The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-23
WARNINGS FLASHED OVER THE WAVES.
vari- coiored Lights Which VIII Speak
a Language Known to Sailors.
Resume OF the Work of the Inter
national Marine Conference
And the Rules Adopted to Prevent
Collisions on the ocean.

WASHINGTON, December 22.-The most
important feature of the work of the Inter
national Marine Conference has been the
consideration of the subject Of regulations
for preventing collisions at sea. The num-
Der of articles has been increased from q to
81, and the scope Of many broadened and
the language made clear. 'fSteam vessels"
is made to include any vessel propelled by
machinery; vessel under way" within
the meaning of the regulations, is when not
at anchor. or made fast to the shore. or
aground. The word visible" when applied
to lights, is made to mean visible on dark
night with a clear atmosphere. The change
made in regard to light carried in trout of
the foremast, provides that the light, regard
less of the breadth Of the vessel. shall not
be required to be carried over 40 feet above
the hull. A steam vessel, when under way,
may carry an additional white light, similar
in construction to the light to be carried in
front of the foremast. These two lights
must be so placed in line with the keel, but
one shall be at least Is feet higher than the
other, and in such position with reference
to each other that the lower light shall be
forward Of the upper one. The vertical dis
tance between these lights shall be less than
their horizontal distance. A steam vessel,
when towing another vessel, shall, in addi-
~ two bright white lights in vertical
line, one over the other, not less than SIX
feet apart. When towing more than zone
vessel, she shall carry an additional bright
lights, If the length of the. tow measuring
from the stern of the towing vessel. to the
stern of the last vessel towed, exceeds 600
feet each of these lights to be of the same
construction and character. Such steam
vessel may carry small white light abaft
to steer by, such light shall not to be visible
forward of the beam.
A vessel, from any accident not under
command, shall carry at the same height as
the forrmast light. light wnerelit can be
seen, and if a steam vessel, in lieu of that
light, two red lights, in vertical line, one
over the other, not less than six teet apart.
of such character as TO be visible all around
the horizon at IA distance of at least two
miles; and sa shall by day carry th in
or, not less than six feet apart,
where they can be seen, two black balls or
shapes each two feet in diameter. When
ever, as in the case of small vessels under
way during bad weather, the green and red
side lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall
be kept at hand, lighted and ready for use.
and shall, on the approach of or to other ves-
sells be exhibited on their respective sides in
sufficient time to prevent collision, and in
such manner as to make them most visible,
SO that the green light shall not be seen on
the port side nor the red light on the star
board side, nor il practicable more than two
points abaft the beam on their respective
sides. An entirely new rule provides that
steam vessels Of less than forty tons gross
and vessels under oars or sails less than
twenty tons gross, when under way shall
mast, ma - starboaSrd SSr and port port lights
required OF large vessels, but if they do not
carry them they shall be provided with the
following lights: "Steam vessels of less than
40 tons shall carry in the fore part of the
vessel, or on or in front of the funnel, where
it can be seen at height above the gunwale
of not less than nine feet, bright white
and red side lights. constructed and fixed as
the sidelights of large vessels. to be visible
at least one mile, or a combined lantern
showing green light and red light from right
ahead to two points abaft the beam on their
respective sides, carried not less than three
feet below the white light. Small steam
boats, such as are carried by Seagoing YES
sells, may carry white light at a less height
than nine feet above the gunwale, but 1t
shall be carried above the combined lantern
above mentioned. Vessels under oars or
sails, of less than 20 tons, shall have ready
at hand lantern with green glass on one
side and red glass on the other. which on the
approach of or to other vessels shall be ex-
hibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
On near approach of or to other vessels pilot
vessels shall have their side lights lighted,
and ready for use, and shall flash or show
them at short intervals, to indicate the direc-
tion in which they are heading. A pilot
vessel of such class as to be obliged to go
alongside a vessel to put a pilot on board,
may show white light instead of carrying
it at the masthead and may, instead of the
colored lights above mentioned, have at
hand ready for use lantern with green
glass side and rad glass the OfhQr
to be used as prescribed above.
vessels engaged in trawling, If steam ves-
sells, shall carry in the same position as the
white mast light, a tri-c0lOred lantern SO
constructed aud fixed as to show white
light from right ahead to two points on each
bow, and green light and red light over the
arc of the horizon from two points on either
bow to two points abaft the beam on the star
boardland port side respectively; the white
light in the lantern to be so constructed as to
show clear, uniform and unbroken light all
round the horizon. II sailing vessels of seven
tons gross and upwards they shall carry a
white light in lantern so constructed as to
show clear, uniform and unbroken light
all round horizon, and be provided with
sufficient supply of red pyrotechnical lights,
to burn at least 30 seconds, and be shown on
| the approach of or to other vessels in suffi-
cient time to prevent collision. If sailing
vessels of less than seven tons gross, they
| shall not be obliged to carry white light,
q
shall have at hand, ready for use, lanterns
| showing bright white light, which shall,
| on approach of or to other vessels be eXhib-
| ited where they can best be seen in sufficient
| time to prevent collisions. They shall also
| show red protecting lights, or in lieu there
| of, fiare-up lights Vessels ana boats, when
| line fishing with lines out and attached to
| their lines, when not at anchor or stationary,
shall carry the same lights as vessels fishing
with drift nets"
Ananias and Sapphira Forgotten.
WASHINGTON, December 2l.-There is ab-
SOlutely no truth in the story printed in
| Eastern papers to the effect that Speaker
| Reed received rebuff from President Har-
| rison at the Whitc House on Wednesday,
| land, Me-, Collectorship. whoever con-
| cocted the tale," said Mr.. Reed, has forgot
ten the story Of Ananias and Sapphira.
Washington Notes.
Mr.. Baker of New York introduced in the
| House Saturday bill authorizing the Colum-
bia National bank of Washington to open a
branch Office in the capital for the accommo-
dation of members of Congress.
In the Senate Saturday the bill for lncreaS-
ing the pay of census supervisors was dis
cussed. Mr.. Hale of the census committee
| said that the eleventh census would be diff
ferent sort of affair from the last which is
just completed. The new census he said
|
The Senate has confirmed the appointment
of j. FL. Thompson as postmaster at Farm
iDgton, Me.
A motion by Mr.. Holman Of Indiana in the
House Saturday to reduce the salary of /. X.
Hill as assistant door keeper from $1,000 to
$500 to make 1t the same as that of thu
other assistant drew from Mr.. Mills Of
Texas the inquiry ''could the American peo'
pie be protected from excessive expenditure
only by cutting the salary of some poor fel-
low around the House of Representatives? p
Mr.. Holman based his action on the plea O
economy. The motion prevailed.
The District Of Columbia appropriation
bill has beenlreported in the House. This i
the first time that regular appropriation
bill has been so reported at the first session
Of a Congress before the holidays.
Local Branch o. !. n.
At regular meeting of Local Branch, No. 2S3
o. /. H., the following officers were elected:
| c. C.J.-Heman r. Rutter.
| V.J.- Fred Mclaughlin,
Acct.-Beni +. Freethy.
Casher-HOrace Il. Thompson.
| Adjuster-Roswell Benson.
Herald-Leroy w. Jackson.
| Prelate-Henry Mari.