The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-16
OIL UPON THE ANGRY SEA.
sailors Say They Have perfec,
Method Now of Battling with
q Storm.


Method Now Of Battling with
Storm.
/ The use of oil to lessen tho dangcr-
ous effects of heavy seas has been ap-
proved by a few seamen, while the
majority ridicule the theory. Areport-
er who called at the photographic Office
recently received data that would set
the matter at rest. One of the officers
In discussing the question said:
'"The evidence Of the value of oil in
appeasing an angry sea increases daily,
and justifies 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 veg etable 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 Cicnfuegos to Boston, experienced
heavy gale. The seas were tumbling
over 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 bs
filled half full of oakun, and poured
two quarts of pine or wood oil in each
one. The bags were hung from tho
cathcads just low enough to be a-wash.
The effect was simply marvellous.
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 twen-
ty-four hours. This was Jan. 90, 1886.
in latitude SO degrees north, longitude
"a west. The bags were put out at 8
a. m. and kept out for sixteen hours. in
that time using about six quarts of
oil. During the same voyage on Feb.
4, 1885, while in latitude Al north,
longitude 68:25 west, a terrible gale
from the northeast caused the waters
to sweep the deck fore and aft. and it
was freezing at great rate. The ship
was lying TO under lower maintopsail.
In this instance four bags wese used,
two forward ut each cathead and two
aft at each pumpkin. 1t had precisely
the same effect as in the previous case.
and in my opinion, the bark and all
ON board were saved from total de-
struction by the use of oil.
"Capt. William Pcakc, master of the
schooner j. F. Krantz, was making a
passage from Port Spain, Trinidad, to
Boston. When fifteen miles cast of
Cape Hatteras, he experienced a terri
fic gale from the north-northeast. The
sails were blown away, men were wash
ell away from the pumps, boats and
other utensils on the deck were totally
wrecked by the heavy seas. The cap
tain used two common wooden kegs
filled with eight gallons Of linsccd oil.
A small hole for q vent was bored in
the bottom and top of the kegs, so as to
permit the oil to gradually oozc out.
The kegs were lashcd to the quarters of
the vessel. The oil vent was just large
enough to allow not much more than a
drop ut time to ooze out. The effect
was all that could be desired. Scarcely
drop of water came on board, the
men were enabled to return to the
pumps and succeeded in pumping out
the vessel and clearing the decks Of the
debris. The oil was used for sixteen
hours, from 2 A. NJ. to 6 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 q hurricane. He got a
common canvas bag, made small holc
in the bottom, filled the bag with
oakunl, and then poured in q quantity
of common deck varnish. This bag
was suspended from the martini
gale and allowed to just clear
the water. He ordered the
bag to be kept in position for twenty
four hours, and used in time about four
gallons of the varnish. From the posi-
ton 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 vessel 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 to life or limb. There
are many other cases where the use of
oil is credited with having saved vessels,
but what ] have told you ought to be
sufficient to satisfy the most incredu-
lous of its efficacy. We are cndcavor-
ing to impress upon oil scamcn the im-
portancc of its use, and before long
those who ridiculcd the idea will be in
duccd to believe in it. ."-New Iork
Mail and Express.