The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-11
About Fog Signals.

President A. @. Cheney, OF the National
Board Of Steam Navigation, which recently
convened in New York city, In his annual
report read before the body, made the fol-
flowing remarks concerning fog signals: II
now desire TO call your attention 10 what
regard rs the most important question for
the consideration OF this board, and ques-
ton second 10 none other in its effects upon
the shipping interests of the country and
of the world I refer 10 the matter Of tog
signals. Much has been said upon this sub
ject In the public press, and we have had
codes prepared with the greatest care, upon
the telegraph system, to indicate by the
steam whistle the direction In which vessel
may be steering. But that cNpedicnt does
mot overcome the difficulty, which u.s. that
iin certain conditions Of the atmosphere
sound does not travel In direct lines, and
will not proceed from one steamer To
another in given direction. although IL
may be heard In an opposite direction. In
other words, the sounds OF the two vessels
fog signals will not always travel on
parallel lines, and at some times ana under
some conditions no steam whistle or fog
thorn ever invented can be heard at dis
lance Of so yards. This is q startling prop
osition, and II true. adds a new terror 10
ocean navigation. II Is not new PROPOSE
ton, but those engaged In ordinary nnyiga.
ton are either ignorant Of II or have failed
The late Prof Henry, Ol the Smithsonian
Institute. and Prof Tyndall, OF England,
have discussed this phenomenon. and other
scientists are familiar with IL. Every prac-
teal steamboat captain and pilot has OBJ
served is effects, but has failed to under
stand Il. You sound your whistle To indi'
cate 10 an approaching steamer which you
can see. the course you intend 10 hke ana
she answers you, but YOU hear no sound
YOU only know she answers because you sec
the steam rise from the whistle PIPE. Fer
hans YOU may think Il Is the wind which
prevents You from hearing the sound. Dic
YOU ever reflect what the result might be
were there a fox to prevent your seeing th'
approaching steamer and the flying steam
Not only 10 scientists understand the prob
lens involved IN this question of acoustics
but many uaviguiou have discovered the cx
islcncc 81 the duiculty by actual expert
encc
crs told me that on one occasion during hi
regular trip Ia New York, aud while dcns
fog prevailed, be heard the whistle 81
steamer hstcrn, NJ least mile away NJ
Judged. She gradually OycIhaulCd him, J.,
Whistle sounding regularly and bccomiu
more nnl more distinct. When She huglll
overlook aud passed him, She had scarccl
disappearcd in the fUg nhcal when be cease
entirely Ia hear her signal. This was 30 ~
mnrknblc that he called the attention oi hi
officers 90 the circumstance, nnd said tha
She must have met with some accident ia
II next dHy. on arrival in New lulk, be va
nsioui.hrd o. hear from the captain of Oh
Ftr1mcr that her whistle had boon spunlc
,erullrlv Tor several hours after passing hin
nnd continuously Tho same captain mci
tioucd the case ~ Die inability 10 hear q Gel
tain f1s horn Whom DC was within a shni
distance Of Il, and then 81 hearing u clc
and loud on arriving at point just "pp"sh
10 The station. aud Tor n long time aiicIwnr
'sThc existence Of this phenomena haE ais
shown repeatedly iu Investigations
dc cause Of collisions. ln the case ui GA
collision Of the Nurmgauloit and siouing.o
on Long Island Sound some year. ago, WHO
resulted ln the sinking " thg Nnrfagluso
and ihc loss Of several Hives during n io
the question Of The responsibility Tor =.
disaster was tried before jury ~ "
Ipitrl States District Court Tor tbc h1ut
crn District Of New York and Il was clear
shown that while the officers ul The stonln
ION hoard the whistle ~ the NgrmgluHa
f1rsoino time before ihccollislOn thr oillcc
OF thc Nafmyansrtt did not hear tlc rinEiu
toms whistle at all, and tie hnt Intimate
they had ~ her proximity was the sight
4 her looming up Ia Che io5 Directly ahcad
them.
'I.hc existence 81 this theory viii also =
count for tie contradictory evidence sD uit
heard IN our courts during The trial ul r.
li.'on eases wherein the officers ui one bo
will tr.ufy positively That There were
whistle. sounded by the officers Ut The 9TH
while the later viii swear Just as positive
that they were performing hcir duty
"lt Hl common experience v,ih capital
% vessels. niao. while navigating Boz a i1g,
find Tint they are deceived a. to thc lor1ii
and direction ~ On approaching We.
When thc log signal ia lut heard tlcy ~
locate her on the s,arboard bow, and ih
suddrnly zee her loom up ON The port bo
'1f IL be- tnc thBt there are uo means
nsrcriniuing the distance and pusii.on 81
ppprDarhiuy steamer what Then is 10
done. and what u the remedy against
danger which this state 81 THING shows
exial7 know Of but cao and that ~
n Zoe. 10 slow or stop entirely. On q
principal rivers 10 u practically impo.sil
10 un during i0g. aud u h. for thls rcll
lint We rarely hear - collision aud loss
lie from that cause in riYVr navigation.
river steamer a compass ia u little or
benefit II is related VI one 81 our lnrg
and most successful Hudeon sicamh
owners that when a new pilotcumplainod
him that his srsmur was not provided "
II a compass Capt Schuyler conducted b
forward. and pointing ont bis best anch
faid. That Is The only compass that vi
you 10 use A. long ns you run a boat
me-"
40 Evansville,
Special plrraics 10 The Appeal.
FyAssyffLy, Ind, Nov. iO.-Tho Graz