The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-06-03
che ARilg BnllFtiN,
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 3, 1885.
OIL ON The TROUBLED WATERS. 4

Washington, May 2.-rhe Hydro
graphic Office of the Navy Depart
ment has for several months been
engaged in collecting data to deter
mine under what circumstance the
use of oil is most cllicacious in
diminishing the danger of breaking
seas during gales of wind. When
sufficient data have been collected it
is proposed to issue pamphlet
giving such directions in regard to
the use of oil as common experience
of seamen may determine to be best.
The following are among the most
striking of the accounts recently re-
ceNed:
In November, 1881, the steam
ship Venice, from Savannah to
Europe, with cotton, while running
before a heavy northwest gale, was
boarded by tremendous sea. The
captain determined to hcave to, and
men were stationed to pour oil
down the closet chutes forward and
to throw waste soaked in oil to wind
ward. The vessel came round with
out shipping any water. AS she
kept falling off, it was concluded to
put her again before the sea, which
was done without trouble, and il
was found that she kept perfectly
dry as long as the oil was used.
Again, in January, 1884, while
crossing the Atlantic to New York,
after running before northwest
gale for some time, she was laid to
without difficulty or danger by using
oil in the manner already stated.
Capt. Richie of the English
steamer Fern Holme, while on his
last voyage from Baltimore to
Shields, used oil bags while running
before west southwest gale. He
hung one over each side just for
ward of the bridge, and they cffectu-
ally prevented the ship from taking
water on deck. First Officer w.
Waltjen of the German steamer
Celon, in December, 1884, used oil
bags with remarkable effect. Two
bags filled with boiled oil were hung
over the bow. The oil spreading
over the surface prevented the
waves from breaking and the ship
rode quite easily during the con-
tinuance of the gale.
Capt. Jones Of the British steam
ship Chicago, while rcscuing the
crew of the brigantine Fedore, used
oil with the best results. 1t was
blowing heavy gale, with very high
seas. The Chicago ran to windward
of the Fedore, and during a lull, oil
having been poured on the water,
the port lifeboat was successfully
launched and started. A can of oil
was taken in the boat, and by using
this the seas were kept down in the
immediate vicinity, though they
broke in masses of foam a short dis
lance away. AS the boat approached
the Fedore the crew of that vessel
poured oil on the water, which so
Gained the sea that the boat got
alongside and rescued the ship
wrecked crew without sustaining any
injury. About half a gallon of paint
oil was used by the boat during her
trip.
The steamship Menzaleh in March,
1855, from Italy to Philadelphia, en-
countered a severe southwest gale.
While running before the sea the
vessel was popped and the main
matches stove in. 1t was determined
to heave to, and the men were sta
toned to drip oil down the forward
chutes. The vessel came around
without shipping any water, and kept
perfectly dry while lying to.
The brig p. M. Tinker, Capt.
Charles Barnard, New York to Cuba
in 1872, encountered a northeast
gale when four days out. Several
heavy seas came on board, doing
great damage. A small bag, with
holes punched in the bottom, was
filled with oil and hung over the
stern. The oil prevented the seas
from combing, and the vessel ran
LOT several hours with dIy decks.
Capt. Amlot of the British steamer
Barrowmore reports that, on APP
preaching the ship Kirkwood OH
January 25 in N. lat. 500 al, w.
long, 21 ., the sea was very heavy,
but he noticed that around the wreck
the sea was much smoother, and dis
covered that the crew of the Kirk
wood, to prevent the waves from
breaking over them, had broken out
the cargo of canned salmon, and
were pouring the oil from the cans
into the sea. Capt. Amlot steered
to the windward of the wreck in the
oil water, lowered his lifeboat, then
ran to leeward, bringing off the crew
of 26 men. Capt. Amlot says he
has ordered to have two bags ready
for use at all times. In running
4