The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-04-29
OIL UPON THE ANGRY SEA.
Sailors Say They Have Perfect Method
Now of Battling with Storm.

1 u
The use of oil to lessen the dangerous
effects of heavy seas has been approved
| by q few seamen, while the majority
ridicule the theory. A reporter who
called at the photographic office recent
| ly received data that would set the mat
ter at rest One of the officers in dis
cussing the question said:
''Ihe evidence of the value of oil in
appeasing an angry sea increases daily,
and justities the photographic office in
| obtaining all the facts on the subject.
| Mineral oil is not recommended, while
the Importance of carrying supply of
animal or vegetable oil, to be used in
an emergency, can not be overrated.
Here are some cases that will be of in
terest to the shipping community. Capt.
Hill, of the bark Neptune, en- route from
CienfuegoS to Boston, experienced a
heavy gale. The seas were tumbling
over the ship, endangering the sailors
lives, as well as the ship and cargo. To
Try what effect oil would have on the
seas the captain caused two hempen
burlap bags made three feet long and
ten inches wide and roped with ratline
stuff, to be filed half full of oakum, and
poured two quarts of pine or wood oil
in each one. The bags were hung from
the catheads just low enough to be
| a-wash. The effect was simply marve-
lous. Scarcely drop of water came
on board after putting the bags out.
The reef was shaken out and the vessel
made two hundred and eighty miles in
twenty-four hours. This was on Jan.
%, 1886, in latitude 80 degrees north,
longitude 75 west. The bags were put
out at A. NJ. and kept out for sixteen
hours. in that time using about six
quarts of oil. During the same voyage.
on Feb. 4, 1886, while in latitude 6S:25
west, a terrible gale from the northea st
| caused the waters to sweep the deck fore
and aft, and it was freezing at great
rate. The ship was lying to under low
er maintopsail. In this instance four
bags were used, two forward at each
cathead and two aft at each bumbkin.
1t had precisely the same effect as in the
previous case.
''Capt. William Peake, master of the
schooner j. +. Krantz, was making a
passage from Port Spain, Trinidad, to
Boston. When fifteen miles east of
Cape Hatteras, he experienced a terrific
gale from the north-northeast The
sails were blown away, men were washed
away from the pumps, boats and other
utensils on the deck were totally wrecked
by the heavy seas. The captain used
two common wooden kegs filled with
eight gallons of linseed oil. A small
hole for vent was bored in the bottom
and top of the kegs, so as to permit the
oil 70
were lashed to the quarters of the vessel
The oil vent was just large enough to
allow not much more than drop at
time to ooze out. The effect was all that
could be desired. Scarcely drop of
water came on board, the men were en-
abled to return to the pumps and sue
ceeded in pumping out the vessel and
clearing the deck of the debris. The oil
was used for sixteen hours, from A. M.
10 p. NJ, and in that time about eight
gallons, all told, were expended. The
same captain also reports that during
another voyage he was caught in hur-
ricane. He got a common canvas bag,
made small hole in the bottom, filled
the bag with oakum, and then poured
in quantity of common deck Varnish.
This bag was suspended from the mar
tingale and allowed to just clear the
water. He ordered the bag to be kept
in position for twenty-four hours, and
used in that time about four gallons of
the varnish. From the position of the
bag the varnish had but very little time
to act on the combers before the seas
reached the bows. Still it had a marked
effect on them, so much so that the YES
sci was no longer boarded by the heavy
seas, although they were running just as
high. The crew were able to return to
the pumps and other work without risk
10 life or limb. There are many other
cases where the use of oil is credited
with having saved vessels, but what l
have told you ought to be sufficient to
satisfy the most incredulous of its effica-
cv.-N Y Mail and ELpreSs.