The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-14
SYSTEMS OF LlFE-SAvING.
Report OF a Committee to the Interna-
tionaI Marine Conference.

Report Of n Committee to the lnterna-
tionaI Marine Conference.
Following is an abstract Of a report Of the
committees. j. kimball chalrman-ap-
pointed by the international Marine Con-
ference on life-saying systems and devices.
The various subjects treated are taken up
i'm their order as embraced in general diyi-
sion five Of the programme. The hrst part
of these subjects relate TO the saving OF
life and property from shipwreck at sea.
and this is sub-di,ided into several suD-sec-
tons. Subsection 4 treats Of duties OF yes
sells after collision. Common humanity re-
quires that the colliding vessels should re-
main by each other and render all needed
assistance 80 long as they can do so con-
sistently with their own safety. Expert
ence shows however. that masters Of YES
sells frequently take advantage OF the cir
cumstances attending such disasters 10
escape without identification, in order 10
avoid responsibility. Several OF the mari
time nations have. therefore, imposed upon
them the legal obligation Of performing
these natural duties. The extent to which
they are eyaded, where such legal re-
qurement dees not exist, Is proDaOly
not generally appreciated. The committee
has had before il statistics OF one sucn cOuil-
try. which show that in point OF the col
vessels leaves the other 10 take care OF her
self and her people, and gets away without
being known. In these instances there was
loss Of life upon some Of the vessels so ADAM
doued. some of them went down, and all
suffered damage. The committee Is OF the
opinion that in ease of collision between
two vessels. the master or person IN
charge OF each vessel should be
required, so far as he can without
danger t0 his own vessel. crew or
passengers. tO stay by the other vessel untll
he has ascertained that she has no need 81
further assistance. and 10 render TO the
other vessel her MASTER crew and passen-
gers such assistance as may be practicable
and necessary in order to save them from
any danger caused by the collision: and
also to give to the master or person in charge
of the other vessel the name Of his own YES
sci and Of her port of registry, or OF the port
or place 10 which she belongs, ana u names
of the ports or the places from which and 10
which she is bound. so far ss the commit
tee can learn. the report says, the laws OF
those countries which have taken action
upon the subject are to the above effect.
I'm regard 70 subsection y Of the first
subject in Division >, relating 10 apparatus
for life saving 10 be carried on board snip,
the committee SAYS:
The Government of Chilli has made the
most liberal provision that the committee
has knowledge of for the safety of life on
shipboard. requiring her vessels 10 be fur
nished with boats sufficient i'm number and
capacity 10 afford the greatest security pos
sible 10 everybody on board in case OF dlsas-
ter. The committee, however, does not re-
gard the universal application of this pro-
,ison as practicable under existing con-
ditions. 1t believes that the basis upon
which an agreement between the sew
eral nations is most likely 10 be estaD-
lished is to be found in the rules Of
the Board Of Trade Of Great Britain
under the "merchant shipping Oife-saying
appliance.) act of 1855" which are 70 90
into effect ON March 81, 1880. These rules
prOyide for almost all cases that may arise
under the yicssitudes Of navigation, while
they are sufficiently elastic 10 admit Of adj
inSiment To the various conditions existing
in the cOuntrie. interested without violating
their spirit. The committee also recon-
mends the extension of the principle OF
these rules 10 all smaller craft as FAR a.
practicable. and that each vessel OF TN.
class should carry az least one life buoy OF
approved pattern and material, ana Tor
every person on board an efficient life belt
or Jacket.
As 10 the use Of oil and the necessary ap-
paratus for its use subsection CD the COM
mittee SAYS that after an examination Of
material before il relating To the subject ana
the information il already possesses, II IL
led 10 the conclusion that there need be no
longer any doubt that the proper application
of oil is efcaciOus on the open sea. but there
are conditions under which the action OF
breaking waves is not thereby much, II al
all. modified. Its effect on surf over bars
al the mouths Of rivers ana those
living oil beaches is especially doubtful.
The committee is Of opinion that all vessels
should be supplied with proper quantity
of animal or vegetable oil (Which seems To
bee more effective than mineraD, and with
suitable appliances for its distribution.
For ordinary voyages the quantity need not
be- large. The second subject Of DIVISION
treats of the saving OF life and property
from shipwreck by operations from shore.
The committee had before IL number
of papers describing the organization
and methods Of institutions for the
saving Of life and shipwreck.
After an examination Of them the
committee deems ii impracticable TO iorinu-
late any definite rules which could be APP
plicable 10 all alike. Ii appears desirable
however the report says, that the oncers
Of every organization should study the
features of the others in order that they
NAV adopt such improvements as seem
suitable for their own. some Of the estaD-
lishments appear 10 have been brought 10
high degree of excellence. IL seems de-
sirable that careful attention should be
given TO the frequent drilling and eXercis-
in, OF life saving crews. 1t is also deemed
important that watch or patrol should,
wherever practicable, be established
upon dangerous coasts at night and during
thick weather by day, not only for the early
discovery OF wrecks, but IN order 10 warn
of vessels that may be incautiously stand
ing into danger. Coast guards are estaD-
lished i'm yariOu. countries for the preyen-
ton of smuggling. and where this is the
ease they can be utilized TO give timely no.
tice and assistance u litf-saying crews, or
even 10 constitute such crews, as is already
done i'm some countries.
With regard to special varieties OF life
boats and other appliances, the committee
believes that the matter can De safely
trusted 10 the Judgment and discretion OF
the officers in charge of the life saving IN
sttutions of the several countries. Ii Is
desirable that officers Of iife-savlng institu-
tiOns should generally communicate lreeiy
with each other with reference 10 any I'M
proyements that may occur 10 them, either
in apparatus, methods. or organization,
with a view both to the diffusion Of intor-
nation concerning such matters and to es-
tablishng an international comfy win re-
gard to "a benefcent work.
As regards "uniforn means OF transmit
ting information between stranded vessels
and the Shore" the committee says that
co-oper2tiOn between mariners upon
wrecked vessel and these who wish to as
si.t them uDOn shore il OF the highest I'M
portance The most earnest attempts al ana
NAV be rendered nugatory II the snip
wrecked are not aware Of what Is required
Of them. and the committee recommends
that uniform system Of issuing and distribu-
ting instructions TO mariners with refer
ence to their cooperation with those at
tempting their rescue from shore be adopted
bv the several marine nations.
Ex-Governor William +. Cameron re-