Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-12

What the New York Pilot Finds Difficult
Task-The Manifold Perils which Lie
Round About an Ocean Steamship I'm
til Moored Fast TO Her Pier @s1S
[From the New York Times.I
The ordinary pilot finds it an extreme
~ difficult task TO bring large ocean
steamship into this port and to dock
her without the occurrence of any mis-
hap. With the termination of the per-
lis of the sea the dangers of the harbor
begin. The depth of water IN the ship
channels is quite limited, and the shoals
which abound there are numerous.
Some danger is constantly arising. The
huge ship is not we'll adapted for turn
ing about In a narrow space, and 1t is
difficult to avoid the numerous small
craft which frequently cross her path as
she steams slowly up The harbor. The
greatest care has 10 be observed in ap
preaching her dock, and If not sklllfully
handled there is great danger that she
will do injury to herself or to some other
valuable piece or property before she
can be moored. Until this difficult work
has been brought to successful termi-
nation the pilot and captain are both IN
q state of anxious suspense.
1t requires number of years for a pi-
lot 10 gain sufficient experience to en-
able him to bring a large ocean steam
ship into port. After he has served an
apprenticeship on a pilot-boat he is IL
censed to practice on small vessels of
light draugnt. After running ashore
a few of these crafts he becomes thor
oughly impressed with the fact that it is
necessary to keep within the limits of
the ship channels. Then by degrees he
learns how to keep out of the way of
other vessels, and to bring his charges
safely to their docks. In course of time
he is licensed to pilot the very largest
ocean steamships. The pilot often
boards the incoming vessel several hun
bred miles out at sea. IF he comes on
board III daytime when the passengers
are on deck they greet him as they
would a popular singer who had come to
entertain them. But before their APP
plause has q chance to turn his head he
falls lite the clutches of the captain,
who cheerfully yields to him the respon-
sibilitv for all disasters and other IN
pleasant occurrences which the fates
have IN store for the steamship during
the remainder cfthe voyage. When the
captain and the pilot think that the
proper time has arrived they take sound
ings. Banks on the coast are as numer-
Gus as. banks in Wall Street, and runs on
the former are fully as dangeio GUS as
runs on the latter. The banks which
the steamship Is to avoid are carefully
marked on the chart, and rapid de-
crease In the depth of the water usually
warns the pilot that he is approaching
one of these. IF it happens to be foggy
the pilot must depend almost entirely on
soundings. The danger of collisions Is
then great, even if the vessel lies to. Ali
of the spare steam is used ID feeding the
whistle. The unearthly shrieks Of the
latter is the steamers chief safeguard,
for as long as they can brighten away
other vessels her chances of escaping a
collision are good. If the pilot is eau
tiOus, the steamer lies to until the fog
lifts. Sometimes steamships remain
hove to off the coast for several days be-
fore the weather becomes clear enough
to proceed with safety. The light
houses by day, and the lights themselves
by night, are Of great service in good
weather, if the pilot Is not unfortunate
enough to mistake one Of them for an
other, N which case the ship is apt to
run ashore.
IF the pilot succeeds in avoiding the
perilous shoals OF the coast and finds
himself off Sandy Hook he deems it
wise to pause unless it happens to be
high tide. The anchor is dropped out
side the bar an1 there the steamship re-
mains until in the opinion of the pilot
and the captain, there is a sufficient
depth of water 10 warrant them IN pro-
,o1
1t is sometimes difficult to put the head
of the steamship N the proper direction.
Her stem has weakness for pointing
toward the most dangerous shoals In the
neighborhood ID preference to the prop
er ship Chanel. When at last she has
been forced into the straight and narrow
path which leads to safety the ship
steams slowly along, avoiding the buoys
with great care. The pilot has his
choice of facing the perils of the Swash
Channel Of encountering the dangers Of
the main channel. Few large steam
ships which come to this port have es-
capped going ashore IN the Lower Bay.
In view of this fact the pilot who feels
that his professional reputation Is to a
certain exteng IL stake, strives to entrap
the captain into becoming responsible
for whatever orders are given that may
result ia the stranding of the vessel.
The passengers watch the two comman-
ders with interest. The former are
anxious TO get ashore, but they are IN
little danger, fer even should the steam
ship suddenly take it into her head TO go
to the bottom the depth Of water under
her is so little that they would still be
left high and dry. When the ship has
safely passed the shoals of the Lower
Bay and enters the deep waters of the
Narrows the pilot and captain experience
a temporary feeling of relief. After
passing Quarantine the channel is deep,
but there are numerous large and small
craft to be avoided. The huge vessel
steams slowly up the harbor until she
is opposite her dock in the North River
Then comes the difficult work of NOV
ing her. The tide is apt to be unfavor-
able. If it is running out the vessel
must go above her pier and drift down
to II. but If it is food tide she must stop
below the pier and drift up to it. Sew
eral tug-boats, which are waiting to
ocsist I,l,. 7,774f s1Ois1Iv about while man