The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-07
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
LION IHOJS SIC TENDER WISTARIA
ARRIVES FROM CHARLESTON.

She Is on Her Regular Trim Soutb
From Charleston Inspecting Light
Houses and Supplying Them with
Oils and Observation-Disclosures of In
cal Interest in Connection with
Naming the VesseI-Nhatters of In
terest to Shippers and Mariners,
AT the foot of Bull street is the govern
ment light house tender Wistaria, Can't.
Brown, which arrived yesterday from
Charleston on her regular trip South. The
object of the trip is to supply and inspect
light houses along the coast. Large guam
titles of supplies are distributed yearlt
by vessels of the light house establish
ment, and the important part of the
coast the Wistaria looks after enables her
to distribute her share.
While the officers and men of the Wis
taria were glad enough to spend the
night in the city, the main object of their
visit is to inspect the range lights between
Fig Island and the City Exchange. Com
mander Rogers inspected the big beacon
light on the Exchange tower yesterday.
This light is watched after by the gov
eminent. and the fact that it furnishes
the range 70 the city from Fig Island.
about one and a half miles below. ex.
plains the Importance of keeping it in
proper trim at all times.
The recent storms along the coast
might lead TO the conclusion that consid-
cradle damage had been done the va
rious light houses, but this is reported by
the officers of the Wistaria not to be the
A wi
houses inspected have been found in good
condition, and those in charge of them
have proven to be prompt and attentive
in the discharge of their duties. 1t can
not always be told when the inspections
will be made, and for this reason keepers
have to be in readiness for their superiors
who may drop around at any time.
Capt. Henry Brown of the Wistaria, is
one of the Oldest officers in the light
/ house service. He is familiar with every
nook and crook in the coast from
Charleston, south. Visitors on board this
| vessel are always welcomed, and in the
course of numerous inquiries generally
made he relates an incident in connection
| with the naming of his vessel, which has
some local interest. 1t may not be gen,
| orally known that Admiral Dewey was
/ down this way in 1874, or thereabout, but
such was the case according to Capt
! Brown. At that time the Admiral was a
1 member of the light house board, and was
acting as its secretary, which put him in
charge of the eStablis hment. The story
goes that the Admiral was strolling out
| Bull street with an officer who accom-
! panied him to Savannah. Dewey's atten-
! ton was attracted by "A cluster of vista
ria clinging to the side Of a house
| What is that flower called?' asked
| Dewey
"Wistaria," replied the officer 80 nam
ed for Caspar Wistar, the American an
/ atomist."
That's the name of the new light
! house tender" exclaimed Dewey. and IL
| was so named
The Wistaria was built at Wilmington,
! Del, for the government in 1882. and is
| said to have been nearing completion at
| the time Dewey was here.
! The trip of inspection South will be
| continued. The Wstaria will leave early
| to-day for light houses along the coast
| between this port and Brunswick.
! Steamship Ponce Capt Dyer. which ar
rived at New York from Porto Rico
points 9TH, reports that on outward pass
| age, Jan. is, lat. q 20 long. IS 81 passed
! the derelict schooner Yale, (of New Hav-
en-, with a large hole stove in port quar-
! ter apparent from collision. Stumps OF
fore ana main masts standing, and span
ker boom with new sail attached lying
| on after house.
Steamer Winchester G}r), from Pensa-
cola for Yokohama. grounded on reefs
NV Of Bermuda during fog on Jan 20.
was towed off by tugs Britannia and Gla-
| disfen same day; vessel does not leak.
but has gone to dock yard for repairs to
machinery. Win be detained at Bermuda
until salvage claims are settled
savannah Almnnuc.
sun rises at $50 a. m. ana sets at 80
| p. N.