LV-101:COMMANDING OFFICER (While off Harwich POrt) 1951: BMC Thurston L Peabody, CO 1963: BMC William Gauthier, OIC
Pollock Rip Channel runs east west through Nantucket Sound. The 1912 'United States Coast Pilot - Atlantic Coast - Part III' lists a total of nine lightship positions guarding the channel, showing the way with sound and lights, through Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. In 1912, the Pollock Rip to Newport channel lightship list (east to west) was as follows: Pollock Rip Shoals Light Vessel No.13; Pollock Rip Shoals Light Vessel No.47; Shovelful Shoal (later called Stone Horse) Light Vessel No.3; Handkerchief Light Vessel No.4; Cross Rip Light Vessel No.5; Succonesset Shoal Light Vessel No.6; Hedge Fence Light Vessel No.41; Sow and Pigs Light Vessel No.99; Hens and Chickens Light Vessel No.42; Brenton Reef Light Vessel No.39.
LV-4:
APPARATUS: Single lantern on main, 8 Argand fountain, Funck burner oil lamps with reflectors
;Hand operated 978 lb bell
HISTORICAL
1856, Jan 10, placed on Bishop & Clerks (MA) until lighthouse activated in 1858-
1858, Oct 1, placed on Handkerchief Shoal (MA)-
Passing vessels collided with this vessel in 1874 Sep 6; 1876 Aug & Oct 10; 1880; 1881; 1883 (2); 1885; 1887 Jul; 1890 Sep; 1899 Aug 15; 1899 Jun 6; 1902 Jan 27, Mar 18; 1903 Sep 15; 1907 Mar 12. Except for 3 instances of coal barges under tow, all involved sailing vessels. In 1885, records state "she has suffered more from collision than any other lightship in the district." Investigations concluded these accidents were "invariably" caused by vessels failing to allow for tidal current while attempting to cross the bow of the lightship.-
1874, Nov 17: parted chain, sailed to Hyannis awaiting replacement-
1875: Carried off station by moving ice, slipped chain and put to sea, off station 12 days-
1879, Jan 4: broke adrift in heavy gale, off station 18 days-
1884: Logged 21,109 vessels passing station during the year - 4 full rigged ships 212 barks, 281 brigs, 18,221 schooners, 148 s1oops and 2,247 steamers-
1898: Nov 27, dragged halfway to Cross Rip in gale back on station Dec 4-
1899: Feb 13, dragged 1 mile southwest of station, off station 2 days-
1916: Withdrawn and assigned as Relief (MA) until 1924
MODIFICATIONS
Beached at Hyannis, repaired/refitted 1868 Jul; 1871; 1885; 1888-
Major overhauls at New Bedford 1872; 1876; 1893; 1899; 1900-
1878: Rebuilt, reported "old and worn out"-
1879: "No berths are on this vessels berth deck, but hammocks are used instead, to the advantage of the crew and cleanliness of the vessel"-
1919: Equipped with radio-
1920: Illuminant changed from oil to acetylene-
1920: Submarine bell signal installed
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1924 AGE: 33
LV-47:MODIFICATIONS
-LV 47,48 & 49 were first to be equipped with steam windlass when built
-1901: Mooring overhauled, one of 3 anchors found to have both flukes sheared off
-1909: Extensive repairs after being dismasted and damaged by collision Dec 1
-1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal
-1912: Fog signal changed to 12" chime whistle
-1919: Equipped with radio; discontinued 1924
-1924: Illuminant changed from oil to acetylene
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 47
1891-1892: Great Round Shoal (MA)
1892-1923: Pollock Rip (MA)
1923: Cross Rip (MA)
1924-1934: Stonehorse Shoal (MA)
HISTORICAL
-1891: May 10, temporarily placed on Pollock Rip since no relief vessel available
-1891:Jul 28, placed on Great Round Shoal
-1891: Fog signal used 856 hours during year, using 65 tons of coal
-1892: Struck by schooners Oct 1 and 22
-1892: Nov 1, Replaced by LV 42 and transferred to Pollock Rip same day
-1895: Broke adrift twice in Nov; in collision Nov 3
-1896: Jan 1-Feb 18, relieved for repair by Relief LV 39
-1899 Sep 6, in collision; Oct 12-16, broke adrift and anchored off Great Point; Dec 16, broke adrift and anchored off Handkerchief lightship.
-1897: In collision with schooners Apr 2 and Apr 30
-1890: Jul 23, struck by scow under tow
-1898: Nov 27, broke adrift, striking on Stone Horse shoal; drifted south being picked up by steamer on Nov ~0 and towed into Delaware Bay, towed back Dec 13
-1899: Jan 10, in collision with barge
-1899: Nov 23, fouled chain and dragged; Dec 5, rammed by steamer, with impact shattering all lamp chimneys and knocking down crew on deck
-1900: Feb 4 and May 15, in collision with coal barges
-1900: Jun 12-Jul 31, relieved for repair- of collision damage
More notes: LV 47
-1901: Apr 6, in collision with 2 barges of 3ăbarge tow; stem damaged
-1901: Nov 15, in collision with schooner slight damage
-1902: Dec 5, parted chain, made sai1 and anchored SSE of Handkerchief lightship
-1903: Apr 15, dragged NE but worked back on station unassisted
-1904: Jan 3, parted chain & anchored SSW of station; repositioned by Azalea
-1904: Jul 17, heavily damaged by collision with barges; towed to New Bedford
-1906: Involved in collisions Feb 26,Aug ~, Nov 6, and Nov 7
-1909: Dec 1, damaged, dismasted and dragged off station by collision with four-masted schooner KATHERINE PERRY. Withdrawn from station Dec 3 for repair
-1914:Mar 27, in collision with barge under tow
-1915: Jan 14, blown off station in gale; returned unassisted next day
-1915: Jun 8, picked up 6 men lost in dense fog for 3 days from fishing schooner WASHAKIE. (More men from same schooner also picked up by Pollock Rip Slue LV 73)
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1934, AGE: 43
LV-53:
PROPULSION: Steam screw- single compound condensing engine, 14" & 24" bores x 16" stroke; 135 IHP; 2 scotch boilers 8'dia x 9' lg; 50 psi; max speed 6 knots; coal capacity 52 tons; also rigged for sail carried on spencer masts
APPARATUS: 2 lanterns, each with 8 oil lamps w/reflectors; 12" steam whistle; hand operated 1000 lb bell
MODIFICATIONS:
-During 1892-1907, and probably thereafter, ship was hauled annually for scraping and painting; other needed repairs to hull, topsides, boilers and machinery being performed during these periods. The ship remained relatively free of any major maintenance problems throughout her career.
-1906: Propulsion changed from steam to Murray-Tregurtha kerosene engine
-1907: Submarine bell signal placed in operation
-1912: Equipped with radio -1914: Masts replaced with single large diameter lantern mast amidships, equipped with acetylene lens lantern; pilot house added at foot of mast -1930: Lantern converted to electric operation -1932: Radio-beacon installed -1934 Fog signal changed to diaphragm horn -1946: Jul 16-Oct 6, extensive overhaul at Curtis Bay MD, repowered with Superior diesel main engine, 151 HP, 310" propeller max speed 8 knots; 375mm lens lantern; F2T diaphone; cargo doors welded shut on both sides
More notes: LV 53
-1934: Transferred to 2d District and placed on Stonehorse Shoal (MA)
-1936 During severe winter storm, dragged several miles off station in moving ice field, regained station unassisted -1948. While enroute to Boston, became caught in heavy ice in Buzzards Bay; later broken out by tender Spar -Radio & visual radio call for the vessel listed as NMGA (1940--1951)
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1951; AGE: 59
Commanding Officer while off Harwich Port 1946-1951: BMC Thurston L Peabody, OIC
