradually rising
steel wait, farlng somewhat at the
until at the stem proper
1t has a depth Of five feet. In addition
to the steam whistle the lightship is
provided with n steam siren for use In
thick and foggy weather.
No llghtship constructed will be mere
complete and none perform such Inn
portant duties. A large crew will care
for the vessel and see that the lights
burn properly every night and that the
are In order.
Members Of the lighthouse service
are confident that this vessel will hold
her ground and that a very stiff blow
will be necessary TO cause her anchor
chains to part. No. u will be painted
q snow white and in large black letters
on her side will be these words, "Dia. |