The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-02-24


ters and Also Famous ShipwrscksH
Army and Navy Aviators Watch Re-
ports
At Cape Henry, Va, where more
ships pass than at any one spot in
America, the government maintains an
observatory and weather bureau that
furnishes information to ships and in
dividuals from one end of the country
to the other.
Marine men say J.. Frank Newsome,
chief OF the Cape Henry bureau, prob
ably sees more ships In a year than
any other man in the United States.
There are four assistants to Mr.. New
some, and at least One OF them is on
duty every minute of the day and
night.
Some idea of the number Of ships
that pass Cape Henry In a year may
be had from the figures of 1921 when
16,7O8 vessels passed in and out of the
Virginia capes. In addition to his
vast fleet hundreds of other vessels
were sighted off the capes.
The government station at Cape
Henry is one of the most important, if
not the most important, of similar sta
lions In America. In addition to re-
porting the passing in and out of ships,
the Cape Henry station is important
for the meteorological work done there
and for the indispensable service it
renders ship owners and the public,
and also the army and navy and coast
guard.
Their Weather Eye Out.
Mr.. Newsome and his experts col
lect weather observations from along
the coast as far south as Hatteras
and as far north as New Jersey. This
information is sent broadcast over the
ocean,, is furnished to ships in port and
along the coast n to the army and
navy and coast guard.
Neither army nor navy aviators will
venture a flight along the coast with
out first obtaining from Cape Henry
information on weather conditions.
Cape Henry has such a reputation
for accurate weather reports that in
formation is eagerly sought there by
Boston to Florida.
Cape Henry also furnishes the only
means Of Geographic communication
with the outside world for isolated
hamlets and settlements along the
coast. Ocracoke island, one of the
most picturesque and interesting
places on the coast, would be shut OF |
from the outside world so far as tele-
graphic communication is concerned
If the, government did not operate a
telegraph line along the coast from
Norfolk to Hatteras and to Ocracoke.
Ocracoke has a population of about
300 people and there are a like number
at Portsmouth, and other coast towns.
times in years gone by, when
severe storms swept the coast, there
were grave fears felt for the inhabi-
tants of these towns. Commercial I
wires went down and even the govern
wires were blown to the ground.
1t was the seaeOast wires, however,
hat always brought the first news of {
safety Of the inhabitants of the
in danger.
Keep Tab on Ships.
One of the most interesting and per-
the most important duty that
Cape Henry observers perform is re-
the arrival and departure Of )
hips the sighting of vessels, and the :
" oi6hd u AAPOl dul r
messages to passing steamers. Every :
lay, and sometimes several times q =
lay, the observers at Cape Henry are =
allied upon to transmit messages to i
a ssing ships. Sometimes it is orders :
rom ship owners. Sometimes it is q
Message of joy for the captain or some :
fficer or member of a ships crew. =
it is a message for a pass !
enger on the passing steamer. Il
In he daytime the message is trans
lifted to a ship by code flags. At night a
[orse flashlights are used. During the -
1orld war the Cape Henry station was :,
of the busiest places In the world. \.
of ships passed in and out
{ the capes and important messages
ere delivered almost every hour of
le day n night. During 1918, 23,897
lips passed the Virginia capes. This P
the greatest number since the Cape
enry observatory vas established.
Before America entered the World oil
ar, some of the most important news to
the activities of the Germans on this re
of the Atlantic was given to the
orld by the observer at Cape Henry. Oy
1t was the observers there who first ia
the arrival of the Deutschland, LIZ
e first merchant submarine that ever ca
ossed the Atlantic. For almost two pa
a lone tugboat stood guard off
lpe Henry awaiting the arrival of at
e Deutschland to escort her through nj
e Virginia capes and up the Chesa- pa
axe bay to Baltimore. no
1t was Cape Henry that first report fa1
the arrival of the German raiders,
'onprtnz Wilhelm and the Ethel
ederick. and first to report the ar ]
al Of the captured liner Appam. agi
lis vessel passed Cape Henry in the rel
of a German crew from the Ar
der Moewe. ing
Wreck Reports. fen
From Cape Henry also has come "R,
It reports of shipwrecks along the per