Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-19
RULES OF THE ROAD AT SEA.
More Amendments Adopted by the Mar
thine Conference.

Inc INTERNATIONAL marine conference met
this morning promptly at II O'Clock. Before
proceeding to business the secretary read an
invitation from the New York and Cuba mail
steamship company and the Delaware river
iron ship building and iron works to the dele
gates requesting their presence at the launch
ing of their new steamship "Orizaba" to be
launched at Chester, Pa, on the 23d instant.
Delegate Goodrich of the United States pro-
posed an amendment in the shape of a note to
the rules, providing that the conference recon-
mend an earlier date than January l. 1891, to
be fixed by the several powers, as the time that
the revised rules be put in force. The amend
ment was read, ordered to be printed and laid
over for future consideration.
KEEP CLEAR OF soUADRoSs.
An amendment proposed on yesterday by the
delegates from Great Britain, providing that
in clear weather at sea no vessel shall attempt
to cross the bows Of the leaders Of any squad
ron of three or more ships Of war in regular
formation, nor unnecessarily to pass through the
lines of such squadron, was taken up.
Delegate Goodrich Of the United States
strongly objected to this amendment. as he
thought by giving men-of-war right Of way the
mercantile service would be greatly inconve-
nienced.
Delegates from Great Britain, Siam, Ger
many, Hawaii and France spoke in favor Of the
amendment
Delegate Sampson Of the United States dis
agreed with Mr.. Goodrich and favored the
amendment, as he thought it was dangerous for
a vessel to attempt to pass through u squad
ron-dangerous both to herself and to the
squadron. A vote was taken and the amend
ment was adopted, fourteen voting in the
affirmative and five in the negative.
The amendment proposed yesterday by Dele
gate Norcross of the United States, providing
for additional lights for steamers towing, was
| taken up and adopted. The amendment pro-
vides for an additional bright white hight to be
carried six feet above or below her regular
lights.
An amendment proposed yesterday by the
delegates from Great Britain to Article 23 was
taken up and adopted without discussion. (The
amendment provides that in obeying aud con-
STRUNG these rules due regard shall be had to
all dangers of navigation and to any rule neces-
| sary in order to avoid immediate collision or
other danger.) The conference then took a
recess.
MORE AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF THE ROAD.
At the session of the conference yesterday a
| rule providing that a steam vessel under sail
| and not using engines shall carry in the day
time ball at least three feet in diameter was
adopted.
The following amendment offered by the
delegate from the Netherlands, was also
adopted In taking any course authorized or
required by these regulations asteamship under
way shall indicate that course to any other
ship which she has in sight by the following
signals on her whistle, namely: One short
blast to mean, ~ am directing my course to
starboard;" two short blasts to mean, Il am di-
to mean, Il am going full speed astern." The
use of these signals is optional. but if they
are used the course of the ship must be in
accordance with the signal made.