The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-08

il is found that even when the rcgula.
tons are strictly followed, as they gen.
orally arc, mistakes are often made by
the observer.
These international regulations alsc
prescribe that in case of fog. steam ves-
sells under way shall sound steam whis'
tie mt intervals Of not more than one
minute. Sail vessels under way must
sound a fog horn at intervals Of not
more than five minutes, and steam and
sail vessels not under way must sound a
bell at intervals Of not more than five
minutes. Other craft, such as a canal
boat or a raft. must sound fog horn or
some equivalent signal. which must
make a sound equal to steam whistle.
az intervals Of not more than two min
utes. This IS of course measurable
protection from the danger Of collision.
but as a matter Of fact experience shows
that these noises do not tell the listener
how far oil is the vessel signaling. nor,
if the FOG is heavy, in what direction
she is.
Signals Of various kinds may be and
are given by long and short blasts Of the
whistle. The only ones prescribed in
the rules quoted. aside from the fog sig
nails just specified, are one, two and
three short blasts. The first means, Il
am directing my course To starboard;"
the second, Il am directing my course
to port" and the third, II am going full
speed, astcrn." The use Of these sig
nails is optional, but the regulations say
that if they are used, the vessels cou rise
must be in accordance with the signal
made. Nevertheless a custom obtains
with many commanders Of using three
blasts - mean, Il am towing some
thing"
Guns and rockets are also used as sig.
nails. but, excepting in the navy under
special circumstances, they are signals
Of distress and are not used otherwise.
Such, in outline, is the only system
known by which the master Of a vessel
can learn the facts on which depend the
safety Of his ship, and possibly the lives
Of all on board. That it falls far short
Of the requirements of modern com
merce. goes without saying. even in the
comprehension Of the landsmcn, and
among seamen the wonder is not that
worlds conference is now to be held, but
that it was not held many years ago.
For not only has the danger long been
realized, but various intelligent and well
directed efforts have been made to pro
vide the remedy.
Quite a number of years ago Capt
Griffin, Of the Pacific Mail steamship
service, who had given much study to
the question, prepared an elaborate
possibly too elaborate. though it was
simple, tool code OF signals which he
offered to the world for universal adop-
ton. For it IS evident that any code to
be Of use TO any one, must be understood
and followed by all. His plan was
studied and favorably received by many
shipmastcrs, but nothing was done tow
ard the adoption OF H.
Latcr-ii was about lSs0-Capt Barker,
Of the United. States. prepared another
code which was still more favorahly re-
ccivcd 1t was investigated By some Of
the great Transatlantic companies whose
experts approved IT, Il WAS lail before
the British admiralty aud board Of trade.
and by both those bodies was favorably
considered Still nothing was done
until Ivy act Of congress in 1883 the pres
ident was empowered TO call the present
conference.
rs \ matter Of course. no intelligent
captain IS without his own ideas Of what
should be done 10 improve the system.
and as tie conference will invite suggcs-
tons, it is likely that many wise and
possibly some foolish ideas will be pre-
scented for their consideration. Some
suggestions, however, have been made |
by mariners who stand high in their pro |
fession. and seem well worthy of adop- |
ton.
Ii is noticeable that all insist on the
code being made as simple as possible
There is no time for anything but the
barest necessities when a collision is |
imminent. II Is suggested that eight |
distinct signals of some sort seem indis-
for each fourth point Of
the compass-N., y. f., T., S. T., S.
5. W., w. and y. w. Further suggcs-
lions are that there should be a standard
Of power for the whistles, hours. etc.
are made that can be heard
eight miles, but many are in use that
cannot be heard more than tyo miles
It is also urged that the intervals be-
.ween signals in case Of fogs should be
made less. that the whistle should be
placed at the bow of 4 vessel, where its
wave sounds viii carry best, and that
he regulation about "reduccd speed" if
t is retained, should be made more def
lite. BY the present code the speed is
lot prescribed. FALEs-CURTrs.