New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-22
THE FIRST DEFINITE VOTE TAKEN.
UNANIMOUS OPINION AGAINST ABANDONING
CoLoRED LIGHTS - THE SPEED OF
VESSELS IN FOG

CoLORED LIGHTS - THE SPEED OF
VESSELS IN FOE
GENERAL PRESS DtsPArcHI
Washington. oct. 21.-Admiral Franklin. uUon call
ing the International Marine Conference to order this
morning. announced the following committees:
On Llgbts-France. Captain Richard Germany,
Captain Mcnsng; Great Britain Captain Yau, Russia
Admiral Kaluskor; Spain Lieutenant Vega; Sweden
Captain Mambcrg; United states, Captain NorcroSS'
Sound Signals Austria Hungary Adnira, dc spaun'
Denmark M. Schneider; Great Britain. Admiral Mares:
Italy Captain Sotterbrni Norway, Captain SelYeseni
TIE Netherlands, Captain Van seyne; United Stairs
Captain Shackford.
Consideration Of the Rules Of tho Road was then
resumed. Article 10, relating 10 lights to be shown
by open boats and fishing vessels. was taken up Dr.
sicvekng. of Germany, proposed an amendment TO
tho effect that small fishing vessels or open boats
carry but one wbite light. Mr.. Hall suggested that
steam launches in view of the rapid rate at which
they go, should carry a distinctive light. Mr. Good
rich spoke Of the necessity Of providing powerful
lights for the swifter vessels Of the ocean. The
power of tho lights be carried should be graded
the speed Of the vessel upon which they placed
Captain Richard, Of France IN his native tongue.
spoke IN favor Of a suggestion that sailing vessels
should carry lights high up In the rigging as those
Of steamers.
Mr. Verny, of Siam, formulated into resolution
the suggestion of Mr. Goodrich that the intensity Of
a steamers lights bc graded according to its maxi
speed. y ~ ms pClnt captain sampson, OF the
United States desired an expression of the confer
upon abandoning the Use Of colored lights and
the following resolution proposed by Mr. Good
rich:
Resolved That It is the OF the Conference
shall change in the masthead and coored lights
AZ present used.
This resolution carried unanimously. This
the first definite vote taken by the Conference on
any proposition presented 10 it,
Mr.. Goodrich said that at various times there had
been some discussion TO the definition Of terms.
He therefore proposed the following:
The term "starboard your helm shall mean that shs
wheel or tlller rudder bow shall go sarboad ;
and the term your helm" shall 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 up for amendment
when the Conference began consideration of Article
70, covering sound signals for fog, etc, the mos,
interesting discussion Of the proceedings far began
Mr. Hall desired specific definition Of the terms long
and short sounds. At the end Of section A. which
reads: 4 steamship under way shall mako with her
steam whistle other steam sound signal at inter
walls Of than two minutes. prolonged blast,
he suggested that these worls be added Of about
four seconds duration" lie also suggested the m
sertion of a new section "B' as follows:
4 steamship not at anchor and without way, having
shut down her engine shall sound at intervals of two
minutes long blasts separated by an interval OF two
seconds
y Z,
change the worls when not under way" to " when
not at anchor" Section c. roads: A steamship and
a sailing vessel. when not under way, shall. at
intervals OF not mere than two minutes ring the bell
Mr. Goodrich suggested that the words rapidly for
five seconds DO added.
Mr Goodrich read 10 the Conference long letter
on the objects of the International Marine Conference,
from Francis W. Houghton superintendent of the Mari
time Association Of the port OF New-York Mr.. Han
tbo hv HOught0D
was the protector OF the Conference and that the body
was in session because OF the efforts Of the Maritime
Association.
Mr. Houchon set forth at length in his letter the
necessity for the adoption Of some code Of signals by
which vessels invisible to each other thick weather
may indicate the detection in which they moving,
and thus diminish the chances of collision He Sug-
ccscd the adoption OF system of musical signals,
ssting Of two three notes, produced by whistles
foghOrns. Vessels going north to indicate It by the
rising scale; vessels going south by the descending
scale vessels going east by single note followed by
the other two. sounding together vessels going west
by all notes. sounding together followed by single
low note. Mr.. HOughton suggests the use by small
vessels. in addition to the fash Hight
usually carried by them, of detonat
ing bomb. 10 be thrown asern in the
air, warning vessels not to approach too closely.
Tho communication referred to tae Committee on
Sound Signals.
NJ. Hall presented 70 the Conforeice COmmunlca
ton on the subject, in the shape Of letters to the
Marine Department OF the English Board of Trade, in
rruly to a request for opnIons upon the following
! question:
I. IL practicable and. II 90 is IL desirable to IN.
rluc, some system II indicating sound
,,, Ia be made by steamships under way in fog mist
| of falling snow when neither the otherl
tn this replies were received from 1l0 masters and
| ten owners and societies who opposed the ntroduc-
! finn NJ any compulsory system OF sound signals
J from, fortye eight masters and two owners who al
yocated the adoption of simple signals and from
trentvcight masters and seamen's society adj
| vocatinc the adoption OF more complete system.
! ma cbIcf reason givou By those who object 20 the
irtrodncton of any system OF fog signals Is the con
fision thew would cause In crowded waters the diff
c,l,v of Iocang sounds fOgS. the false confidence
! ticy would give to officers IN charge OF the vessels
veI,p ,bpm and the considerable degree OF sbLA and
| cxreriencr necessary 10 prevent the possibnff OF
| mistake IN Gaze any complex system adopted.
| Mir Hubert of the Netherlands presented several
! nrru1scd change, b Article IL.
| Erticle 10. requiring all vessels, sail or steam, Ia
r,cc sneed 90 moderate rate IN tog mist or falling
NOV, WIS then talon up DR.. SeVcking, OF Germany
in surech OF some length, advocated that, IN fog
vessels be instructed To 60 al top speed In the course
of bis remarks he referred tO-the fact that the courts
I,i cnnsruc,l the moderate speed TO be Iela
hold mat moderate speed meant enough for the yes
sci Ia hold It's Storage way. Mr. Goodrich said that 10
| make such a change was 10 jump from the fTyingpan
| into the fire. Mr.. Hall said be- should be sorry "
sco me rule a. present constituted, abollsheui
| Captain Mcnsng said that there were many snip,
ia go fast What they to do The consensus, I
|