The Republican journal., 1912-05-09
Ghosts of Monhegan.
Liehtship Needed to Deliver Mariners
From Peril of the Mysterious "Silence


From Peril of the Mysterious "Silence
Belts"
A Congressional committee has been
holding hearing on the petitions of
shipping interests all along the eastern
coast from Boston to St. John, asking
that the government place lightship
with powerful steam fog signal off the
island of Monhegan, which lies just off
the coast of Maine, and marks the turn
ing point of all shipping entering or leav-
ing Penobscot bay and other eastern
coast waters. There is good light on
Monhegan, but that, of course, is useless
in thick weather, and it is complained
that the whistling buoy off Monhegan for
some strange reason cannot be heard at
all times, even by vessels sailing close
to it.
| This peculiar circumstance is attribut-
ed to what sailors call GHOSTS of the
sea-" and what scientists describe as
''silence belts,' and which are the cause
OF more anxiety to the mariner thin any
other danger. These silent belts are the
places where the blasts of the steam fog
| signal cannot be heard, although the YES
sci is within ordinary hearing distance.
For years sailors have given the name
ghosts to these indefinite places because
of the uncanniness of the phenomena.
They have no regular abiding place. The
silent belt may be in any segment of a
circle around the signal station. One
day it may be southeast, and the next
northwest, but it is likely to be on the
windward side of the light and it is often
directly to the Windward. 1t may be at
any point within the ordinary range of
sound, close onto the rock or some dis
lance from it. 1t is a thing of no sub
stance that has baff1ed scientists and
mariners for years and for which dozen
or more explanations have been given,
any one of which may be correct and all
of which may be far from the right So
luton.
| 1t is on account of these silent belts
that the light house board has been pc
titioned to place light ship off Monhe-
gan island. The ghosts on the coast of
Maine which are most battling to the
mariner are those off the island of Mon
hogan in the direct path of the steamers
from Boston to Penobscot bay. Monhe-
gan. is one of the necessary departure
points for steamers on this course.
| There land must be picked up in order
that the proper course for White Head
light at the entrance to Penobscot Bay
may be laid.
Ii there was light-ship at this point
for which the steamers could run, the
ghosts would cause little anxiety, for
even if the sound of the fog signal could
not be heard on thick night upon ap-
preaching the lightship, it would be
heard when the steamer got opposite or
beyond, when the proper departure could
be taken. The lightship would be so far
Oft from the rocks that the failure to
hear the signal on coming up to it would
not be source of danger.
The steamers from Boston arrive off
the island early in the morning. If it is
a clear night the light may be easily
seen and the presence of the dreaded
ghosts never causes captains any anx-
iety. But if the night is thick there is
always danger that the fog signal may
not be heard in time to prevent the
steamer piling up on the rocky shores of
the island. This has happened twice in
the past, both times in the seventies.
One steamer went on the rocks about
1875 because of the inability of those
was the steamer Cambridge, year or Sc
later. Both struck, but on account of
the holiness of the shore, which allowed |
the steamer to touch forward while the |
after part was in deep water, it was pos
slble to back them off with their own
steam. No lives were lost in either case. |
The Cambridge came off leaking badly
and was accompanied to Rockland by
several porgy boats which were near by.
From time to time steamers sailing on
this route have come in close to the rocks,
but have discovered their position before
grounding.
Practically all vessels bound for the
Penobscot make Monhegan. Sailing YES
sells keep off in thick weather and if pos
slble do not attempt to make the island
until it is clear. The steamers on the
Boston and Bangor route must pick up
the island in any kind of weather and it
is more important they do this in foggy
weather than when it is clear. Steamers
bound from Portland to Eastport and st.
John, do not have the same necessity for
for it is possible for them to lay a course
from Portland harbor which will bring
them we'll outside of this island.
With the wind from the southwest, YES
sells bound for Penobscot bay from Bos-
ton may not hear the fog whistle until
well in upon it. They might hear it for
several minutes, and then lose the sound
and not hear it again until close to the
dangerous rocks.
One of the explanations given for this
peculiar condition is that the sound
waves are DETECTED by the atmosphere
and sent up into the air when short
distance from the signal station. The
explanation advanced for the condition
when the signal is heard at some distance
off and lost on the nearer approach to the
station is that the sound waves are de-
f1ected twice, once up into the air and at
further distance down again, causing
silent belt or ghost in between. Often
when not heard on deck it is audible to
man aloft.
The lighthouse board has experiment
ed to considerable extent in an effort to
learn the cause of this condition, but its
officers have been unable to present
satisfactory explanation. A number of
years ago while conducting an investiga-
ton on White Head light confusing
condition was found to exist. Three
steamers were used in these expert
ments, trailing back and forth on diff
ferent courses. They learned that at
times it was impossible to hear the fog
signal, though the steam escaping from
the horn could be distinctly seen. Some
! 4: ~l e