Today in Chequamegon history: Out Island keepers in hot water. Outer Island Light Station keepers log, July 23, 1881: SW, moderate, fair. Barometer 84. First Assistant arrived 5 PM. He brought with him Valves for No. 1 Fog Signal, also 2nd Quarter Saleries and a letter to the effect that I have been reported by the Captain of prop. [propeller ship] China for not sounding the Fog Signal on the night of the 26 ‑27 of June. The name of the Captain is Angus McDougal. Interesting. If you go back to the date in question, the log reads: Fog from 4 AM to 7:20 AM. Run Signal from 5 to 7:20 AM. SW, light. Seen steamer coming up outside of NE Point. Seen his smoke about 5 to 6 miles off above. Low fog lying off towards the East got in [his] site and [he] changed his course for inside. Heard his wistle, and sounded Signal for him at 5 AM. So, presuming that entry was legitimate, and not a case of back-dated tail-covering, it appears the complaint centers on a difference of opinion as to when it became necessary to begin sounding the signal that morning. A one-hour delay between the onset of fog and the initial signal seems a bit much, but lets not forget that you couldnt just flip a switch and start sounding; rather it was a matter of building a fire and waiting for a large tankful of water to boil. If the man on watch missed the signs of approaching fog, it well might have taken that long to get the signal underway. The Lighthouse Service took this issue seriously: one assistant keeper at Michigans Portage Canal lighthouse came this close to getting fired, along with his boss, when he misjudged an approaching fog bank and delayed firing up the signal. Outer Island Keeper John Armbruster seems not to have suffered any immediate problems due to this complaint: there is no record of any disciplinary action in connection.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:10:09 +0000
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