The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-27
MAN oveReoARpl
Cry Which Once Heard WIN Never Ne
Forgotten.

'rlrcs conveying rs IL uots, tue iucd
Of awful death and the danger Of ship
wreck. Almost as bad Is the announce
ment that the vessel has struck rock
or sprung leak. but there Is some
thing about the cry Of Man over
boardm says Golden Days that once
heard Is never forgotten.
On a man-of-war 1t acts on ships
company like the 'beat TO quarters"
Every man has place assigned to him
or the watch-bill for this emergency.
and there is no duty required Of him
that he performs more readily or zeal
ously than this.
He knows that the life of shipmate
may depend upon his promptness, and
that what has happened 10 another
may happen To him. Even the veriest
shirk win spring to his station with
alacrity and work with zeal.
Ii is astonishing how few sailors
know how to swim, aud even until late
years even our naval officers had no
Instruction in the art. Now the naval
cadets ut Annapolis have regular
training and there Is no excuse for
an officer failing TO swim.
In the old-time navy the only way
that could DC depended on for teach
ing the seamen how TO swim was to
hang n topmast stu'nsail from the outer
end Of the lower stu'nsail boom. tho
inner end supported from the fore
chains In n curve, with about four feet
depth of water in the belly of the sail.
In this shallow space the beginners
could venture and learn from the ex-
perienced swimmers. This arrange
ment is imperative in waters where
sharks are plentiful. since the sail is
sufficient to keep the man-eaters OF,
aud no one would dare to 90 outside
OF il.
The work TO be done in picking up a
sailor who has fallen overheard de-
ponds. of course. largely on the ship
and the circumstances belonging to
each case. In steamer without sails
the evolution is very different from
that performed in a ship depending
wholly or partly on sail power. The
direction and the force of the wind and
the amount Of sea play important parts
in the drama. But the usual routine
Is somewhat as follows:
The officer of the deck at once brings
the ship ''by the wind. shortening sail
as necessary; then the main-topsail--if
the ship be square-rigged--is thrown
back TO check the Roadway; If under
steam the engines are backed till the
ship is still in the water.
Generally the lee lifc-buoy is drop
ped as soon as the cry is heard, al
though trained lookout will look
over the side and not pull the lanyard
until the man is close under the stern.
A lookout is always stationed ut the
life-buoys, which arc hung one on each
quarter.
simultaneously with the orders for
reducing sail hcaving TO. and drop
ping the buoy. the oiliccr of the deck
sends the lifeboat's crew to their boats.
The two quartei-boats are usually left
swung out with their tackles coiled
down on deck. ready for lowering.
The gripes or broad scnnet-band that
go around the boat aud hold IL fast
against the davits at sea are fitted with
"A quick-action hook 10y which in one
motion they can be cast off.
The regular crow for the lifeboat in
each watch quickly scramble into the
lce-quarter boat. prepare their oars for
uot hhh bthN thO lhAthN NhhOOhihS W.
vice. II there is one. The coxswain
prepares to ship his steering oar, aud
the plug is put in.
Then the men at the lowering
tackles lower the boat several feet,
aud all Is ready. just at the bottom
of lee-roll. when the Roadway is
nearly stopped. the patent unlocking
apparatus is let 60 the boat drops n
foot or two into the water. the men
out-oars and give way toward the life
buoy.
Meantime. whether by day or night.
quartermaster jumps into the rig
ging as soon US the buoy is let go. and
It Is his duty to keep an eye on the buoy
all the time.
Then. when the boat Is away. he
directs how the coxswain shall steer
by waving n small signal flag to the
right or left. as may be necessary 10
put the boat on the right coarse.
The quicker the boat gets away the
better the chance of finding and saving
the man. In sailing vessels the ship
has been stopped. the boat dropped.
the men and buoy picked up. the boat
hoisted. and the ship on her course ia
nine minutes.
In the modern fast steamships which
can not be stopped under a mile with
reversed engines. n man overheard is
lucky to be- picked up inside of half an
hour. II at all.
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