The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1889-04-12
The Use OF Oil to Still the Waves.

Under the above title Lieutenant w
IA. Bechler contributes to the CcnttrV
an account of the eNneriments made
with oil i'll rough water. We quote
the following account of two rescues:
The captain Of the ship Martha Cobb,
loaded with petroleum. fell in with Il
sinking vessel during a heavy gale in
the North Atlantic in December. 1886
The signal made stated the vessel was
sinking and that all her boats had
been stove. The Martha Cobb had
lost her large boats. her bulwarks
washed out, and decks swept in the
same storm; the only boat left was
small siNtecn-foot dingcy, which could
not possibly live in the sea that was
then running. The captain says he
was puzzled and lay by for some hours
hoping that the gale would moderate;
but rs there was no appearance Of bet
ter weather aud night coming on, he
decided TO make IN attempt to rescue
the crew of the sinking vessel. The
Martha Cobb had Il cargo Of petroleum,
some Of which leaked, and the captain
had noticed that the sea IN the wake Of
the ship was much smoother when the
pumps were worked.
ale signalcd TO the other vessel to
haul by tue wind while he luifcd to get
to windward. and at the same time
started the pumps, bat the ship drifted
faster than the oil. and while the oil
made the sea comparatively smooth to
winaward, it did not cover the sea lee
ward. He then ran down across the
other vessels stern, hauled up close
under her lee. and started the pumps
again; at the same time also he
emptied tivc-gallon can Of fish oil
down the scuppers. The effect was
magical. In twenty minutes the sea
between aud around the vessels was
broken down. The long heavy swell
remained, but the combcrs and break
ing seas were all gone. The little
dingey with three men had no diff
Guilty in pulling to windward. and the
crew were saved. The boat was deep
ly loaded and did not ship any water.
although the sea was breaking fierce
ly outside Of the charmed space in
which the vessels lay on oiled seas.
lin June, 1885. the British ship
Slivemore took tire and had TO be
abandoned when eight hundred miles
northeast Of the Seychelle Islands.
Indian Ocean. The people took to the
boats and made for Seychelle Islands.
The third day after leaving the vessel
cyclone came up. and no one believed
that the boats would live through it..
Before they left the ship the boats had
been supplied with oil for just such an
emergency. Each boat got out drag
made Of spars and oars lashed together,
for what is known As sca-anchor.
Oakum saturated with paratiine was
stuffed IN long stockings hung over the
bows Of the boats. Before the oil was
used the boats had been several times
nearly filled with water and the oc.
cupants had to bail for their lives; but
when oil was applied no further
trouble was experienced. An oil-slick
formed around the boats, which rode
in perfect safety on tremendous swells
which took the place Of the previously
breaking seas. Little if any water
came over the sides Of the boats. and
the occupants could lie down and
sleep The boats eventually reached
the islands. but every soul would have
perished except for the forethouyht
Of Captain Comfy. the captain Of the
SlivcmOrc.