Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28
ESPECIAL rnLneRAM TO THE DIspAroH.I

NEW YORK, December 27.-Within the
last few days report has been made to the
photographic Office, here, of remarkable
instance of the use of oil for calming the
waves. The report was considered of sufi-
cient importance to be sent to the Internal
marine conference at Washington. The
ship was the British schooner-rigged screw
steamer Benlarig, 1,4OO tons, which left
this port in December, 1887, for China. She
arrived here again on December u of the
present year, and soon after sailed in ballast
for Glasgow.
The remarkable experience of the Ben
larig on her outward voyage is told as fol-
lows in the report transmitted by the hydro
graphic Office to the marine conference:
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.
Captain John f. Freeman, ofthe British
steamship Benlarig, reports that on Decem-
Der %, 1887, when of Cape Trafalgar, dur
ing heavy southwest gale, the engines of
his vessel became disabled. Soon after he
was sighted and taken in tow by the British
steamship Vesta. The immense strain on
the tow lines caused one of them to part,
and it became necessary to cut the other,
owing to the proximity of the two vessels to
the reef.
'sThe Vesta succeeded in reaching Gibral-
tar, and reported that she had left the Ben
larig disabled'and rapidly going ashore, and
when last seen she was firing rockets as sig
nails of distress. The Benlarig was given
up as lost.
captain Freeman says that as soon as tie
second hawser was cut he made immediate
preparations for anchoring his vessel. but
did not succeed until the vessel had struck.
In his efforts to let go his anchor he stove a
hole through the forecastle and upper works
of the ship.
ANCHORED AT LAST.
''The Benlarig struck heavily several
times, upon the reef, knocking the officers
and crew off their feet. Fortunately, she
passed over the reef and succeeded in get
ting two anchors down between the reef and
the shore The gale still increased, and it
was found necessary to get two more an
chors down.
"The ship lay for four days in this posi-
tion, with one anchor OF $500 pounds and
l25 fathoms of chain, second anchor of
$500 pounds and 105 fathoms of chain,
third anchor of 2, 800 pounds and 80 fathoms
of wire cable, and fourth anchor OF 2,A0
pounds and 90 fathoms of MANILA hawser.
The wind blew terrific gale during this
time from southwest around to northwest.
The heavy sea rolling in was partly broken
by the reef, and the ship lay surrounded by
a confused mass of breakers, shipping water
on all sides. The liieboats and everything
movable were washed away, and the decks
were continually swept by the sea. Captain
Freeman says that he thought his ship was
going down.
OIL WORKS LIKE MAGIC.
"As last resort he opened the hold and
got MP two barrels of linseed oil, which he
used with magic effect. The oil was dis
tributed from the forward closet bowls, in
the usual manner. Attempts were made to
use oil bags from the forecastle, but they
were washed and blown inboard, and were
of but little use.
1.-THE effect Of the oil was instantly felt,
and from that time the ship was perfectly
dry, with the exception of a little spray
which came over the bow. The Benlarig
remained in that position for four days,
until the gale subsided, when she was towed
from the reef and into Gibraltar. Upon ex-
animation it was found that A frames had
been crushed ard broken by pounding upon
the reef
'The total amount of oil used was about
70 gallons, but this was much more than
was necessary, as in the emergency economy
was not considered in any way, and oil was
used freely. Captain Freeman saws his
ship, cargo and the lives of officers and crew
were undoubtedly saved by the use of oil. and
he most earnestly recommends its use to
vessels at anchor on a lee shore"