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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1937)
Section of LANS COWTT1 HOME Fit Wt PAPER Sunday, Feb. 21. 1937 ( tntlr Utut copyrlghUd'm? by FW SUr PublWhing Corporation. Reproduction without pcrmiulon prohibited. Grt BrlUln lights rawrvad. America's I ?! 1 CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT A TALL sentinel shooting skyward on a nar row sand island south of The Chesapeake and a short distance off the North Carolina coast, flashes a guiding light to passing ships, along this section of the Atlantic seaboard, which constitutes one of the greatest dangers to shipping on the United States coastlines. It is the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on American soil, rising one hundred ninety-three feet above sea level. The first lighthouse was erected on Cape Hat teras in 1798. It was but ninety feet highand due to the low coast line was inadequate protection for mariners. The present brick tower with granite base was completed in 1870, in a position a few hundred feet to the north of the first tower. It is painted with broad spiral stripes and its beam is equipped with a twenty-four panel revolving lens which flashes a warning every six seconds. After the first lighthouse was erected on Cape Hatteras at the turn of the nineteenth century, it socn became evident that a light was not suffici ent. A lightship was built and placed on Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras in 1824. After a few months this vessel broke from her moorings, and after being driven a great distance to sea, suc ceeded in gaining the port of Norfolk. The vessel was replaced several times, but finally, in 1827, was driven ashore near Ocracoke Inlet and wrecked. It was seventy years before anothet lightship was placed on Diamond Shoals. Floating bell beacons, "whistling" buoys, and other pre cautions for navigation were tried, but all met with failure. The old Cape Hatteras light alone stood dependable. EVEN as late as the World War, disaster hov ered over Diamond Shoals, the Diamond Shoals lightship, just off Cape Hatteras, being the only navigation aid in the United States destroyed by the enemy. On the afternoon of August 8th. 1918, a submarine raider began firing on a mer chant ship about a mile and a half away. The lightship sent out a radio warning to other vessels in the vicinity and this was undoubtedly the means of saving many ships. It resulted, however, in the enemy submarine firing, six shots at the lightship, and later returning to sink it by gunfiire. The Diamond Shoals lightship crew' escaped in life boats, aided by the Cape Hatteras lighthouse crew. A lightship is now stationed at Diamond Shoals, but is occasionally carried away by the fierce storms that strike this section of the Atlantic sea board. The light that .never fails is the Cape Hatteras light, itself. Swept by the unrelenting fury of the seas, the peppcr-mint-stick-like pinnacle lands, a guiding light to all mariners on the most projecting point of land on the Atlantic coastline. Beside the tall tower, the house of the light house keeper stands, lonely, desolate, but typical of the strong, brave men of the sea, alone and un afraid, battling the fury of the elements. For twenty miles out to sea the Cape Hatteras light can be seen. The reflection of its powerful beams on the sky can be seen for more than fifty miles. From the lighthouse balcony on a clcir night it is a beautiful sight to watch the twenty four sparkling shafts of clear light sweeping the horizon. For many a ship that comes staggering up the coast, battered by fierce gales, rain, snow, and Mountainous waves, the bright guiding light of Cape Hatteras is indeed a welcomed sight. It not only is a warning to keep mariners clear of the dangerous shoals, but means to them that port U ju beyond and a long hard voyage ended. ' -'if . i i' i Iff S VVf 4 t'mv ' h 1' f .... f W 4 t , lit x Jf jy.? I .v V . - t V ,vr' rS' Ai, vcscc ; tvT-t ' , . . . Mi , ' M 3' 2n 1
