Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-24
OIL AT SEA.
PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF OIL ON TROUBLED
WATERS

WATERS.
Although the effects of pouring oil upon
the troubled waters scarcely enters into the
mind of man beyond 6gurative sentiment,
there are few modern instances of its wonder
full powers at sea in cases of impending ship.
wreck. Those few cases, however, which
have found faithful record, ought to arrest
more deeply the public attention for if the
efficacy of oil is Of the nature which these &C.
counts would lead US to accept, so simple a
provision against the disasters of the ocean
cannot be too extensively known.
AS far back as 1770, Dutch East India
man was saved from wreck in storm near
the islands of Paul and Amsterdam by pour
ing on the sea jar of olive oil. ..
The writer of Wellerdehre states that a
Mr.. Richie, who accompanied Danish cap.
tain to the island of Porto Santo (being tutor
to his sony, was standing on the shore during
hurricane, when he saw the vessel in which
be arrived torn from her anchor and swallowed
up. Suddenly, in the middle of the bay, ap-
peared boat driving towards shore. The
waves, however, advanced with redoubled en-
ergy, without breaking, and tossed the boat
so high on the strand that the men we're able
to jump out and scramble up the beach. The
rescue was due to the captain, who, as the
boat entered the breakers, stove in keg of
oil, which, though unable to lessen their
height, prevented the waves from breaking,
and caused them to run up the strand like
rollers, carrying the boat with them.
In 1867, master stated in the New York
Shipping List that he bad been at sea twenty
eight years and master for ten years, and
that he had saved the vessel under his com.
mand twice by oiling the sea. He says when
ship is disabled and cannot get out of a
storm, and the master has to make the best
of gale, if he has oil on board he should
start two or three gallons over the side, to
windward this will make smooth water.
The oil allowed to drip slowly out is all that
is required; the ship is in smooth, though
heaving, water as long as the oil runs. In
1854, in the heaviest gale of wind he ever
experienced, he lost all sails, and then the
rudder followed; and he knew the vessel
could not have ridden the sea for an hour
longer if he had not had some oil. Five gal
Ions lasted ffty.six hours, and thus saved the
vessel, cargo and lives. He recommends that
ships of heavy tonnage should have two iron
tanks Of forty gallons each, one on one side,
with the faucets so arranged that the oil can
be started at any time into small vessels-say
ten.gallon casks and in all ships boats, tanks
of Eve gallons each we'll filled, 80 that in
case the ship founders or burns, the boats
will have oil to smooth the sea in gale
With these tanks, and good master who
knows the law of storms and handles the ship
so as to get out of the centre of it, the danger
of foundering is greatly reduced. au.a
Capt. Belts, of the King Cenric, OF ,49O
tons, which lately arrived at Bombay from
Liverpool with cargo of coal, used common
pine oil in heavy gale of wind to prevent
the sea breaking on board, and with perfect
success. The gale continued for nearly five
days and ragged with determined fury. 1t had
lasted some time, when the chief officer, Mr..
Bowyer, bethought himself of plan be had
seen tried upon some occasions when in the
Atlantic trade. to prevent the sea breaking in.
He got out two canvas clothes bags into each
he poured two gallons of oil. Hepunctured the
bags slightly and hung one over each quarter,
towing them along. The effect was magical.
The waves no longer broke against the poop
and sides of the ship; but yards and yards
away, where the oil had slowly spread itself
over the water. The crew were thus able to
repair damages with greater ease the ship
was relieved from those tremendous shocks
received from the mass of water which had
burst over her quarters and stern, and the
danger was considerably lessened.