The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-11
Ocean Expcrieuces.

Captain Button was greeted last night BY o
large audience, every seat in Mechanics Hall
being occupied, while many were obliged to
stand. The marked attention with which the
audience followed the lecturer, and the fire.
quent bursts of applause, showed that Captain
Dnttons remarks we're well appreciated Mr.
j. B. Coyle, Jr., introduced the lecturer.
While affirming that the sea speaks OF some
thing grand and noble to men, infidels being
unknown among sailors, Captain Dutton ad-
vised young men not to go to sea. The shi ps of
the ancients we're very weak, and no improve
ments made until the time of the Romans.
Later the Norsemen had strong vessels, but
from that time until the age of Elizabeth little
was heard OF ships,and the vessel of Elizabeth's
time were small and frail. Cromwell did
much to establish the English navy. The
clippers of forty years ago were splendid YES
sells, bat bad policy on the part of the govern
ment did much to introduce a poorer class of
ships. Next came the era of iron steamships
The first iron vessel, built in 1874, is doing
good service today. An iron vessel floats
lighter, carries moro cargo and lasts longer
than wooden ship. England builds yearly a
great number of iron vessels.
In America great improvement has been
made in the rigging of ships A schooner is
the most easily sailed ship. The great fri
gates and men-of-war have disappeared mainly
on account of the revolution in naval matters
worked by the invention of the monitor Rigg-
ing has been 80 improved that the says seldom
require tightening now as they formerly did
Wire has taken the place of hemp. Great i'm
rrnvarnant hac hnan mazda in fho x,a+hodo "a
sounding. Logs are also greatly bettered, and
ship furniture has become mora comforiabl
than formerly. Ships are now being fitted
with electrical apparatus, and. the electric
light is being rapidly introduces. But the sail
ors look on new inventions with distrust A
sailor is uncomf'--s55iae in storm, when on
land, Otter heartily wishing himself out on the
| sea
Captain Dutton then described the rescue of
the crew of a disabled ship, and told of pick
ing u9 two men adrift in small boat There
are great many curious people found on ship
board. The inquistive rustic who asks ques-
lions OF everybody and understands nothing:
and the sociable lady who believes in free in
tercourse among the passengers, and considers
all people who do not make her acquaintance
stuck up. There is also the consequential man
aud the affected gentleman. Then there are
the argumentative people who freely give ad.
vice to the officers, and consider themselves
far more competent to handle vessel than
any one else; the foreigners who desire shin
rules to be broken in their behalf, and protest
against the tyranny when such things are de-
MED them; the credulous who provide them
selves with note books. copy all that they hear
and are often made the objects of the practi-
cal jokes of their companions, and the hysteri-
cal ladies who make everything of the most
common nature into sign of danger. MANY
ludicrous mistakes of personality are made on
a steamer. Many strange greetings are seen
between the passengers and tn. ir friends, es-
pecislly among the Germans and Swedes
Captain Dutton next spoke of the dangers of
the sea. The fires, in which nearly all the
crews and passengers have persisted ARE among
beset sailors. Now. however, patent devices
are IN use by which the fire is quenched by
steam in place Of water. Much in case of
emergency depends on the captain. To COM
mand ship man must make up his mind in
minute and be as cool as cucumber
The speaker gave many interesting Incidents
in his own career, describing his course when
his vessel was on fire, during collision, and in
the midst of icebergs.
Icebergs are dangerous, but it is danger
easily warded off, it proper precautions are
taken. Captain Dutton has touched an ice
berg but twice.
Saiors have many miraculous escapes, SEEM
ing to be under the care of an especial Prov-
deuce. 1t liz this that makes sailors God
fearing men.
The next lecture ia the course will take
place next Thursday evening. The lecture
will be given by John NJ. Gould, Esq.