Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-11

NEW LIGHTSHIP
To be Placed on Guard at the
Dreaded Diamond Shoals.
She VIII be the staunchcst and tho Dost
Equipped Vessel OF Ior Glass Ever
Constructed Will be OH Her Station
Next Month.

Extending out into the Atlantic
ocean for IL miles and parallcling the
cape Hattcras coast for u considerable
distance are the much dreaded Ola
mond Shoals, upon which the Gov
eminent once contemplated placing a
Sl,Ooo.0O0 lighthouse and on which sew
eral Intellectual attempts were made at
such construction. There for three
years a light-vesscl has successfully
ridden out many of the severest gales
sweeping that part of the ocean.
breaking away occasionally. but al
ways managing to m &c safe harbor
except In one instance. when she
I ana was hauled off much
damaged. 1t had been proved that a
hght 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 mark
Ing the treachcrous shallow spot. Nov,
new iight-Ship is to be located there
designed to hold no matter how tho
WINDS blow and the seas run and. If
lnere ~ enough bottom. always to
WIZ ,iShtly TO her anchor. This yes
sci VIII soon be completed and Is ia
De stationed off IIatteras next month.
one VIII be steam propeller and
Sicctrlc llShted. and when finished will
L.
OF her kind ever launched.
WHAT SHE WILL LOOK LIKE.
The Government contract calls for n
craft III feet in length and a dcpth
OF over 10 feet with throc d.n,,e tbc
main and spar deck running the full
iehSth OF the ship, while the lower
Geek Is broken by the forward coal
bunker and the after bulkhead of the
engine ROOM The hull will be divided
1,,,t1. Z.
compartments and the quarters and
storcrooms are so arranged as 20 meat
ali requirements of safety ana comfort
me accommodations OF this vessel are
~ ne Onward of the main deck. There
VIII De two hollow steel mnsts.
through which will be run the WIRING
OF the flashlights to throw RAYS many
miles TO sea. These lights three I'm
huillbcr on each mast. are to re adapt
ca 10 both electricity and oil. the latter
being used I'm the vent the dvnnmos
fail to operate. The clustcr-mast head \
lights VIII be 30 feet above the water
line. These lights will be the most
powerful displayed from any lich,shin
Aiioat ana should be seen at least lS
miles distant. The cluster Will consist
or six 100 candle power 100 volt iamps
ana they will be controlled hy nm auto
matte flashing device driven by q belt
from the dynamo shaft. Steam is 10
re supplied the vessel. which is TO have
SUFFICIENT power to take care of herself
and make harbor IL by chance her
cables part.
HER MoORING TACKLE
When No. -. as she is now officially
known, is on her station off IIatteras
her moorinS tackle will comprise "A
heavy mushroom anchor shacklcd To Il |
chain which leads through the main |
hawser hole i'm the stem of the ship to
IL steam windlass. In addition to this |
mooring tackle the vessel will have a |
200 pound harbor anchor. kedee |
weighing $40 pounds and $50 fathoms !
or k-inch stud-lirk chain with n |
breaking strength OF 10000 pounds
Amidships. on either beam, viii be !
swung two whalcboats of about - feet
length ana 1 fee, beam. The spar deck !
IS protected by n gradually rising steel |
wait. harins somewhat at the knight !
heads until at the stem proper ii has |
a depth Of five feet. In addition to the |
steam whistle the lightahip is provided |
with steam siren for use in thick |
and foggy weather
No lightship constructed will be |
more complete ana none perform such |
important duties. y large crew will |
care for the vessel and see that the |
lights burn properly every night and |
that the whistles arc in order
Members Of The Lighthouse Service |
are confident that this vessel will hold I
her ground ana that a very stiff blow |
Will be necessary TO cause her anchor |
chains to part No. - will be painted |
n snow white and in large black let !
ters on her side will be these words:
Diamond Shoal I.lghtship."