The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-03
SOCIALISM FOGGY WEATHER
LET THERE RE NO MORE FEARFUL COL
LISIONS ON THE OCEAN.
Capt Bhrker's Method or Grouping the Points
of the Compass with Distinct signals for
Each Group Warning from the Pomeranin.

Cnpt. Barker's Method or Grouping the Points
of the Compass with Distinct signals for
Each Group Warming from the Pomcranin.
A practical and certain method OF avoid
ing collisions between vessels meeting each
other on The high seas In thick or foggy weather
is a want that has always been felt Regardless
Of the law. steamships are usually run under n
full head Of steam iu thick weather. Their
commanders say that there being no sure way
OF avoiding collisions tho neat best thing is to
get sufficient momentum 10 turn aside or de-
stroy an opposing obstacle. because lesser
force must give way TO n greater. and of two OBJ
jects II the Same weight meeting that which Is
travelling ut the greatest speed will contain the
greatest protective force. Under the present
system when the masters OF two vessels become
aware " each others proNimitya series Of horn
tootinEs or whistles-if STEAMSHIP s-follows. 1t
seldom happens that even the most experienced
seamcn are enabled to judge by these noises
from what direction vessel is approaching
them. They cnnnot form the remotcst ideu. II
II be a sailing vessel. whether she is on the star
board or port tack or running straight toward
them. II it is ship with sails trimmed
close to the wind she cannot be quick
~ handled. She cannot " luir up" rend-
ily to avoid tho approaching vessel. nor
The course Of approaching vessels in a fox Is
not known until they sight each other and as
Mt that time they are in close proximity. their
running clear OF each other hangs on the sen-
der thr"nd of their masters doing the right
thinS instantly No rules can govern .surh
cn-cs hccuuse neither mHstor can judge what 60
90 until lie secs me oih'r snip ana marNs the
wny her sails are trimmed.
How ensv IL II To do the wrong thing NJ n criu-
cal momgni mny be Judged 'front.' story 81 the
steamship Pomrrania of the Hamburg line.
that was IN collision with tho Welsh bark Noel
lillian ~ Duncenness Point. English Channel.
ON the 2Jth Of November last. The point is NJ
tho mouth OF the Straits u Dover. The bark
was running down with north nor.h cast or
fair. wind. The Pomerani had Just sailed from
therhourg. France. and WIS bound NJ the
hark's foG horn but the steamships whistle.
hetng 90 Toward. wus NOT heard aboard the turk.
Soon the two vessels were close upon each other.
the steamship. flying through tho water with
starboard tucks aboard. Onccr FrauZ'n of the
steamship would not attempt to cross tho bark 5
bows, aud he nut his wheel 70 Iort SO that the
bark. II she held her course. could clear him.
Al the same time, Capt Pritchard ot the bark.
rui his wheel hard up So as 20 allow the
steamship tn cross his vessels bow uul the two
Vessels. both turning in tho sumo direction.
Capt W. u. Barker who has had fourteen
y'urs experience ~ mate and master Of strari-
shiis AMI sailing ships. has been working at
II" believes TINT bee hns found solution. Tho
trltty-iwo points 81 the compass ere divided. IN
known 10y combination of long and short
sounds. ms follows: From north to northeast.
ou" snort sound northeast to cast. two short
sounds Do rapid suc'rssion; cHst 90 southeast
thro' short sounds ia rapid succession: south
east to south. four short sounds IN rapid suc-
ccssien; south 10 southwest. one long blast On
whistle or horn; southwest 20 west. two long
hlnsts: west 10 northwest one short blast tll-
lowed by "a long blast ana another short blast ;
northwest q north. Que long blast followed by u
short blast nuI another long blast.
The present law con! pel- the masters - sail
ing vessels TO sound a horn once every five
minutes while under weigh in a fox. steam
SHIPS must blow their whistles. ON board the
former class " vessels II H. customary tO rive a
man two-hour watch with the fox horn. In
the system Proposed hy Capt. Barker this man
may b" Instructed g. sound ~ regular Intervals
ON ia" 'ng horn the signal winch corresponds
to tho course the hrlu-innn H. steering. Ii the
course OF the vessel l. northeast by east. east
northeast. east hy north. or due east. two short
blasts would be given. which woult emhrHce
the luur points frum northeast to "HS;. \ sioUni-
ships whistle would Indicate her course 20 an
Nyi roach IA vessel.
S"amen neree IN saying that an binary fog
horn ls easily heard one mil" t. lceWard In a
TX I'll" distance al which IL may be heard 90
winiwari varies. - course. with the strength
az tho wind, hut il IL well known TINT a fox pre-
Nall- only IN night winds. because Otherwise Il
would be- di-geilei. With the Use ot Cart. Bar
kDr'S system the muster % q vessel hrHrI NJ a
tx horn or steam whistle blowing a certain sig
nal. muy know 40 once from which quarter "A
vessel IL approaching him. and lay ms course
accordingly. The following 10 al Illustration Of
tie WORKING Of the system