518 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

Broken ground with depths of 6 to 7 fathoms extends 7 miles
eastward and 12 miles east-southeastward from the light ves-
sel; the least depth is 334 fathoms, and lies 9 miles, 99 degrees
true E. by S. of the light vessel. The outer end of the shoals
is marked by a gas-and-bell buoy (flashing white light), which
lies 12 miles, 118 degrees true SE. by E. 14 E. of Frying

Pan Shoals light vessel. Large, deep-draft vessels generally
pass southward of the gas-and-bell buoy.

Light vessel Number 94 was built for the station on Frying
Pan Shoals in the Sixth Lighthouse District. The vessel is 135
feet 9 inches over all, with a beam of 29 feet and a draft of 12
feet 9 inches; the displacement at this draft is 660 tons. The
- hull is built of mild steel, with two wooden deck-houses on the
spar deck serving the purpose of pilot-house and bridge-and-
radio house. One steel lantern mast, of diameter sufficient to
contain a ladder giving access to the lantern, and a wooden
mainmast, carrying a fore-and-aft sail, are fitted.

The signal light is carried on the lantern mast. It consists
of an incandescent oil-vapor light mounted in a lens of the
fourth order, and gives a light of 2,900 candlepower.

The fog-signal apparatus consists of a 12-inch deep-toned
chime whistle connected to the main boilers. Steam is supplied
through a reducing valve, and a specially designed vertical
engine is arranged to cut off steam to the whistle so as to give
the characteristic: Blast, 5 seconds; silent, 55 seconds. A sub-

marine bell, actuated by compressed air, strikes one stroke every
3 seconds.

This vessel was equipped with radio outfit before being placed
on the station, so that its effective date would be coincident
with the establishment of the vessel. This installation has an
effective radius of about 200 miles, and besides being of great
value to passing vessels, it is of great aid to the Lighthouse
Service in keeping the vessel to the highest state of efficiency
as an aid.

The propelling machinery consists of one vertical, direct-
action, surface-condensing, fore-and-aft compound engine, hav-
ing cylinders 16 and 31 inches in diameter by 24 inches stroke,
driving a cast-steel propeller 8 feet in diameter by ten-foot
pitch, and supplied by steam under a pressure of 110 pounds
per square inch of heating surface. The machinery and boilers
are located amidship. The vessel is fitted throughout with all
modern appliances, including steam windlass, sanitary plumb-

Peace Restored 519

ing and fixtures, and drainage system, but has no electric-light-
ing system.

The complement of this vessel is four officers and ten men.
The officers’ quarters, mess-room, pantry, and bathroom are
located as far as practicable on the main deck. Quarters for
the crew, including the galley, are located on the main deck just
forward of the boilers and machinery. ‘The oil-room and stores
are located on the lower deck and in the hold forward and aft.
The hull is yellow, with “Frying Pan” in large black letters on
each side. This vessel was constructed under the Act of May

27, 1908, appropriating $115,000. The vessel was built under

contract at Muskegon, Michigan, and the cost was $104,080.37.
Construction was commenced on May 28, 1909, and was com-

pleted and the vessel delivered to the government on June 13,
1911. On November 15, 1911, the light vessel was placed on
the station in the Sixth Lighthouse District.

The cape is a low, sharp point of sand beach forming the
southern extremity of Smith’s Island. The island, lying on the
eastern side of the entrance to Cape Fear River, is mostly low
and marshy, but has a thick growth of trees on its western side.
Near the southern end of the island is Cape Fear Lighthouse,
which will usually be the first object seen in approaching the
cape.

The lighthouse on the cape is a white, iron, skeleton tower,
upper part black. The light is flashing white (light 2.3, eclipse
7.7 seconds), 159 feet above the water, and visible 19 miles.
The light is incandescent oil vapor, using a mantle 214 inches
in diameter, and the intensity of the flash through the lens,
which is six feet in diameter, is 160,000 candles. This light
was built in 1908, and is, with one exception, the newest and
most modern first-class lighthouse in the district.

On the west side of Smith’s Island, east side of the entrance
to the Cape Fear River, is Bald Head Lighthouse. The struc-
ture is a white, octagonal, pyramidal tower. The light is flash-
ing white, with a dark sector between 220 degrees and 308 de-
grees, 99 feet above the water, and visible 16 miles. This light
has recently been converted from an oil light with a keeper
to an unwatched gaslight, and now forms a part of the system
described below.

Cape Fear River has a total length of above 371 miles, and
empties into the sea immediately west of Cape Fear. It is the
approach of the city of Wilmington, which is 27 miles above its