The New York herald., 1879-02-01
SAFETY AT SEA.
Further Investigation Of The Interior Regulations
Of The Ocean Steamships.
TESTS OF TIE WATEGTIGHT COMP PARTNENTS.
Thoroughness Of the English In
spection System.

In continuance or the mveSt1gatiOn INTO tne
regulations in vogue on board the ocean steamships
regarding the for delaying preventing their
sinking the of disaster reporter yesterday
visited Mr. +. w. j. Hurst the agent OF the National
uo in this city, and cheerfuly granted an inter-
view. Mr.. Hurst expressed the opinion that no iron
vessel could long remain ahoat after being struck
amidship with the impaired by speed of six or
seven knots hour. The National company enforced
strict regulations in regard to the closing and open
ing of the bulkhead valves. "You don't suppose do
you." said he. that any captain would be fool
enough to endanger his life by neglecting to en-
force this rule? All of ships have watertight
compartments, but we have never had much expert
ence in testing their utility Only one of our ships
was ever stove in. and that was the England She's
in port now. and, by the way. you had better 60
board and see Captain Thompson"
ON BOARD A NATIONAL STEAMER
The reporter accepted the invitation and, being
furnished with note of introduction. he soon after
ward knocked at the door OF Captain Thompson's
chart room, board the England. The Captain.
after learning his errand. unroled sheer plan of
the ship. in which the bulkheads pumps and valves
were all clearly shown. This he preserves for the
sisance of the English inspecting officer who makes
q survey every six months before a new government
certificate for carrying passengers can be obtained
The sluices the bge then opened and water is
pumps. 1t is necessary. in order to keep them in
order, to clean them at the end OF every voyage.
Otherwise the valves would probably rust and be-
! come clogged and, when the moment of danger
rived, could not be opened The English system Of
inspection enforces certain discipline among the
| officers of the ship which is unknown under the
| American merchant flag, and this example might be
| followed with great advantage by our government.
| ''The England" said Captain Thompson, "has
| seven watertght compartments, and every of
| them is supplied with the means of being pumped
| out from the deck without opening the valves con-
Meeting it with the engine room. Suction pipes from
the engine pump extend to every distinct department
of the ship, with the exception of the small division
in the bow, which is drained by powerful hand
| pump. The donkey engine works the other deck
pumps but they also be connected with the main
| engines by means of steam winches which at
tached to every of them. BY our English ystem
survey it is impossible to sail without having all
these arrangements in perfect order. The inspecting
officer takes note Of the sizes of the pumps the guam
tity of water they will discharge in given time has
the sluices opened, measures the capacity of the
water tanks and condensers. and examines boats.
anchors. compasses. &C.. down to the number Of
flags we carry"
"How high your bulkheads"
''They up to the spar deck. Each Of the three
decks is of iron and watertight in itself"
RULES RESPECTING sLUIcEs.
sAnd what regulations have you with regard to the
working Of the suice vaves?"
"Thcy are never opened except the orders of the
first mate the captain. The carpenter sounds the
holds twice dayat eight bells in the morning and
eight bells in the afternoon. He then reports
the first officer the depth of water board If there
is any, and it is entered the log book. 1t i'm
possible for the carpenter to evade this duty. He
could not delegate it to seaman. because
would undertake to do what he knows is within the
carpenters province The engineers too. are always
watching the condition of the sluices and the state
the blge water as they prefer to pump it out At
stated intervals. that too much of it will not
accumulate at once. Any neglect report 1t prop
them"
"Are the suces ever left open during the time the
steamer is in port?'
''No; they are always supposed to be shut except
tssaa wssa pumping Is being d0n'' or when they are
"Do you think that vessel of your line the
rupture OF one compartment by collision would
II do not although on onehalf the ocean steamers
aoat such would be the case If they were at the time
speeding ut the rate of five six knots hour
Three years ago the England encountered an iceberg
Her bow was broken open and the forward compart-
ment filled with water. She did not experience the
least Inconvenience. The rest Of her hold was dry
and she camo into port in perfect safety.
FRENCH STEAMSHIPS.
The General Transatlantic Company's agent, Mr..
Louis de Bebian. when questioned. said that all of
with watertight bulkhcads.
'.My own idea. said Mr.. de Beban. sis that longi-
tudinal compartments would be much better than
those which are now employed. The bulkhcad
valves vessels always kept closed. both in
port and at sea- except when It is desired to let the
watcr from one hold into another"
Are these cargo doors above the ceiling of the
ship"
time in port to facilitate the slowing the cargo"
"Do you not think that steamer may sometimes
sail with these aperurcs open through the neglect
sarn nVsr rcfDhf fAfG
mo, do not. Our rules in that respect very
strict
OF so many ocean steamers when struck. while the
sailing vessels which collide with them generally
escape to harborY'
"we do not fear collisions with steamers With
their steam steering gear they can be turned very
quickly. and besides there is always an officer in
command of the Wheel But sailing vessels
common seaman Is generally placed In charge of the
hclm and half the time they carry no light in the
rigging II. suddenly. dark night the
sees ship loom up before him he is just apt
lose all self-possession as he is not TO. My dodp
lie cxclans, what to dog He first puts the rudder
way; then he is seized with new terror
and puts il hard on to the other quarter. In the
meantime the steamer, IL il be one has already
shifted her course to correspond with his
ment and the next moment" concluded the French
man. bringing his hands together loudly. 1.-THE crash
comes. Tho steamer, being taken abaft her bow, in
consequence of the seanan's idotc manmuvrcs gen.
orally receives u terrific blow. which sends her
straight to the bottom"
'You think. then. that longitudinal compartments
might her from sinkingY'
Il think so, and should like to SEQ the idea ap-
Piled. But am not expert in naval construction,
and would prefer that some else opinion should
be given this subject Certainly the present sys-
TEN does not fully it, purpose"
THE WHITE
visit TO the steamer Adriatc. of the White Star
line elected the Information that like each OF its
consorts, 1t has heven watertght bulkhcads and
eight compartments. The former are carried up to
the main deck aud the aft bulkheads to the spar
deck, there being wateriight door connecting the
saloon with some statcrooms the wake. The
regulations Of the company require that the sluices
hQ vl thav ar.ff "A
for letting water through the bulkhcads. Each hold
IL furnished with pump, which is worked either by
hand or by steam. The valves, which moved by
means of levers from tho deck are carefully in
spcctcd by the carpenter q week. and sounding
il done twice daily.
The first officer Of the Adriatic expressed the
opinion that the sluices of the Pommerania prob
ably open when she struck. In the consequent
confusion they could not be closed quickly enough to
prevent much mischief being done, and perhaps they
were not closed at ALL He thought IL was n wrong
.l..