(1925 Nov 11, rammed and sunk on station; replaced by Relief LV 5 same day, however LV 49 remained assigned to Hedge Fence until raised, repaired, and returned to service) ALL HANDS SAFE.

1894, Aug 7-31: withdrawn for installation of experimental telephone equipment. Telephone cable installed from Sandy Hook to within "a few hundred feet of the lightship mooring", Feb 23. Experiments with signaling and alarm devices continued until July 31, 1895 and "were then suspended". No indication that this system was ever put to any operational use.-

In 59 years of service this Lightship had only 1 mishap !! See below.

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 87 / WAL 512-
1927: Feb 21, dragged 1/2 mi westerly from station in NE gale; replaced on station next day

Originally built for the Navy records show that in 1853,
the vessel was used to carry out polar rescue operations.

(1860 Assigned to Frying Pan but prior to being placed on station, was seized and sunk in Cape Fear River by Confederate forces; later raised, repaired and towed north by tender IRIS in 1866.

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold 1932; burned at Apple Island, Boston Harbor as part
of July 4 celebration in 1940

-1920: Nov 8, while under repair at Portland ME, fire started below decks; extinguished by lightship crew assisted by crew of tender SHRUB

-1925: Nov 11, rammed and sunk on Hedge Fence station by steamer K C HOLN, crew
launched boat and landed at Vineyard Haven.

More Interesting Facts About Lightships

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