The Washington times., 1904-05-29
Trials Made in the Past
Have Resulted III En-
tire Defeat.
Problem Is of Getting a
Sufficiently Strong
Foundation.
Government Will Let
Captain EeIIs Try at
His Own Expense.

come htdeous danger. The fog settIes
over the sea Ike a curtain. the wind ana
currents bear the good ships down uoor
the shoals and as morning breaks ana
6awns another wreck has been added
10 the cape's record OF destruction ana
death
Attempt Worth Trial.
So that. however email the chance.
the sailors and shipowners think It worth
taking To them there IS always the
hcpe,that Il may succeed Anything that
may possibly serve to strip the CAPE
OF some OF its danger is 20 their minds
worth the trial
With a light. nrm-nxed 200 feet above
these shifting sands. sending its rays
for long miles out to sea. and with a
fog horn booming out it's warning to
mariners. the terrors OF Hatteras would
largely disappear and seamen would
round the cape with lighter hears than
they have been accustomed to carry IN
their bosoms on such occasions ii the
past The cape would lose some of it's
tribute OF hulks and human bodies and
scattered and ruined merchandise.
There would be fewer derelicts, stripped
OF sails and masts and human lie, 20
menace navigation. It would be worth
many times the $4,000 Uncle Sam has
agreed 10 pay. as the price OF C.ptain
EeIls' success.
And It may be that Captain Eells VIII
Eucceed-in which case history would
repeat itself. 1t was London draper
named Ledyard who built the Eddy
stone light. of the English coast En-
gineers Of distinction had attempted the
task and Tailed. and it remained for
this inconspicuous dealer IN cloths and
ribbons to show them how it could be
done.
Success Where Others Failed.
He succeeded where they had failed.
and though his structure was VI wood.
it was built with SO much skill and
good sense and so cunningly avoided
/ the attacks Of the storms that it en-
dured for forty-six years. When IL was
destroyed il was not by the sea, but
| by fire Where a mere draper could
perpetuafe his name by a work like
this. IT should not be impot sibIe for
Captain EeIIs-
Exactly what his plans are. he IS
studiously engaged IN keeping to him
self. IT Is reported that they plovide
for a foundation of steel and concrete.
/
latter, so as 20 form practically a solid
rock of steel-clad masonry This may
or may not be; time. which effects its
own disclosures. may be relied upon to
reveal 1t is certain. though. that what
ever the plans. to Captain EeIls they
spell success
It IS probable Captain Eels expects to
receive more honor than profit out OF
the enterprise, for lighthouses are not
inexpensive at the best. and In this par
ticular case obstacles and difficulties
most men have deemed insurmountable
arr to be encountered and overcome.
There should be still, however, q fair
margin OF profit
When the structure IS completed-if
that good day ever dawns-there VIII
remain the difficulty OF securing enlist
ments IN the corps OF keepers To
many there would appear obstacles TO
embarking as pioneers in this enter
prise, at least until one middle Atlantic
storm had been given an opportunity 70
show what It can accomplish II then
the light still stands it VIII become
perhaps, another story