The New York herald., 1878-02-25
AN OLD SAILORS ADVICE.

THE HURON AND METROPOLIS DISASTERS
HOW TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CAROLINA
coAsT-PRAcTIcAL xuLEs FROM TWENTY
TWO YEARS IxPERIENcE.
From a letter 10 the Baltimore SUM-
While accurate and elaborate charts are for sale by
the agents Of the government In every seaport town,
in twenty of coasting vessels has one on
board To this aud to the TACT that the average
looks upon the frequent and regular OF the lead
with and contempt, may be attributed the loss
of SO many vessels yearly upon our Atlantic coast.
have sailed that coast from Easiport 10 Key West
since 1856, and never had either fear danger Of
going ashore. If an intelligent seaman has good
charts good vessel is OF his compasses and is
AFRAID to his lead he neod never fear going
ashore Currituck Beach any other beach unless
he is caught in a cyclone or hurricane.
Another fault too frequently committed by our sea-
who navigate the Atlantic coast IS thor fondness
Tor hugging the Shore If i. a trail over the
prairie, and they afraid, II they got away
from it, that they would never hnd their way back
again. 1t Is all well enough to skim The coast In fine
weather, especially With the wnd of shore; but, with
q southeaser and thick weather, the beach a most
uncomfortable. neighbor During appren ticeshtp
to this business Tor twenty-five years have found 10
greatly to the comfort Of my spirit ana the safety Of
my skin TO follow the 80 bjolned rulss:-
J. 10 clear Cape Hattcras shoas:-In ordinary
weather, II the wind be anywhere from west around
by north to north.northesst bring Cape Henry Light
house TO bear wes distant i've mica and steer
southeast This course II made good--and with
the vine as above there Is no reason Why II should
not ba.-wlll lead you twcnty-oght miles outside
Of Hatteras shoals; q sufhcient berth 10 satisfy
the most prudent oil marners Nevertheless
NJ night keep the lead going at least once every
hall hour. and should u come up thick DO sure you
get bottom at every cast even II you have TO heave
10 Tor Steering this you Will Currituck
and Bodie's Island Rhts but not Hattsras, when you
viii not approach nearer than twenty ninc miles, but
your nooa observation will tell you when you
the south ward OF It,
With The wind aay whore from northoas, to south
keep on the coast, the current Is tphuoLcc
almost entirely by the wind, and but little il known
Of It's strength and set ON this part OF the Shore
good course is southeast by south iron point five
miles oi Cape Henry until the weather moderates
or your reckoning SHOWS you TO be TO The southward
Of Hatteras. sailing beating down the coast
against s6utheriy WIND should Keep tne lead gong
ON the inshore tack, and SO about as soon as sho
strikes fifteen fathoms.
8. II bouad 10 the southwark from Chesapeake Bay
never go to as the poor Huron did, with a gale
brewing TO the southeast But caught by south
easter 10 The northward OF Hatteras aud you
afraid oi your era put her head well on and
keep your lead goiug from time TO time, TO sure
you are not snoalng your water II she doesn't make
beadway, make the best OF bad bargain ara run
back TO tho Roads. Better Is sale anchorage and
loss OF fregut money tnan bold dash and cradle
Currituck Beach.
would beg say to the seamen II asked how to
keep away from tho dreaded shore, ''the lead the
lead tho leadl" In approaching the coast or in
along the shore the lead should be hove every
fifteen minutes, and 0Itener II your soundIngs show
you TO and II the weather be thick stand
on and on until II clears up. The ''blue pigeon" II
rightly used never deceves aud with II, good chart
and common sense, a sailor Can almost always take
0 himself ana his ship OF course, us Shylock
says '.ships are but boards, sailors but men tLere
be" cyclones aud hurricanes ana other acts Of Cod
against winch human skill and energy are poy eress
But IN sucn cases the seaman does not relax his et
forts he stratus every nerve, tres every method.
hausis bis SKILL invention and experience; and when
he has done this, he has done all that man caa do.