The Delta independent., 1890-12-09
MAN OVERLOADED
4 Cry which Once Heard Will Never Ne
Forgotten.

1t is universally conceded that the
most startling cry on shipboard is
"Fire!" conveying, as it does, the idea
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
board" says Golden Days, that once
heard is never forgotten.
On n man.of-war it acts on n ships
company like the .'bcat 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 tho life of shipmate
may depend upon his promptness, and
that what has happened TO another
may happen to him. Even the veriest
shirk will spring to- his station with
alacrity and work with zeal.
1t is astonishing how few sailors
know how to swim, and even until late
years even our naval officers had no
instruction in the art Now the naval
cadets at Annapolis have a regular
training. and there is no excuse for
an officer failing to swim.
In the old-timc navy the only way
that could be depended on for teach
ing the seamen how. to swim was to
hang topmast stu'nsail from the outer
end of tho lower stu'usaii boom, tho
inner end supported from the fore
chains in 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-
pn,iapna6 Swin,,rars 1'l,i,
ment is imperative in waters where
sharks are plentiful. since the sail is
sufficient to keep the man-eaters on,
and no ono would dare TO 60 outside
of it.
The work to be done in picking up
sailor who has fallen overheard de-
pends, 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
tho 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 squarc-rigged-is thrown
back to check the headway; if under
steam the engines are backed till the
ship is still in the water.
Generally the lee life-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 are hung one on each
quarter.
simultaneously with the orders for
reducing sail. heaving to. and drop
| ping the buoy. the officer of the deck
sends the lifeboat's crcwto their boats.
The two quarter-boats are usually left
swung out. with their tackles coiled
down on deck, ready for lowering.
The gripes or broad sennet-hand that
60 around the boat and hold it fast
against the davits at sea are fitted with
quick-action hook. by which in ono
motion they can be cast off.
The regular crew for the lifeboat in
each watch quickly scramble into the
lce-quartcr boat, prepare their oars for
use and tend the patent unlocking de-
vice, il there is one. The coxswain
prepares to ship his steering oar, and
the plug is put in.
Then the men at the lowering
tackles lower the boat several feet,
and all is ready. just at the bottom
Of lee-roll, when the headway is
nearly stopped, the patent unlocking
apparatus is let go. the boat drops
foot or two into the water. the men
out-oars and give way toward the life
buoy.
Meantime. whether by day or night.
quarterlnaster jumps into the rig
giug rs soon US the buoy is let 90. and
1t is his duty to keep an eye on the buoy
all tho time.
Then, when the boat is away. he
directs how the coxswain shall steer
by waving small signal flag to the
right or left. as may be necessary to
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.
tho men and buoy picked up. the boat
hoisted, and the ship on her course in
nine minutes.
In the modern fast steamships. which
can not be stopped under mile with
reversed engines. man overheard is
lucky to be picked up inside Of half an
hour, II at all.