The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-11
Lesseming the PeriIs OF Sea Travel.


Lpssening the Perils OF Sea Travel.
The Photographic ONCE has lately begun
tho collection Of facts designed to throw
light on tho extent to which oil ls efllcacious
In smoothing rough sens during storms and
gales, and also on tho best methods OF apply
ing this lubricant. as shown by actual ex-
perience. The instances already gathered
by 1t indicate that when this use OF oil be-
comes more general and more mcthodical
1t may play an important part among the
safeguards OF navigation.
One OF last years cases was that OF tho
steamer Thomas Melville. which. after leav-
ing Baltimore, found herself running before
gale from tho westward that caused her to
be constantly boarded BY heavy seas. A
couple OF canvas bags were hastily maize,
puncturcd hero and there with sailncedle
then filed with oil, hung over the bows, and
allowed to drag in the water. Tho seas
quickly ceased to como on board; and as the
holes were small. a gallon Of oil used In this
way lasted about an hour. Tho steamship
Moidart. at anchor off Madeira, not long be-
fore had a like experience, riding out heavy
gallo with very high seas, by the use OF OIL
and taking no water aboard.
Last month the steamer Thingvalla cncoun-
tered severe hurricane, during which a
lifcboat was smashed and the third officer
and three men injured. Then the marine
drag was let go and oil bags were put over
the side; and for nineteen hours she lay in
that way without shipping any water. Not
less convincing was the experience OF the
British brig NJ. Taylor, caught in a severe
hurricane In the North Atlantic, while the
barometer fell below 90. Whom Capt. LUDLOW
put her before tho wind, there WAS great dan
ger OF her being swamped. Two bags full OF
oakum and oil wcro then hung over the
quarters The effect was remarkable, tho
seas ccasing to break aboard tho vessel but
changing to heavy ground swell, in which
the brig ran ON safely for ten hours, when
tho fierce gale moderated.
Instances could be gathered from private
reports to augment this list of recent pcrls
avertcd by the use OF oil; but the foregoing
arc official from tho latest memoranda OF the
photographic Office. The British have been
prosecuting much longer their researches
into this subject, and not only Government
but private enterprise has been enlisted in
its investigation. One or two Scotch gentle
men have been consplcuously liberal in their
OUTLAWS OF money rs well as Of labor for the
purpose Of determining by what contri-
vances harbors can be made safer under the
emollient influence of oil. They have even
constructed appliances. designed to be per-
mnnent, for tho purpose of sprinkling oil at
the mouths of ports.
Very interesting experiments were also
made few months ago by the British In
spector OF Life Saving Stations. Hc en-
ployed the boats under his control, at many
points along tho coast, in determining tho
degree OF efficiency OF oil and the best ways
OF using 1t. 1t must DO owned that his con-
cluslons were noC favorable to the extreme
claims made for oil. That is, no distinctly
advised against carrying the extra weight OF
oil in lifeboats, on the ground that the fierc-
est breakers will drive through 1t and make
1t useless; and it Is in tho exceptional seas
which wreck vessels that lifeboats are chiefly
called upon to act. On tho other hand, no
one is more enthusiastic than he In praise OF
oil, save for the worst coast breakers; and
he looks forward 70 the timo when an or
binary ships boat will no more be found
without its oiling apparatus than without its
oars or rudder
Our photographic Once has Just urged the
masters OF vessels to mako experiments In
this new work with OIL and to report tho re-
suits; and on its part 1t promises to publish
pamphlet in due time, containing the tabu-
lated facts. Only two or three years ago,
alleged instances OF smoothing tho seas
around an imperillcd vessel by sacrificing a
barrel OF petroleum to Father Neptune were
listened to with dcrisive smile. Two or
three years hence, there may be a dozen
patented methods OF distributing oil on the
waters with maximum economy and eff
tlcicncy. Meanwhile the simple contrivances
used III tho foregoing instances cited from
the papers Of the photographic Office. will
doubtless commend themselves to mariners