The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-15
Lightship 4
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1914. by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndiCte-

One day thirty years ago it was re
ported to the Trinity board. which has
charge of all lights on the coast OF
Great Britain, that shoal had made
in the English channel about nine
miles due east of the Lizard. AT the
spot indicated there had been thirty
fathoms of water ever since British
ship went to sea. and the board. OF
course. argued that there had been a
mistake. 1t was fishing craft which
had reported the shoai and found only
fourteen feet of water over it, and a
craft was sent out at once to make an
official investigation. What had hap
pened was this: 1t was bowlder
strewn bottom. and two or three old
wrecks had drifted together and piled
up on each other until dangerous OBJ
struction had been formed. 1t was as
if great rock had been heaved up
from the bottom. and the board must
guard against the danger without delay
Thirty years ago the divers dress
was not what it is today. nor could
men handle explosives under water as
they can now. After two or three vain
attempts to clear away the wrecks the
plish. and meanwhile lishtship No 4.
under Captain Crox. was moved
around from Mounts bay and anchored
near the spot and notice gwen to mari
nerS.
That night it was the captains
watch from : till midnight gale
had come up 1t had come 10 o'clock
when sudden hail reached the light
ship The captain was aft and his
mate forward. but he knew at once
that the hail came from seaward. 1t
was not So dark but that one could
see a ship 800 feet away. even though
she had no lights aboard.
As soon as port fire was ignited the
sea was lighted up for hundreds of
feet around in a CHASTITY way. and both
men looked for the craft they suppos
ed TO be near by. They looked in vain
till the signal was nearly finished
Then ships yaw. driving right up in
the teeth OF the gale. hove into sight
She was without mast or sail OF
oars. and the only figure in her sat In
the stern sheets. and his arms and legs
were bound around with ropes
The man was bareheaded and dress
ed rs Iandsman, and as he drove past
within twenty feet OF the rail they had
a look square into his eyes, and the
agony on his face made them >hUdder
They started 10 throw him rope. bnt
as the coil SWING into the air they re.
membered that. being bound. he could
make no use Of ii. The vawl and the
man went straight TO windward and
in couple OF minutes We're out Of
sight, and the men found themselves
all a-trembte. Captain Crox was full!
OF Indignation over the crime of send
in: man ntoat in mat manner and
Of pity for the victim. when his mate
touched him on the arm and shouted
in his ear: K
If was ashore. captain. all the
money in England would not bribe me-
To SET foot on this deck again
What's TIE matter with you:" was
called in reply. Its only a bit of shore
vilIaiIy that We must report
Its nothing that's happened ashore,
sir Did you take notice that the craft
was driving right in the teeth Of the
gale: IL wasn't live man in tina,
boat She was going to wtndward
with ghost. and III give the bit |
have in the bank if Ia not seen IT,"
1t was agreed between them thatnoth.
ns be said TO the other watch when
hey turned out. and they Went on duty
without showing or suspecttng that
anything OUT Of the way had hap
1ened
While carrying the thin. out with
pretended Indifference. CAPTAIN Crox
vas, as matter OF fact. pretty thor.
'uShly upset over il and on turning
I found he c0gi not 20 to sleep. He
lad been .yi1- On mis- bunk aud turn.
ne the thing over in his mind for an
.orr or 50 aai tie gale was still
lowing and the li-atship bouncing
bout waen De realized from the
movement OF the watch that they had
zen hailed He was out Of his bunk
nd on decs just as one OF them light.
i PORT ire, and You can Judge his
ceilings when be 81 " the former scene /
p y = r-a.- Thl-a VS., -. 49,,