, 1884-04-22
HARBOR PERILS.
Collisions.
The Remarkable skill and Goodness
Which the Pilots Have to Pos
cess in the Face of Con-
Htnnt Danger.


New York Timcsl
Collisions in the hnrbor, though OF fire.
quent occurrence, rarely result in loss Of life.
The newspapers invariably make mention Of
the fatal accidents, but the marrow escapes
which often happen are seldom brought to
the notice Of the public. In IA crowed har-
Dor like that of New York feTry-boats aud
other craft are constantly in danger of
running into each other, and but for the
skill OF the pilots collisions would BE- 80 fro
luent that it would become necessary to
limit the number of vessels plying in the
dnrbOr.
Great GOODNESS is necessary in a harbor
pilot. II the man who handles the wheel
once loses his control over himself an acct
lent Is sure to follow. But our harbor pilots
have become so used to hairbreadth escapes
that they are firm believers in the old adage
that "a miss is as good as n mile" a few
summers ago a reporter was allowed to enter
the pilot-houso of a crowded excursion boat
which was threading its way among numer-
Gus craft, all of which seemed to be bound in
different directions. The pilot was a stout,
good-natured old man, with gray hair
and whiskers. The responsibility which
rested upon his shoulders did not
seem 10 worry him in the least. Another
teaIner, densely crowded with pleasure
seekers, suddenly attempted to cross his
bows. The old pilot coolly put his wheel as
far TO one side a IL would 20 and then, with
n look Of interest on his countenauce,
patiently awaited further Developments.
The reporter looked anxiously about for a life
preserver. A sudden list OF tho steamer indi.
Gated that the passengers were hurrying from
the side which was likely to strike the other
vessel Tn passengers On the latter craft
also appeared to have become alarmed. The
two steamers just grazed each other, and in
Il second the danger was over. a smile illu-
minated the face OF tho old pilot as he OK
claimed, al knowed We VAIN agoin' to bit
her; it amt the nears that hurts, it's only
the hits"
The GOODNESS which the old pilot displayed
Is n fair sample Of that with which tho ma
jority OF our harbor pilots are gifted. There
liz u code of signals in which the pilot must
become proficient before he can obtain n Ii.
cenSc. When another craft approaches the
pilot indicates by a certain number CT
whistles on which side he wishes to pass. II
the proposition is perfectly satisfactory to
the other pilot he replies with certain whistle.
which may be Interpreted as "all right"
But IL he prefers to offer an amendment to
the original motion he signals by whistles
the course which ho is determined to follow.
If any other debate is INDUCED in between
the two pilots II collision Is quite certain 10
ensue. As Il rule, however, the original sig
nal IS answered by assenting whistles from
the other pilot. This plan works we'll
enough when only two vessels are pass
ing each other, but when half a dozen or
more steamers are approaching each other
from different directions It seems almost i'm
possible to avoid one without running into
another. Then everything depends upon the
GOODNESS and skill OF the pilots. Each man
counts upon other dangers arising as soon as
tho nraaanf pna faaS,4 IA vvay IIa fhnrn,rb 1xy
realizes that a single false move Gu his part
will result in u disaster. He also knows that
II II collision should occur and the blanc
should he liked upon him his license would
be taken away and he would be thrown out
OF employment. But this knowledge makes
him all the more cool. In foggy weather the
danger of collision Is much greater than at
other times. The pilot who takes his vessel
out into n fog must keep his cars Us well Us
his eyes open.
The business man who constantly goes to
and from the city by the ferry is also daily
exposed to the dangers of the harbor. The
chances of his being blown up, drowned, or
trampl0d To death in II panic are remote, but
thoss chances still exist. He may be in great
danger several times during his trip and yet
fancy himself perfectly secure. 1t has fire.
quently been alleged that there is no steam
boat engineer OF experience who has not at
some time turned water into his boilers with
out entertaining grave fears that the opera
ton would result in n grand blow-up. A
slight bfunder might easily cause a collision
between a large ocean steamship and d ferry
boat which would result in the almost
immediate sinking of tho latter. And on a
crowded ferry-boat a panic might easily be
started, in which numbers Of people would be
tramped to death. Persons who constantly
cross the ferries have no idea OF the narrow
escapes which they sometimes undergo.
But there IRE people who never realize these
dangers, yet are alarmed by the approach Of
another vessel. or a sudden whistle, or tho
ringing OF a bell. The loud noise caused by
the blowing of Of surplus steam often alarms
persons, who seem incapable OF realizing the
fact that the very discharge of this steam
adds to the safety Of the boilers
Several years ago the pilot OF a Fulton
ferry-boat dropped dead at the wheel just as
no was about To leave the slip on the Brook
lyn side OF the river. The ferry travelling
public then experienced II great shock. 1t
realized that it bad escaped inh1merable dis
asters owing to the fact that pilots had not
been in the habit Of dropping dead. One Of
them, however, had set this disagreeablo
fashion. Public sentiment on this point was
30 strong that the managers of the ferry COM
pany We're forced to place an assistant pilot
vi NSNh Va - NAhT 81 lNAoAAN AkAhl YUM
mended this change, but some OF the pilots
stated in private that their assistants merely
acted as n reminder to them of the fact
That they were liabl to sudden death, and
that this style of reflection did not tend to
ward the strengthening of their confidence in
themselves The pilots of tbs ferry.
boass are, as a rule, more careful than the
men who steer the smaller boats. The former
realize the great responsibility which rests
upon them, and they prefer to put up with u
litt.e delay rather than to dispute the right
Of precedence with other craft Tug-boat
pilots often presume upon this weakness ON
the pat of the forry-bont pilots, AMI demand
the right of way when they arc not entitled
10 it. When n tug boat presumes too much,
and ms a consequence is run into, her pilot
promptly lays the blame on the other vessel
and talks OF the heartlessneSs Of the pilots OF
the ferry boats, who, according to him, de-
light in singing out helpless little craft and
running them down from purely diabolical
motives.
Religion or the Cabinet
A.