Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-17
GREAT NOISE MAKERS.
Govt Has Installed Megaphones That
Can be Heard Twenty Miles.

preparation Of 1880 900, can ever be carried
out successfully. Diamond sboal, which
has been called the graveyard OF the
Atiantic', extends thirteen miles into the
ocean, and experimental borings have
shown that there is no solid bottom 100
feet below the surface OF the sand. On
the contrary, the. material seems to be-
come iooser and more fluid the deeper one
goes.
A lighthouse securely established in the
midst of this vast quicksand would be of
enormous value, but it Is altogethe likely
that no other means OF warning mariners
will ever be placed there than such as will
float. In this connection 1t is interesting
to consider some OF the novel contri-
vapces recently adopted by the govern
ment for such purposes. Requirements
necessarily vary with the locality, and
many different devices are used for float
ing or permanent signals In places where
lighthouses are not required or cannot be
built.
One OF The most curious of these is a
msehihe with gigantic voice, which,
under favotabls conditions OF wind, can
shout 50 as to he beard alta distance OF
twenty mile. II was set up short time
ago at Fslkner's island, off the Connecti-
cut shore, and Is provided with eight huge
megaphones, each Of them seventeen feet
long and seven feet in diameter at the
mouth.
The apparatus stands on a circular plat
form, on which 1t revolves; and the great
horns cry out TO eli points of the compass,
their voice being furnished by steam
whistle. One can easily imagine the tre-
mendous vociferatisn they emit at inter-
va's OF fifteen seconds. Each megaphone
calls in turn, and I here Is distinct com
bination OF long and short blasts for each
point OF the compass, thus giving to the
mariner an accurate notion OF the direc-
tioa from which the sound proceeds.
This, OF course, is matter OF great i'm
portance In a fog.
Another new method OF sending
mighty voice across the sea involves the
use OF diaphragm which is made to
vibrate by electricity. To this are attached
two huge magaphones which emit a deaf
ening roar that can be heard for many
miles. The machine goes by clock work
and when wound up attends to business
for weeks without requiring furthur at
tention.
dynamo furnishes the requisite cur
rent. The terrific blast that from the
gaping mouths Of the twin horns, each of
which is fifteen feet long, can be heard
above the noise OF the fisrcest gale. 1t
literally skaters the air. Once start ed
this vociterous guardian does duty night
and day, and never goes to sleep. 1t is
designed specially for use on points OF
rocks where bell buoys end whistling
buoys are inadequate by reason OF tbs
fact that the noises they make are
drowned.
1t is thought that there is no good reason
why such contrivance should not be set
ahoat, held by strong mushroom anchors,
on Diamond shoaI, off Cape Hatteras.
The fogs which prevail in that vicinity
are often so dense that the lamps of the
lightship canuct be seen, and an ordinary
bell buoy or whistling buoy does not
serve to send warning for a great dis
lance.
There is, however, new kind OF bell
buoy, with which the lighthouse board
has been Experimenting recently, that is a
wonderful noisemaker. An essential part
OF 1t Is drum, " hich, as it rises and falls
on the waves, turns several wheels. To
each wheel tongue is attached, engag-
ing with rachel in such a way as to
strike bell every time the drum goes up
or down.
mere ripple produces a continuous
changing which is described as a din so
internal that the machine could not pos
sibly be used in any situation close to
human ha bitation. One of them was tried
on Robbins reef, near New York, but was
removed, because the people OF the vicin-
ity threatened riot.
1t Is probable that on the great shoal off
Cape Hatteras the main reliance for warn
ing mariners will always be lights hips.
Two vessels, known respectively as Nos II
and Y, now divide this duty between
them, each taking its turn for three
LhOAlA bS al d tllbc. IldCu OL IDSm IL Ito
feet long, built of thick steel plates, with
three decks and divided into compart-
meuts, SO as to be as nearly as possible
leak proof.
Two hollow steel masts carry wires for
six 100 candle-power electric Zig hts, 100
feet above the water, which are the most
powerful used on any lightship in the
world. They are visible vt a distance of
eigh e. ma's Oil lamps are on hand in
casc ut a bresk-oown II tine Il cti ical
apparatus. For fog signals there Is a
steam siren.
Held by huge steel cables and monster
mushroom anchors, the lightship on
Diamond shoal pursues voyage without
poIt. Not even the Flying Dutchmsn
enduses more stormy and trying expert
ences han the skipper of this gallant
craft, who, with his brave crew, guards
the most dangerous point ON the Atlantic
coast.
There, where the northeast and north