The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-22
90 RE Ml---WE ARE GOING NORTH"
Francis N. Houghton's Musical Lam
guage for the Jolly Tars:
Most OF Whom Seem 20 Doubt Their
Musical Ability
The Question Of High or Low Speed
In Fog and Snow.

WASHINGTON, October 21.-The Maritime
Conference this afternoon had an interest
ing discussion Of article II, covering sound
signals for fog. etc. During the discussion,
Mr.. Goodrich read to the conference long
letter on the objects Of the International
Marine Conference from Francis w. HOugh-
ton, Superintendent Of the Maritime AssOci-
alton of the Port OF New York. Mr..
Houghton set forth at length the necessity
for the adoption Of some code Of signals by
which vessels invisible to each other In
thick weather may indicate the direction In
which they are moving. thus diminishing the
chance OF collision. He suggested. the ador-
tlon Of a system Of musical signals, consist
ing OF two or three notes, produced by whIs-
ties or fog horns. Vessels going north could
indicate It by q rising scale. vessels going
south by a descending scale. vessels going
east by signal note, followed by others
sounding together. and vessels going west
by all the notes sounding together, followed
by single low note. Mr.. HOught0n sug-
gests the use by small vessels, In addition to
the fash light usually carried by them, OF
decorating bomb, TO be thrown astern, warn
ing vessels not to approach too closely. The
communication was referred TO the commit
tee on sound signals.
Mr. Hall presented 10 the conference
Ou Lut SuDltcL IN Lue SldDo
Of letters to the maritime department OF the
English Board Of Trade. In reply to the re-
quest for opinions upon the question, SIS IL
practicable and desirable TO introduce some
system OF course or route indications by
sound signals, to be made by steamships I'M
der way In fog, mist OF falling
snow when neither can see the other?"
one hundred and nineteen masters and ten
owners and societies opposed the introduc-
tion Of any compulsory system Of sound sig
nals f0rtv-aiuhf afQrQ and
advocated the adoption OF simple signals;
Twenty-eight masters and one seamen's So
clety advocated the adoption Of a more COM
plete system. The chief objections given to
are the confusion which It would cause In
crowded waters, the difficulty Of locating the
signals In fogs, the false confidence 1t would
give the officers In charge Of vessels using 1t
and the considerable degree Of skin and ex-
perience necessary to prevent the possibility
Of mistake In the event of any complex sys-
TEN being adopted.
Captain Hubert Of the Netherlands pre-
sented the following proposed changes to
article Il:
vided with a whistle or other efficient sound sig
nal sounded by steam or compressed air, so
Change section "A" to read-"Steamships
under steam shall make with a whistle other
sound a signal at intervals OF not more than one
minute prolonged blast lasting six TO eight sec
onds."
TO section &C" add the words-"Each blast, II
possible, shall be Of six seconds duration"
Article Is, requiring all vessels, sail or
steam to reduce speed to a moderate rate In
fog, mist or falling snow was taken up. DIR.
Sieye-King Of Germany advocated that In a
fog vessels be instructed to go at the top Of
their speed.
Mr.. Goodrich said the safest rule OF all
Is to 60 as slowly as Is consistent with the
maintenance Of steera ge way.
Capt Mensing insisted that 1t Is safer to
run fast than slow in fog. In case danger
Of collision was discovered he could get his
vessel out Of the way more certainly at high
speed than at slow.
Article 10 was passed and Admiral Frank
lin called up the next article, Steering and
sailing rules for sailing vessels"
Mr.: Hall desired 20 propose the following
definitions:
The term steam vessels shall be held to in
clude all vessels propelled by machinery.
The article relating to lights TO be shown
by open boats and fishing vessels was taken
up. The following resolution was proposed
by Mr.. Goodrich OF the United States;
Resolred, That 1t Is the sense OF the conference
that there shall be no change In the masthead
and colorrd lights as at present used.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr.. Goodrich said that at various times
there had been some discussion as to defni-
ton OF terms. He therefore proposed the
following:
The term "starboard you helm" shall mean
10 starboard, and the term "your helm port"
snail mean that the wheel or tiller, rudder and
bow shall go to port.
At the suggestion Of Mr. Hall this went
over until the steering rules come up for
amendment.