New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-22
TUG PLOTTED By BELLS
SIGNALS UNDER WATER.
BLimdfoJded, Captain Steers Graft by
Submarine System.

Tho +1ig Eugene r Moran. equipped with the
-.oeirne apparatus for picking Up the sound OF 'h@
submarine bell vent spot three miles east
% ne Ambrose Channel Lishtship yesterday 10
4eS, he system she had on board party Of
steamship officials. representatives OF me L~slI
house Department and officials OF the submarine
Signal Company. the headquarters o. winch are II
Boston. -
The Eugene F Moran left the Battery n 10 ;3e
a. m. a quarter Of hour after the tug } F.
Moran had started for the Sarrows with a SUD
marine bell equipment board The nrst tug
had the beIl itself. which she later lowered over
rbe side and tho Eugene +. Moran had the re
ceiving appa ratus
after nassine down the Lower Fay the first tug
out made East 10 the schooner Goodwin stoddard
which was at anchor and lowered her bell equip
rnent 10 ii depth of twenty-five feet Then as the
second tug steamed down the Narrows the mem
bers q the party on board were able 70 pick up
the submarine sounds Of the bell on the first tug
which was about mile and half away
After this test the J. F. Moran returned 70 the
Battery. while the Eugene F Moran steamed out
about three niles 10 the eastward Of the Ambrose
Channel Lightship and put about The captain
then turned the wheel over to his mate and per
Enitted himself be blindfolded while he put TO
his ears she receivers from the microphones IN
the bow Of the tug below the waterline
The submarine bells on the various nghtships
are worked only during foggy weather. but by a
special arrangement the bell Oh the Ambrose Chan
ael Lightship was rng yesterday at the regulation
intervals for the benefit of the tests which were
made on the tug.
Now You cannot see a thing ahead of you.
you?" said one Of the engineers Of the company
Not thing" replied the skipper of the tug
Just about the same foggy night, only II s
blacker my eyes.
All rislt. captain" said the engineer There
IS q submarine bell working the Ambrose
Channel ILghtship and after, We turn this tug
around biz want you TO pick her up ana go
alongside" The mate backed the tug and swung
her around. and then when it was obvious that the
ski .oor11l not
.-AH right. captain; give your orders; were ready
to make for the lfghtship'
At first the receiver from the microphone on the
port side was stronger than il was on the star
board. and the skipper knew that the tug would
have to come round TO port The mate brought her
round but she went too far, and the blindfolded
skinner ordered her swung back bit 10 starboard
BY degrees the captain managed to get the tug N
such position that the alton of the bell from
the IightshIp was equal both the starboard and
port receivers and at that point he shouted 10 the
mate: Keep her that course for the hghtship-
1T is northwest by north replied the mate
VERY well. Keep her northwest by north. and
think Wen hit the lightship. And now I want this
bsndage taken Off
When the handage was removed the skipper
looked cut OF the pilot house and found his tug
bearing head on for the lightship
The test showed 70 the satisfaction OF all that
the submarine bell system worked accurately. and
its in 2 fog apparent TO all those on board
James c. Horton. general passenger traffic man
aeer Of the Savannah Line, who observing the
tests. greatly pleased with the experiments he
made himself yesterday with the equipment on the
Eugene 2. Moran He said ne believed that If Ill
steamers equipped with receivers there
would be fewer accidents while inbound and out
bound steamers were enveloped in fog near the
coast. where nghtship could warn them Of the
position relative the shoals
Among those who went the Moran yesterday
were z. c Wood and H. ". J. Fay, of the Sub
marine Signal Company: r. J. Wilkes, Of the
Lighthouse Department, and Daniel E. Lynn. of
the National Lead Company.