Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-13

the treachery Of its lurking shoals are
by-word in the mouth of every deep sea
sailor. 1t Is here that the government
has just set the new and powerful light
ship, No. r. stanchest Of its kind, to warn
ships from the invisible perils OF the
coast
The dangers of Hatteras are generally
unseen. Even In fine weather the water
at high tide entirely concealS the reefs of
jagged rock upon which many a ship has
beaten herself to pieces. But fine weather
is rare thereaboutS. Seldom does the sun
rise clear upon the low sand spit running
far out into the ocean. Every storm that
reaches the coast seems to seek out Hat
teras for the display of It's greatest vio-
lence. During a northeast or southeast
gale its rocky seaward stretching hedges
turn the ocean currents into vortex; and
then there Is no spot in the oceans of the
world more to be feared Tremendous
cross-seas rise and sweep the waters for
many miles out to sea A real Hatteras
storm often extends its influence between
200 and 800 miles outward.
Dangerous Place.
If the reefs Of Hatteras were situated at
different point on the coast line the cape
would not have it's evil reputation. But
they lie in wait at the most easterly point
along the coast. and vessels bound to and
fro between southern ports and such cities
as New York and Philadelphia, as well as
the fleet Of steamships which load at gulf
cities for Europe and coal at Norfolk and
Newport News. must pass close by. The
cape Is also close to the direct route be-
tween south Atlantic ports and Great Bril-
tain, and If a ship captain loses his reck-
oning even by a few miles, he is liable to
come dangerously near it.
Since the first American monitor went
to the bottom OF the sea on Cape Hat
teras hundreds OF crafts, from the fishing
smacks to the liner. have been its victims.
and thousands of lives have been lost in
its stormy waters. Realizing this constant
menace to the navigator, the government
has spent millions OF dollars trying to find
something which will give suitable warn
ing to ships.
Time and again light houses have been
planned and the work gotten well under
way. but sooner or later, often after
sands have engulfed the most solid founda-
lions. and sometimes a single night of
storm has demolished the structure. Float
ing buoys of various kinds have been tried,
away. After careful consideration the
United States light house board decided to
have q light ship constructed which would
be strong enough to Withstand the heaviest
seas, and provide illumination which could
be seen at a long distance on the stormiest
night.
The first ship tried wasn't strong
enough The artillery OF the seas was too
much for her, and one night she was torn
from her moorings and landed high and
dry on the beach, the crew just escaping
with their lives.
The New Light Ship.
Number Y had Just been finished and
was sent direct to Hatteras. She Is much
larger than the other vessel, and the work
men in the yards at Quincy, Mass, where
she was built. had orders to put the best
material into the hull and machinery, and
to take time enough to drive every bolt
and every rivet home. She is 112 feet In
length and quite shallow, being about 20
feet in depth. The hull made of the best
steel, Is divided into five water-tight COM
partments by bulkheads of the same mate
rial, SO that IL the water should I'll three
Of these the other two would keep her
afoat.
Partly to strengthen her hull she is pro-
vfded with three decks, built almost as
strongly as those of a warship, In order to
resist the tremendous strain when rocking
in the waves. The quarters for the cap
tain, officers and crew are on the main
deck. while the coal bunkers and other
supplies are below. As the officers and
men must remain sometimes for five and
six weeks without seeing any one or being
relieved, the government has tried to make
their surroundings as homelfke as possible
Steam heat and electric lights are pro-
-yided In each cabin and the furniture, car