The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-12-16
OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.
Its Effects Proved I'm Many Cases.
How II Is Used.

Its Effects Proved I'm Many Cases
How II Is Used.
Tho branch photographic Office in the
maritime-exchangc is supplying all the
merchant captains sailing out of this
port with a pamphlet on the use of oil
to lessen the dangerous effect of heavy
seas. The pamphlet is not a theoretical
dissertation, but compilation of cases
in which oil has been used, with de-
scription of the manner of using it. A
careful record has been kept by the hy-
geographic Office for some time of ships
which have used oil in storms, and tho
officers are convinced OF its great utili-
ty. Experience seems to demonstrate
that mineral oils are not so effective as
vegetable or animal oils and the use of
the first is not recommended
One case cited by the photographic
Office is that of the steamship Thomas
Melville. She left Baltimore in Feb
ruary. 1884. Running before gale
from the westward, she was constantly
boarded with hoavy seas. Two canvas
bags were made, punctured in many
places with q sail needle and filed with
oil. These bags are hung over the bows
and allowed to drag in the water. The
oil spread out TO windward, preventing
the combing of the waves, and the sea
no longer came on board. One gallon
lasted several hours.
Il ghty-six examples are given in the
pamphlet showing the use of the oil in
moderating the force of the waves
The oil was applied in various ways
but the most effective seems to have
been as follows: Take canvas bag and
puncture it full of holes with sail
needle. Then put in it quantity of
oakum, and fill up the bag with oil.
The bags should be hung over the lee
bows, as rule, as the vessel is making
leeway drifts into the ''slick" made on
the water by the oil.
Since the photographic Office began
the dissemination of information in re-
gard to the use of oil in heavy seas its
use has vastly increased. Scarcely q
vessel coming into port now and re-
porting Il heavy storm does not also re-
port having used oil with great benefit.
Every one who has been to sea knows
that the danger in II storm is not from
the wind, but from the sea. A ship is
lost at sea in two ways: First, by the
waves tearing her to pieces, filling her,
and sinking her. They thunder against
her with terri fic force, starting her
seams and wrenching her apart until
enough water has entered TO overcome
her buoyancy ana she goes down. If n
ship is lumber-ladcn she does not sink,
but becomes water-logged and the
waves tear her to pieces and strew the
sea with her wreckagc. Tons of wa
ter are prccip,atcd on her deck, smash
ing it and CARRYING away the matches
and flooding the hold. This is not
done by the waves themselves. but
each great roller is covered like a
mountain with crests and hills and
these are constantly topping about
the ship and rushing wildly against or
over her. Now, oil has the effect of
smoothing down all these and leaving Il
smooth surface to the large CLASSY roll
lers. Thus the greatest danger of Il
storm is overcome.
The other danger is from the waves
themselves, and this nothing can abate.
Iu all vessels there are two centers-
the meter center and the center of
gravity. If vessel is caught by the
waves and rolled over until her meter
center and her center of gravity meet
she caps yes. Vessels have been lost
in this manner, but not often. The
greatest danger is from combing
waves. and the use of oil seems TO be an
almost complete safeguard against
these. Thousands and thousands of
dollars and hundreds of lives have, no
doubt, been saved 10y the use OF oil
A., Vf.:k.,.,o