The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-20
HOW TO STEER STEAMBOATS,.
CiPE SAM MARTIN REv0LUTIONI1fN0
TIM ART or NiVISITIOM
A Practical Mariners kxperieree mt tho
wheel-steerinx u sten-.boat with n Iseve<.
a Description of thA Apparatus.

wheeI-steerinx u sten-.boat with Leve<.
a De.criptior OF shA Apparatus.
Capt. Samuel @. Martin OF the Plymouth
Rock has invented an apparatus for steering.
steam vessels By tho use OF n simple levor. A.
boy may handle tho largest ship with the ut
most easo, Tho Captain predicts that his dis
coveTr will revolutionize the art Of guiding
steam vessels.
Capt. Martin is hardy mariner. on the shady
side OF half century. He began active life as
a deck hand on board tho steamboat Swan in
lS45. Tho swan ran between this city and Am-
boy. She was owned by the Camden -'.ni Am.
hoy Railroad Comntny. An apt student in the
art OF navigation. the Captain soon became in
tcrcstcd In the coastinR trade. and made him
sclf familiar with every harbor between New
y?!k and Key West ~. ai.:.y is. .. 500 a.. a.
California opened 10 him haw neld Mr..
William H. Lighthill. n wcll-known engineer.
built n steamboat for Mr.. Edward Minturn. She
was named tho Corneia. and was to make
regular trips on the San Joaquin River Mr..
Minturn was about to send her to San Fran
cisco in a clipper ship. but Mr.. Lighthll sug-
Restcd that II might be much cheaper TO sail
her there. Mr. Minturn thought that no trusty
seaman would undertake tho job. Capt. Mar
tin. however. said that the plan was feasible.
Cornelas machinery was placed in her hull.
and her paddle wheels were taken as freight.
The Captain rugged her like three -masted
schooner. sailed her through the Straits Of
Magellan. and arrived nt the Golden Gate after
a voyage OF 40 days. After some service on tho
Pacific coast the Captain returned 10 New York.
In 1862, In tho steamer Mercury. he piloted
Of Port Royal. and the capture OF Hilton Head
aud Beaufort followed. From that time 70 tho
close Of tho war the Captain was actively en-
gagged IN tho Government Service; He com
manded despatch boats for Gems. Butler. Dix.
and Foster, and saw much service ut Hampton
Roads and in tho Chesapeake. At the close OF
the war he was employed on Lorillard's line Of
steamers for long time but OF late years has
run the Plymouth Rock for Jarrett 4 Palmer
STEAMBOATS, plying between Savannah and jack
sonvill". Last winter he commanded the City
between those two cities. The trips were made
through tortuous creeks that seam immense salt
meadows, and tho ST. Johns River wis entered
we're kept at the wheel. and the sharp turns In
the creeks kept them on a continual Jump.
Before the boat reached the st. Johns they were
II saw them s,caming with perspiraiion. .,
says the Captain. and watched the knOlung Of
II was hard work. and felt sorry for them.
Many times have seen men Knocked out OF
pilot houses by the sudden wrenching OF 4
wheel from the action OF the water upon IA rud-
dor. bcgnn TO think that there must be n way
to avoid all this trouble. and aftor many expert
ments. have hit upon the very thing"
Vessels ar stored by chains or ropes
that 20 through two blocks under the pilot
house, run aft on each side OF the vessel pass
down the stern. run through blocks on each
side. and are hooked to the rudder. The chains
10 around the barrel OF the wheel in the pilot
house. and the rudder Is moved by turning the
wheel. When the ruddcr IL strnight there Ia
little pressure on the wheel and tho rudder
does not jerk much. The moment a pressure
is put upon the wheel. and the rudder
moves TO the right. the chain slacks on the left;
There is a strain ON tho right OF the ruddor. and
a dead slack on tho left. Capt. Martina inven A.
ton picks up this slack and holds 1t. No INIT
ter In what osition or at what angle the rudder
Is placed. II is held rs taut as though II was
straight. With wheel the rudder IL held In
position by main strength and frequently the
sudden strain IN 80 great that the rudder is
thrown over on the slack turning the wheel in
the pilot house. either throwing thc mon hold
ing II or breaking the gear.
Cnpt. Martin piaces a steam cylinder with
| pistOns on each side OF tho vessel The cyln-
| dcrs are Joined by steam pipc, Tho boiler Is
| tapped. and the steam In supplied through u
| valve In the pipe connecting the two cylinders.
| The valve IN operated by lever in tho pilot
| house The pistons run through the cylinders
! aud the chains leading 20 the ruddor and the
pilot house are attached 20 the pstons. The
| following rough diagram may serve to explain