114 THE EVOLUTION OF THE LIGHTSHIP. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman : — In connection with this paper on "The Evolution of the Lightship" 

 some of the members present must surely be from concerns which have built lightships for the 

 government, and it would seem that they might be prepared to discuss this paper. A great 

 deal of care and labor has been spent in its preparation, and we would like very much to have 

 Mr. Cook's efiforts receive the appreciation of a good discussion. I did not intend, by refer- 

 ring to the builders of lightships, to suggest the exclusion of those who had not built them, 

 and some of our distinguished architects, both of the Navy and the merchant marine, might 

 be able to discuss the points presented in the paper, particularly the one on which Mr. Cook 

 asks enlightenment, the best form of hull and where the moorings should enter. 



Mr. E. a. Stevens, Jr., Member: — There is one thing I notice particularly in this paper. 

 Mr. Cook asks for an expression of opinion as to where the moorings should enter the hull, 

 or, in other words, the position of the hawse pipes. 



I happened to be looking over an old copy of the report of the Secretary of the Navy, 

 which had an account of the loss of the Trenton and Vandalia during the gale at Samoa. I 

 noticed that the commanding officer of the Trenton stated that the disaster was partly due 

 to the location of the hawse pipes ; whether he wanted them higher or lower, I cannot recall. 

 The question, however, was raised, and Mr. Cook has raised it again, and I think it may be 

 an interesting subject, not only for lightships, but other ships that are required to be an- 

 chored frequently, especially in open waters. 



The Chairman': — As a matter of historical interest, I will say that I cannot imagine 

 the position of the hawse pipes had much effect on it, although I was not on the ship at the 

 time of the disaster. I had served on all three of the United States vessels that were there, 

 but I left the Vandalia a month and a half before the disaster. The fact is that the Tren- 

 ton and the Vandalia went aground and pounded to pieces, and it would not have made much 

 difference where the hawse pipes were. The position of the hawse pipes may have hastened 

 the end, but it was sure to come in the terrible seas which were raging at that time. Is there 

 any other gentleman who desires to comment on this paper? 



Mr. Arthur D. Stevens, Member: — I will say in connection with this paper that I 

 had the privilege of repairing Lightship No. 4 last year, and one of the strong criticisms made 

 was that when she would shear in a current, and bring her cable across the bow, she would 

 list very seriously, lie over and be a long time recovering. I simply mention that as a criti- 

 cism which the men on board made. 



The Chairman : — Was the hawse pipe too low or too high? 



Mr. Stevens : — I am simply giving you the criticisms of the men on board as to the heel- 

 ing action that happened to be mentioned here, on Lightship No. 4. They criticised it as giv- 

 ing her a serious list when she sheared in the current, athwart the cable beam. 



Mr. Elmer A. Sperry, Member: — I do not know that I can throw much further light on 

 this subject, as a whole, but one phase of it interests me, naturally. You understand that 



