New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
rvFRICA HAS THE BIGGEST LIGHT IN THE WORLD
=, ASHES OUT IT'S RAYS THROUGH MODERN LENSES
on THE N4VESINK HIGHLANDS.

s as fS d 1er at the n wndGw sseamsa
That wave, destroyed the old dwelling and swept
The rock. | cannot think you would enjoy rernain-
sin; ana when asiated It's roar shuts os II svery
storm. even drowning our voices.
That spring Mr.. Burgess left the rock TO collect
his salary and secure needed provisions He was
prevented from returning by the weather. and the
supply Of food became short. Starvation staring
them in the face. the started alone for the
mainland In a small boat. He was not seen for
twenty-one days after hts boat disappeared over
The crest OF wave in the distance In the mean
time the mother and daughters were Obliged to
suhsst on a cup Of cornmeal and one egg each q
day. the same time in state OF uncertainty
about the safety OF the father and brother.
Through all this time Abbie cared for the light
and for her sick mother, by her cheerful spirit
keeping their spirits up. The father and re-
turned safely
A little romance grew out OF her knowledge OF
the operation OF lighthouses. When her father was
relieved from his duties in 1861 and Captain Grant
ard his 10 the rock TO take charge of the
lights Instructed them In the operation OF the
lights Later In the year she was married to the
She remained on the rock until 1875. then the
mother Of four children, when. a vacancy occurring
the White Head Light. Me. her husband WAS
appointed keeper and she his assistant They re-
manned there for many years.
The method of utilizing more than ono tower to
give light stations identifying characteristics is
expensive one il involves the operation OF more
than one light. besides keeping the house in re-
pair. BY the improvement OF lenses and the clock
work by which revolving lights are operated II has
been made possible greatly 10 vary the character
istics of the light. AS foundation there are tho
two colors white and red and the revolving ap
paratus. The variations fixed white combined
with white flash. a fixed red with red fash.
a fixed white with red flashes OF different num-
bers flashes with intervals Of different lengths,
combinations OF white and red flashes lights which
show white In certain directions and red In other
directions Several OF these combinati lions be
in New York Harbor and the neighborhood.
The well known light at the westerly end of Long
Island Sound on Execution Rock is a light which
flashes white. except in one sector in which the
flashes are red. The He'll Gate port light has
flashes Of three seconds duration. alternately
white and red The North Hook Beacon on Sandy
Hook has fixed white light, with fixed red
cables operating the electric huoys in the Gedney
and Bayside channels. Vessels are forbidden TO
anchor in the red light district The centre Of the
main ship channel leading into Salem Harbor is
marked on the water by stronger lght than that
panel greatly increasing its intensity being placed
At Montauk Point the main light is revolving
light. hXed red light placed in little balcony
The line of KEYS which fringe the Florida coast
from the Fowey Rocks to Dry Tortugas is marked
by continuous band of red light furnished by
whose rays intersect 4 vessel attempting 10
the danger line would be made aware OF the fact
at whatever point the attempt was made The re-
naming sectors Of the lights in some cases are
white, fixed OF flashing -
The Cape Charles light signals ~ every min
ute. There four flashes. followed by eclipse
OF six seconds and then I'VE flashes, followed by
n eclipse OF thirty-tWo seconds
The color OF a fixed revolving light which
does change is given by the color OF the chin
ney on The lamp within the lens. In cases where
a red light is 70 be thrown in given direction
piece OF red glass is placed In such position that
all the light thrown in that direction. whether
from a fixed revolving light, will pass through
it Whenever there IS TO he combination OF
white and red flashes, certain Of the panels, the
number being determined by the number OF red
flashes and their frequency, are covered with red
glass. which moves with the revolving lens The
interval between the flashes is determined by the
speed with which the lens is carried around. The
flashes not separated by dark panels one
might imagine. The separation is due 10 the form
OF the lenses. which concentrate the rays passing
though a given panel and project them IN a single
beam instead Of scattering them throughout the
entire which would be covered by fixed light
from that panel. These beams. therefore,
brilliant than those from fixed light.
The lighthouse establishment will exhibit models
Of the especially interesting lighthouses
the ST. Louis Exposition They are being pre-
pared at TOmpkinsville.