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This column continues to provide excerpts from the “Lighthouse Service Bulletin,” a monthly publication of the Bureau of Lighthouses, U.S. Department of Commerce. The first was issued in January 1912, and it continued throughout the existence of the Bureau. Unedited quotes from Vol. IV No. 28, April 1, 1932 follow. The Bulletin had as its objective “supplying information that will be immediately useful in maintaining or improving the standards of the Lighthouse Service, and of keeping the personnel advised of the progress of work and matters of general interest in the service and in lighthouse work in general.”
Use of Green Lights On Buoys and Other Aids – With the development of superior green glass, the use of the color green for lights on aids to navigation has increased in recent years, and the green lights have proven popular with mariners. In the five years from 1928 to 1931 the number of green lights in this service has increased from 46 to 169, including an increase from 4 to 34 in the number of flashing green lights on buoys. Green lights are proving to be as effective as red lights for use as lateral lights in channel marking and are therefore available for buoy or entrance lights on the port side entering, where the lights on the starboard side are white or red.
Use of Mobile Radio-beacon To Avoid Collision – The difficulty of determining the direction of an approaching vessel by means of the exchange of sound signals in time of fog is well understood, the direction from which the sound emanates being uncertain under the weather conditions prevailing. Shortly after the adoption of the radio compass as an aid to navigation, by means of determining the direction of fixed radio-beacons on shore, it was discovered that the direction of a vessel in the vicinity transmitting radio signals could also be determined by the radio compass.
The “Holly,” Last of the Coast Side-Wheel Lighthouse Tenders – The lighthouse tender Holly, the last sidewheel vessel in the coast service, was sold on December 4, 1931, having been decommissioned through the adding of the Linden to the fifth district fleet. The Holly was built in 1881 by Malster and Reaney of Baltimore who at the same time constructed the tender Jassamine. She was 176 feet long, 24-foot beam, and had a loaded draft of 8 feet 6 inches. The original cost was $41,911. When she first came out, she was assigned to the fifth district as an inspector’s tender and was actively employed in the work of supplying and inspecting stations until 1893. In that year she was stationed off Wolf Trap Shoal, Chesapeake Bay, as a lightship, and in 1894 was stationed off Bush Bluff, Va., on similar duty.
Raising and Repair of the Tender Shrub – On August 6, 1931, the Shrub, a wooden tender stationed in the second district, grounded and sank on Black Rocks at the entrance to York Harbor, Me., while on temporary duty in the first district. The accident occurred at the time the tender was attempting to relieve a buoy which was sanded and could not be lifted with the regular hoisting gear. The master was endeavoring to break the sinker clear by towing it out when the tender swung around out of the channel and struck on one of the aforementioned rocks on the starboard side at the bunkers, causing a bad leak which washed the coal into the bilges and plugged all suctions so the ship could not be kept clear with the pumps. All possible precautions had been taken in attempting to relieve the buoy, the master having previously sent the engineer and the quartermaster ahead in the tender’s launch to sound out all around the buoy, and it was reported there were from 12 to 14 feet of water in the vicinity. In view of the precautions taken and the chart which was used in navigating the harbor not showing the correct depth of water over the rock, it was the unanimous opinion of the board of inquiry that the master should be held blameless of the accident. After considerable difficulty on account of adverse weather conditions and awaiting tides, the tender was finally raised and hauled out on October 13, 1931, at which time a survey of the damage was made and the vessel towed to the second district. Specifications were then prepared for complete reconditioning, which included replacing the old wooden deck house with steel, together with a new pilot house and other improvements. The vessel is now at her official station in the second district and in practically new condition.
Storm At Tillamook Rock Light Station – The following report from William Hill, keeper of the Tillamook Rock Light Station, Oreg., describes the storm of last December which did considerable damage over an extensive portion of the Pacific coast:
“December 24, the barometer dropped to 28.88, the wind still in the southeast. At 4:30 a.m. wind shifted to southwest and the seas commenced to go over the tower. At 6:05 a.m. sea broke nine plates of glass and put out the light, the sea flooding the tower. The sea kept coming over all day and I could not put in any new glass on account of getting someone hurt. Light could not be seen in the southwest. Had wood shutters and storm canvas in front of broken out glass. December 25, put in bottom and center today. Light now seen from 0 to 360 degrees. December 26, sea still going over the tower. Cleaned the tower. December 27, 12:30 a.m. sea broke more plate glass, and at 2:30 a.m. more plate glass was broken. At 12:30 a.m. light not seen in the southwest, storm canvas being down and wood shutters put in. December 28, all plate glass now put in and packed with cloth. Will putty as soon as weather permits. The cement at different places was also washed out around the building. The lens was chipped some in different places.”
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