The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-09
DIAMOND SHOALS LIGHTSHIP
LIFE ABOARD CRAFT ANCHORED
 OFF HATTERAS.

"Feckers AE4cA OAHcS t"S "
 Nag's Head.
 Fourteen miles to the eastward of Cape Hatteras and just at the point of the noted Diamond Shoals the light ship known as No. 71 rides the waves of the Atlantic and bows to the ap- preaching rollers, secured to her 1000 pound mushroom anchor.
 This vessel, writes Thomas c. Harris in the Raleigh News and Observer, is one of the guardians of those who go down to the sea in ships which are scattered along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Texas and controlled by the lighthouse department of our General Government.
 No. T is a stanch and heavily built wooden vessel, equipped with steam power, and has a crew of thirteen men, besides the captain. Their term of sea duty is three months after which they are allowed the same time ashore, while the vessel is being over- hauled. During this period No 72, with her crew, takes her place on the shoals.
 From the lightship looking to the westward may be seen the tower of Cape Hatteras lighthouse and a back ground of white sand hills with a line of snow white breakers outlining the shore.
 Here where the beach curves into tiny bays or shadows the soft lift of the summer seas duns foamless and spends itself on the glittering sands with gentle murmur, while the soft southern breezes come with a refreshing coolness, laden with ozone from the brimy deep. It must be confessed, however, that such condi- tions of wind weather do not often pre- vail at this most dreaded part of the Atlantic seaboard, yet the sea is some times calm there and the wind gentle breeze. Such conditions make a sharp contrast with the prevailing Hatteras weather, when old Boreas heaps up the pillows from the east or northeast and | hurries them along in mighty ridges | of green water, to break them on the shore with thunder of sound and a I trembIe of sand like an earthquake. At such times the wise sailor when bound north or south will give the Diamond | Shoal wide berth and the welcome beacon of No. Il will show him how much of an off1ng he has on a lee shore.
 In this very locality tradition says | that there once existed a band of wreckers that thrived on the pillage of vessels lured on to destruction by false lights displayed by them. On certain dark and stormy nights, when the wind was favorable to their schemes, their beacon of destruction, in the shape of lantern suspended to the neck of a horse, would be seen among the sand hills near the shore, thus stimulating the light of a vessel riding safely at anchor.
 l This old tradition accounts for the name of the place, Nag's Head, near by, which is now a local summer re- sort Now the tall lighthouse on the cape and the brilliant lamps on the masts of the iightshfp anchored on the 1 point of the shoals maintain in mercy what had once been a cruel curse. The sure and steady glow of these faithful beacons, like nations warning finger point out path of safety amony these hidden pearils.
 At the station occupied by the light ship the Gulf stream is not far away. Indeed, this mighty river of blue wa ter never mixes with the darker water near the shore, but it sometimes sur ges inward one end of the vessel may be plainly seen to be in the stream while the other end is out of it. The ilne of demaracation is distinctly visi- ble and striking The nearness of the Gulf Stream with it's warmer wa ter, is popularly supposed to modify the climate along there, making snow a rare occurrence. With stiff nor west the captain says that ice will form on the deck and rigging, and all outside work is extremely disagree able.
 The dull routine of work on ship board from week to week, anchored in one spot, seeing the same faces and doing the same tasks long time to be away from home and friends.
 The daily tasks of cleaning ship from keels on to truck, and other sea mans duties, cease at noon on Satur- day, when the crew have half a day to mend their clothing, to shave and prepare for Sunday. The sailormar soon becomes quite expert over the washtub and can handle needle anC thread like a seamstress.
 A change in the weather from calm to storm is not dreaded, for it serve: to vary the monotony of their exis tence, for the strain of the life at thi! station is very severe, being, as it is the most isolated on the Atlantic sea. board. In that respect, however, tht station at Cape Fear is about as bad
 and the crew say that they oftentime do not see living thing for months other than an occasional seabird. Passing vessels which sight the light ship know it's warning and do not of ten pass nearer than to salute with tht
 steam whistle or exchange signals wit
 flags.
 For recreation the crew have books magazines and newspapers and some times get mail from passing vessels when the weather permits, but a
 uncertain intervals, Nal matter intend ed for the lightship may pass them
 by reason of unfavorable weather t
 deliver it, and the same cause may pre- vent the return trip of the carrier I s1 iaII af