SEARCHLIGHT'S DEAD SPOTS

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 31, 16 April 1907, Page 3

SEARCHLIGHT'S DEAD SPOTS

"Be»m of Darkness" That May ConMftl the Form of a Torpedo Boat. v "One of the complications that make ub unhappy on a battleship when we expect a torpedo attack," said an American naval officer, lately, "is the fact that there is a 'dead spot' in the beam of the searchlight. If a torpedo boat can flit and lie in the center of this beam of darkness that plays over the water wherever our beam of light plays, it can lie there with Impunity. We cannot see it from the- ship. "I had an excellent opportunity to test the truth of this during the mimic war off the New England coast. I commanded a small dispatch boat, and when we were olt Plum island at the entrance to Long Island sound, I was sent in to scout and report what I could discover of the batteries on the island. "We ran in until we raised the searchlight on the fortifications. Slowly we proceeded then, dodging it until we were in full range of it, so that we had to lie still. We waited until the operator of the light ceased for a moment and held it steady. Then we pushed in quick and lay almost in the center of the dazzling white pencil of light. It seemed to us on the ship that we must be shining forth like n set piece on a stage, for the fierce beam illuminated every ripple on the water around us; but our little ship was right in' the center of the dead spot, and as long as the light was held steady we kept steaming, boldly and unseen, in toward the fort. Of course the moment the light was moved we were discovered. But by that time we had seen all we wanted to, and approached so close to the guns that we were entitled to claim a point for our side, which we did,'' * ——— . . „ f Water in Grass, ■~ rv ~ The amount of water given of! by an acre of grass is estimated at 30 hogsheads a day. About 300 parts, by weight, of water pas* through a plant to one part fixed and assimilated in its tissues. Yet No Burden. : The biggest thing about some men is their opinion of themHelves.—N. Y. Times. . t^_ ....,,