The Pacific Coast's first fog signal

The Pacific Coast's first fog signal was an Army surplus cannon placed at Point Bonita Light Station at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The cannon was officially placed in service on August 1856, and during foggy periods was fired every half hour. The 24 pounder taken from the Benicia Arsenal was placed in charge of Sgt. Maloney, who had retired from the Army. With an average of 1,000 hours of fog annually, the old vet wore himself out, often working 24 hours around-the-clock with no relief. The inspector finally had mercy and sent him an assistant. The troublesome weapon was terminated on March 18, 1858 when a fogbell was installed. The old firing piece still survives as a museum attraction, its role having pioneered thousands of fog signals of gradually improving caliber that have honked their dismal cries at stations all along the Pacific rim.