Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-21
SAFETY LIGHTS AT SEA.
Of the Maritime Confer
ence Today.

DISCUSSING "RULEs OF THE ROAD" AND LIGHTS
on vEssELs-THE FIRST DEFINITE yorE-rwo
COMMITTEES APPo1NTED-scENEs AND IScI-
DENTS AT THE WALLACE HOUSE.
The International maritime conference re-
| sumed work this morning at IL o'clock in the
long parlors of the Wallach building, at the
corner of 18th and I streets. The delegates
arrived singly, in pairs, in threes in groups,
and scattered themselves all over the building
with more familiarity than before. On large
table in an outer room lay a vast number of
letters and few papers addressed to dele
gates from all over the world. These were the
objects Of much careful scrutiny by each new
conner, who handled the entire pile
until his own name met his eye. In the coun-
Gil room the delegates were ranging themselves
around the long table chatting. writing, think
ing, colored messenger went around the
table and placed copy of Wednesdays proto-
col on each delegates chair. This document
was printed on a long blue sheet punched with
the relation of the formal meeting on Wednes-
day, the presentation and the speeches.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
Admiral Franklin tapped on the table with
his little gavel at exactly IL o'clock, but there
were then some vacant seats and there was
short period Of confusion when delegates were
entering the room and shutting around among
the chairs. Mr.. Goodrich was among the late
corners and Mr.. Hall did not enter the council
room until about HIS. As soon as had fin
ished bowling around the table and
had taken his seat the president
announced that the first business of the session
would be the reading of the protocol of the
18th. whereupon Lieut.. Cottman read the docu-
ment, each delegate following him with the
copy they found in their chairs.
COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED.
The president announced the committees on
lights and sound signal, where were provided
for on Thursday, as follows:
Committee on lights-Capt. E. Richard,
France; Capt. A. Mensing, Germany; Capt.
Henry Wyatt, England; Vice Admiral Kama
koff, Russia; Lieut.. Baldemero Vega, Spain;
Mr.. Frederick Malmberg, Sweden, and Capt.
Norcross, United States.
Committee sound signals-Rear Admiral
Spaun. Austria; Mr.. Schneider, Denmark; Ad-
brini, Italy; Capt. Selvesen, Norway; Capt. Van
Steyn, The Netherlands, and Capt. Shackford,
United States.
These committees are to prepare all available
literature on the subject of lights and sound
signals In such shape that it can be easily di-
gested by the conference.
LIGHTS FOR OPEN BOATS AND FISHING VESSELS.
The consideration of the "Rules of the Road
was then continued. Article 10, bearing on the
subject of lights for open boats and fishing
vessels, was first taken up, and Mr.. Hall Of
England reminded the conference that there
was European conference either now in ses-
sion or soon to be on this very topic He
thought that it would be q waste of time for
the conference, overladen already, to take up
work that will be done for it by another body.
DIR. sIEyE-KINGs AMENDMENTS.
DIR. Sieve-king of Germany presented some
minor amendments for future consideration.
In supporting his proposition which in effect
reduced the lights to be carried by small fish
ing vessels or other open boats to a minimum
Of one white light, he made q short speech, to
which Mr.. Hall replied in a most considerable
manner. He went on to say that he thought
steam launches ought to have distinctive lights
on account of the extremely rapid rate at
which they run. In these days of invention it
would soon be necessary to prescribe distinct
i've lights for naptha launches. hydraulic power
vessels, and other unusual forms of naval pro-
pulsion.
Mr.. Goodrich thought this good time to call
attention to the rapidly growing necessity of
making
MORE POWERFUL LIGHTS FOR TIE SWIFT VESSELS
that now frequent the ocean. Whereas few
years ago steamer overlook a sailer at the
rate of one mile in three minutes the rate was
now one mile in minute and half. He there
fore thought that the power of lights should be
graded to the rate OF speed of vessels
He reminded the conference, however, that
it was most desirable to make the rules Just as
few as possible. II they were added to and in
creased IN number, giving every class of vessel
distinctive light, the ''sailor-man,' for whose
guidance they were intended, would be bewil-
dered beyond the power Of memory by their
multiplicity.
WHITE RANGE LIGHTS.
Capt. Sampson offered q resolution in order
to test the opinion of the conference to the
effect that white range lights be substituted
for the colored range lights now in use, or that
they be used in conjunction with them.
Mr.. Hall wanted time to consider this sub
ject and suggested that the test be applied in
the form of another resolution.
Mr.. Goodrich thereupon presented as a sub
stituted for Capt Simpsons resolution another
to the effect that In the opinion of the confer
ence it is not desirable to change the use of the
present mast head or colored lights.
THE FIRST DEFINITE VOTE.
This resolution, Capt Sampson Withdrawing
his, was unanimously adopted. This was the
first definite vote taken by the conference.
Mr.. Goodrich suggested the consideration of
another resolution defining the terms '.star-
board the helm" and port the helm" The
former, he moved, should mean that the wheel
or tiller, the rudder and the bow of the vessel
shall be pointed to the starboard, and vice
versa for the other term.
MIR. Hall remarked that there is a place in
the rules of the road where such definition
could properly be inserted, and at his sugges-
ton the resolution was tabled.
At o'clock the usual recess of an hour was
taken.
Side Lights.
DIR. Sieve-King, the head of the German dele
cation, sits next to Mr.. Hall of Great Britain
at the end Of the council table. He is quite
striking figure, tall, rather spare and very dig
nifed. He comes naturally by judicial bear
ing, for he is at present the president of the
supreme court at Hamburg. This court deals
largely with nautical cases, and 1t is his close
association with such matters that en-
titles him to position corresponding
to those of Messrs. Goodrich and Hall,
the talking delegates. His spare form
is surrounded by a rather small, we'll shaped
head, well busted by time, and his face is
whiskers and a mustache. A pair of melan-
choly eyes of a light hue, an aquiline nose and
a well-turned kindly chin give him gentle APP
pearance, which is aided by his voice, rich
toned and deep. He uses the best Of English,
the only difficulty which he seems to encounter
being with the letter u" which his teutonlc
tongue constantly turns ont a "w." He does
not say quite much as either Mr.. Hall or Mr..
Goodrich, but he has already secured place
in the minds of the delegates as powerful