Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-04-26
WITH The PILOTS.
OUTWARD BOUND IN THE DIRECTION
OF INCOMING VESSELS
Danger of Collision - boarding . ship
''sigbalixiag"-six Hundred Niles
East-A Hard Life-Isot-
4 tom Of the Sea.
IaY. Csn Iettar.l


Hearing the remark frequently made
by western people, Il would like TO see
the ocean. il occurs TO me that a sketch
of voyage out Of New York with the
Sandy Hook pilots might not be uninter.
esting. This is an old association OF
pilots governed by laws and charter,
owning in co.partnership large number
Of schooner. built boats. They sail east
and south in the direction Of incoming
vessels, in active competitor with each
other, under general law that every
vessel must take the first pilot
who boards her The contest
for vessels. due to active com
petition, leads them out 500 and SOC
miles from port have gone with them
on voyages of week and more On one
of these we went aboard where the boat
lay at anchor in the upper bay-four
pilots, a crew of six, and myself. The
pilots were arrayed in the latest style from
hat TO shoes. But when the order was
given make sail these dandies went be-
low. reappearing shortly after in the
roughest clothes, of heavy, course goods,
and perfect museum OF hats After
had made like change of apparel. we al
sat on deck smoking aud chatting as We
sailed past the forts at the NarOws aud
down the lower bay, over the bar and
past Sandy Hook and the highlands of
Neyersink, until dusk closed down over
the sea. .I..
The next morning we turn out at dawn
while decks are being swabbed, dress and
shave. Shaving yourself. with the boat
going up and down bill. and with an Oc-
e0Efanal fhNar- lnFab - liz L. III
business. rs you may imagine. The
schooner Is built after model peculiar to
its kind. Ii Is very strong and compa T.
though with good lines for sailiag quality,
low at the waste, with deck free as posi-.
BILE from distractions so that the sea can
make q clean sweep and do little damage
heavy sparS and canvas. and very
deep keel. When reefed down, the
boats will endure storm which
would cripple The best Of ships
There is no ,apsize or sink to
them. The danger 10 pilots is collision
and In going aboard of vessls in bad
weather. When vessel signals for a
pilot by setting her flag in the main
shrouds, the one whose turn il is goes be.
low, and appears on deck again dressed in
good clothes and with his grip in his
hand The yawl, which has been lashed
on deck. bottom up. is balanced at the
middle of her keel on the rail-, and then,
with vigorous shove. Is sent overheard
Boats. crew and pilot tumble in feat re
Quiring skill and steadiness when the sea
is running high, and start for the vessel.
when the next difficulty arises-to get the
pilot aboard without being capsized or
stove alongside. Wien once on deck he is
In absolute command.
Signaling. or. as they say. "signalizing. +"
ai night is a striking spectacle. Directly
in the darkness two white lights are seen,
one above the other. A pot Of naphtha,
with lid through which runs a stick,
the immersed end wrapped with wooden
cloths, is brought on deck. Taking the
stick in hand il lifts off the lid. and the
naphtha end is lighted, making aiming
torch This is swung in large circles,
three times Illuminating the vessel from
stem 10 stern and from the surrounding
waves 10 the masthead. II is thgu
plunged into the pot, extinguishing he
Dame and leaving all around in impene
Irable darkness This is twice repeated.
and, as the torch fares around sails.
cordage. men. and broken waves are
viii ~ oANhll kt1Its We utdI
the signal lights cautiously aud put the
pilot aboard. And so we sailed on east
Wsrdly until we put our last pilot on
board the City of hester, when from the
bridge be signaled me TO go below and in
dulge Ia wine, cigars and sleep, and take
my easo back 10 port
We have been out of sight OF land now
five days since we left Sandy Hook We
are some GOO miles east. not far from the
hanks. and in tHe region OF cold fogs
This life is at best none too comfortable.
and IN winter is exceedingly wearing
anu dangerous. TIE exposure tells upon
the pilots. and as rule they break down
earlier in life than landsmen. Their fac.
ulIies remain wonderfully acute while in
health. What to us would be the merest
film On the horizon they see clearly as a
vessel. discerning her rig. size, and ma.
t:onaliIy. Their knowledge Of the cruis.
Ing. ground from New York 10 .NewfOund.
IaDd is very complete Aside from the
use of neckonings, they know from sound
ings, and the character Of the sea bottom
which they sample by means OF piece Of
wax 10 the lead about where they are
Most Of us are familiar with the purpose
OF compass, quadrant chronometer anC
charts. but this use Of soundings anC
other signs is worthy Of further mention
The bottom OF tie Atlantic. in thi
region, Las teen carefully sounded anC
mapped. and its varying Characteristic
found 10 lie so distinctly marked that |
lOca ily eau be determined very much a
it is on terra firma feople are not ar
10 think Of land as In any way associated
with the ocean Ut the land beneath III
depths l. aim, 81 as varied in contour anC
peculiarities AS that adapted to the habita
lion Of man. II has its climates. II,
vegetable growihs peculiar 10 them. IL
mountains valleys plains, table lands
deserts; lis vary tracts Of ooze, sand
gravel. and scoria due to various causes
current and Temperatures
The rivers emptying into New YorE
hay carry down vast quantities Of sedi
ment, much Of which is deposited at IL
enIraDte. forming bars and shoals. leayinI
channels of deeper water between
Through here. I'm foggy weather, th
pilot feels his way by means Of the lead
relying ON the topography Of the bottom
o. one would find bis way IN a city b
streets and crossings.
Getting into PRINT