Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-30

giving tE asts each minute, with intervals md 46 seconds.
 Life on ightship is somewhat dreary, but not without excitement. During every fog the crew on Nan tueket ship know that numerous ves sels are headed directly for them and in a storm, anchored as they were in comfortable. The men in turn are allowed liberal leave ashore There are often serious difficulties in getting coal and provisions to the ships on exposed stations, so that it is nec- essary that they carry sufficient sup plies to last over stormy periods
 Tn 1899 the Columbia River light vessel was stranded near Cape Dis appointment, and as it could not be gotten off into the sea again, 1t was hauled 700 yards across the land through the woods and launched in the Columbia River.
 The lightships being necessarily near the channel ways, are frequently collided with. In January, 1912, a schooner ran into Diamond Shoal light vessel. The master, in his report, de- scribes the damage done and states that the seamen and also the cook worked manfully all night in trying to save the 1nairmast,' and that repairs having been made, the light having been kept burning as usual, and the ship kept in right position, unless very severe weather sets in the yes sel will stay here until relieved
 "The directions of the Superintend- ent of Lights in 1929 to the master of a light vessel instruct him not to slip done, in any event. and if the vessel should be likely to founder, to abandon her with his crew
 'Lightships are placed in locations | off the coast. where it would be i'm pre cticable or needlesly expensive to build a lighthouse, and they usually 1 mark the approach to a port or bay or | the outer limit of an off-lying danger 1 They are also sometimes used in in- l side waters They may be moored ir the channel or close to it, and they have the advantage over most light l houses that a vessel may steer di- rectly for them without danger SC 1 long as collision with the light vesse 1 is avoided, and also that they may be moved and moered in another position when change Of conditions or neces- 1 sity requires. On the other hand, 2 1 light vessel is more expensive though 1 this is reduced in recent years by i'm proved vessels and moorings
 The first lightship, the More was established in England in 1732 at the mouth of the Thames. The first 1T this country was stationed in 182n il
 Chesapeake Bay, off Willeughby Spit Sandy Hook, HOW Ambrose light yes sel was established in 1928. A ligh vessel was placed of Cape Hattera! | in 1924 and was driven ashore in 1927 and a ship was not established agail in this dangerous position until 1891 after unsuccessful attempts had beei
 made to build a lighthouse on Diamont Shoal
 The United States maintains ligh
 vessels on 51 stations, and there ar a number of relief ships so that tn regular ships may be brought in fo repairs. Some of these positions ar
 of the greatest importance to mari
 ners. as. for example, the Nantucke Shoals light vessel. moored fl mile
 from land for which most of tn
 transatlantic vessels steer in ap
 preaching America, and the Diamon
 Shoals light vessel, moored in 30 fath
 oms of water E miles off Cape Hat
 teras and marking the most dangerou
 locality on the Atlantic coast of tn
 United States These larger ship
 are full powered vessels, capoble c returning to their station, and the each have a crew of 15"