The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-23
Leads North Carolina Daiiesm Newsstand Circulation

was blown ashore in a great storm and
lost with all on board. Other lightships
have met with the same fate 1t has been
so difficult to maintain them that re-
peated attempts have been made to build
a lighthouse on the reef, but no structure
that human skill can devise has thus far
been able to survive the terrific force of
the waves that are blown up by the West
India hurricanes that come from the
caribbean Sea in the spring and fall of
the year.
Three or four years ago the lighthouse
board designed plan for a skeleton
structure of steel that would offer as lit
tie resistance as possible to the waves
and winds. and be fastened by bolts run
ming thirty three feet into the rocks of
the reef. The light was to be 100 feet
above the waves. The contract made the
builders responsible for year If their
lighthouse survived that long the govern
ment was to pay for it. If not, they were
to receive no compensation. They built
big caisson 100 feet square, loaded it
with stone and sunk it on the reef, but
storm swept it away within twenty-four
hours. They tried again and again, and
after wasting a years work and 500, 900
they gave up the job and the idea of
building a stationary lighthouse was
abandoned.
WELL FURNISHED WITH SUPPLIES.
Lightship No. SO was supposed to be
capable of resisting any kind of an attack
from the elements. She was the stoutest
craft ever built, as stout as the whalers
that go into the Arctic ices, and was held
to her place by an immense mushroom
anchor, but nevertheless-as / have al
ready told you-a storm tossed her ashore
as if she was shingle. The lighthouse
engineers were surprised at her fate, and
then went to work to build bigger and
heavier lightships, which are known as
''No. II" and ono. r." They are built
of thick steel plates, lis feet long and Is
feet deep, with three decks. and are di-
vided by hulkheads into five compartments
so that if they should be stove in or
spring a leak at any part they would
still feat. They cost SIS, 900 each. The
berthrooms, living-rooms and galley are
comfortably furnished and well warmed
to withstand the cold gales of winter. The
entire stowage capacity is filled with
coal and other supplies, so that they can
maintain themselves indefinitely.
Rising from the main deck are two
hollow steel masts carrying wires for six
| 100-candle power electric lights, 100 feet
above the water, which are the most pow
erful displayed by any lightship in the
! world, and are visible for a distance of
eighteen miles. The electrical apparatus
is reinforced by old-fashioned oil lamps,
! TO be used in case of breakdown. There
| is also siren attached to the whistle for
use during fogs. The machinery and the
| engines are all duplicated as a precauton.
| The ship is kept under steam constantly,
| and can move about with her own pro-
peller and run away from danger if likely
| to be overwhelmed.
! SERVICE ATTRACTIVE TO SAILORS.
| These vessels remain at their post
three months at a time, for that is as
| long as, the crews can endure it. The
| intervening three months are spent in
| Norfolk harbor, making repairs, slowing
away coal and supplies and recovering
| from fatigue and exposure. The officers
| and sailors, however, are always on duty
| to answer an emergency call for if g
vessel should report no light upon the
| Diamond Shoals they would start at once
| to see what was the matter Notwith-
| standing the terrible strain upon the sail
ors and the dangers to which they are
| constantly subjected positions aboard the
! lightships are sought with an eagerness
| that is remarkable. There are always a
number of applications on file from sail
ors who would like to spend their lives
/ that way.
WILLIAM e. CURTIS.