U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 8
YEAR BUILT: 1853-55
BUILT AT: see construction notes
APPROPRIATION: None
BUILDER: see construction notes
CONTRACT PRICE: ($10,000 purchase from USN)
SISTER VESSELS: None
DESIGN: Wood framed and planked; former US Navy steam brig ARCTIC rerigged and fitted for lightship use in 1859
LENGTH: 98' 0" (lbp)
BEAM: 23'6" DRAFT: 1l'6" TONNAGE: 232 gross
PROPULSION: Steam propulsion system removed by USN prior to sale to USLHS. Converted to schooner rig when modified for lightship service.
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Single lantern on main - 8 lard oil lamps w/reflectors
FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell and horn
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS:
USLHS records allude to construction at Philadelphia Navy Yard
1854-55-Navy records show built as merchantman Thomas G Haight, NJ
1853, and that the vessel subsequently was used to carry out polar rescue
operations-
1859: lightship conversion and repairs completed at Norfolk VA,
$12,500
(Government records gave no measurements except draft. Other measurements
and tonnage shown are from records of Confederate Naval Museum.)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1860: Frying Pan Shoal (NC); in 1860 she was 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)
1867-1877: Hen and Chickens (MA)
1877-1879: Relief (MA)
(Prior to 1867 when No. 8 was assigned, official records identify this vessel as ARCTIC)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1855 Named ARCTIC by USN, and in company with the bark RELEASE, went
north to 78 degrees, rescuing the missing polar exploration party of Dr.
Elisha Kent Kane then after return was stripped of machinery and sold to
Lighthouse Establishment for lightship use.-
1860: May 14, arrived Smithville NC for use as relief vessel-
1860: Seized and sunk in Cape Fear River by Confederate forces-
1866: Raised, repaired and transferred to 2d District; towed north by IRIS-
1867: May 4, placed on Hen and Chickens MA-
1875: Dragged off station by ice-
1876: Apr, broke adrift in heavy gale, brought up with spare anchor 1 mi
from station-
1877: Nov, assigned as Relief at Woods Hole MA, considered "unseaworthy"-
1878: Declared "old and worthless"
More notes:
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1878 AGE: 25
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION:
LV 8 Sold at public auction Apr 16, 1879
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