The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-08-02
A VESSEL HEAvING TO.
A Nautical Operation Traught with
Great Danger.
The Perils of a Storm ON the ocean-Lay.
ing Aioft In a HowIing Breeze-How
Ship Weathers Gale-Cut-,
ting Away the Masts. y

Inc operations OF ''heaving to-" per-
formed by nearly every sailing vessel
caught on the coast during the recent
storm, is never resorted to by merchant
vessels until it becomes absolutely nee
essary. The moment vessel is "hove
to" says the New York Times, she be-
comes practically stationary, the object
being merely to keep her "head to the
SEAS" Among the many vessels caught
outside during the gale was every type
OF craft known to "deep-water voy-
ages" There were East India clip
pers, West India briggs, barks, barken-
tines and schooners, and few steamers.
Many OF the East India packets had
been out over one hundred and twenty
days. For many days prior to the
storm the sky had been overcast. Only
occasionally would the sun appear, and
then for so short time as to render
even catch 'sight" well nigh out Of
the question. = In consequence many
ships had been running by dead reck-
oning," making thesupposed position Of
the vessel most uncertain one.
Under such conditions were vessels
overtaken by the terrible northeaster.
Wind and sea aided each other in MAX
ing navigation perilous, the seas threat
ening at every moment to roll over on
the decks of the fleeing vessels. Some
craft, perhaps better able to stand the
seas, held on, steering on supposed
true course for port. In laying of this
course the base has been taken from q
supposed true position of the ship. In
stead OF sighting the entrance the look
out is heard calling: breakers ahead!"
TO one unacquainted with seafaring
life the horror which accompanies such
sound beggars description. Let it be
night time and the horror is increased
There is but one thing to do, and
that quickly-to call: "All hands save
ship!" 49, ~ H. =
The vessel is on lee shore, the gale
is blowing her right on, and unless she
can be made to beat up in the wind,
head of and clear the coast, she will
beach. Up comes every body with
rush, half-dressed, half-dazed, but fully
alive to the danger. The moment the
seamen reach the deck the cutting wind
makes wide awake all hands. = ~
Hand down the helm! Let fly the
head-sheets, lee head and main, and
weather cross-jack braces! Spanker
sheet" AS fast as the orders fly from
the bridge the men jump to their stations.
Round comes the great ship and up into
the wind. The head sails flap with
tremendous force, threatening to fly out
OF the leach ropes with every roll. Now
the spanker is being hauled a-weather.
She feels 1t, and, as the stern flies off,
her head comes right up into the mass
of seething waters.
Round in the lee head and main and
weather cross-jack braces!' Already the
men are at their places, and up come
the weather yard arms into the wind.
The vessel is now broadside to the seas
1t is a question of life and death
whether she will stop. If. she but con-
tinues to come up all we'll. A drag has
been got over from forward. To it is
bent hawser leading through quarter
chock. The drag is we'll away from the
ship. On to the hawser jump the crew.
Away they go with crash. The drag
hawser is run right to the bows, and at
the same time the bow comes up rapidly.
Not moment too soon. A great sea
the next instant lifts the ship high into
the air. Had it caught her "broadside
to" it would have plunged tons Of green
seas upon the decks. But the great
crafts bow has met it. She rose as the
wave advanced and plunged heavily for
ward as 1t rushed under her. ~
Now is the time to catch her.. Sharp
up go the yards from the head and main.
The head sheets are hauled we'll aft,
the helm carefully tended, the spanker
eased up slightly; the ship feels the |
canvas, small as the amount on her is;
she reaches forward, staggers for q mo-
ment, then slowly works her way of |
through sea after sea. As soon a. she
is far enough out to sea the vessel is
brought up into the wind, of comes the
foretopmast staysail, foresail, foretop-
sail and spanker. A close-reefed main
topsail and main spencer alone hold her
up, and all attempt to fall of is coun-
teracted by the position Of the rudder.
Should the wind still continue to in
crease In violence the topsail will be
goose-winged. This latter sail is kent
on as long as possible because of its be-
Ing above the waves. Under a main
spencer alone the ship has but little OBJ
portunity to feel the wind, the waves
serving as a bulwark. Should, however.
3 goose-winged topsail and main spen-
GER prove too much, tarpaulins placed
IN the lee mizzen rigging may hold her
Up. r~sssss '1p>~~A-. ~s~~
If she still continues to heel over the
rev will cut away the foremost by cut
ing the weather laniards. If this will
lot right her away will go the mizzen
nd main and than fHuat "a .idin. 49,