Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-04-26
IMAM oveRsoAao,-


IL Answered.
There is no sound aboard ship so de-
moralizing as that OF ''Man overhoafd!-
IL strikes terror to the heart Of the
bravest Of men, and only the best dis
ciplined crews can Withstand the panic
II usually produces. Almost every ship
has particular r,rle OF action for such
occurrences. The best preconcerted ar
rangcments, however, are often inap-
piicable, and success depends mainly on
the presence Of mind of the watch, the
man at the life buoy, and the normal
condition of the boats.
A cool hand will drop the life buoy
sometimes within reach of a man;
bothered one will either not let go at
all or do so before the man has got near
the stern. OF all the persons aboard
ship the officer of the deck should be-
cool and collected.
Rear Admiral :. H. Luce laws down
the principle that the most important
considerations when man falls over.
board are; I. The quickest and mos,
eHectual method of arresting the ship's
progress and how 10 keep her as near
the spot where the man fell as possib BILE
9. To preserve the general discipline OF
the ship. to maintain silence, and to
enforce the most prompt obedience.
without permitting fooihardy volunteer
ing Of any kind. 3. To see that the boa,
appointed To be employed on these
occasions Is placed in such a-manner
| that she may be- cast loose in a moment.
and, when ready for lowering. that she
is properly manned and fitted so as TO be
efficient in all respects when she reaches
the water. 4. To take care in lowering
the boat neither TO stave or swamp her
nor to pitch the men out. And. lastly,
| TO have sufficient number OF the sharp
est-sighted men in the ship stationed
aioft in such manner as to give them
the best chance not only OF discovering
| the person overheard but OF pointing
him out To the men in the boat, who
may not otherwise know in what direc.
tion To pull
With steamers the difficulties 10 over.
come in rescuing . man overheard are
comparatively few, inasmuch as q
steam vessel is always under control so
long as her machinery Is in good order
The rule is to stop as quickly as possible,
lower the lee lifeboat and pick the man
| up. The really fine points OF seaman.
ship come into play when sailing ships
are being handled. The ordeal is a
trying one for the best of officers, and
the young seamcn who can properly
place large sailing ship and rescue a
man that has fallen overheard deserves
the highest credit for seamanlike quail.
ties.
Rear Admiral Luce. one OF the bes,
seamen in the United States navy. and
now on the retired list, had favorite
habit while in command of the North
Atlantic squadron Of ordering ,nidship
man to relieve the officer OF the deck
from duty, and the instant the young
man took hold of the speaking trumpet
the observing officer would quickly pas,
a signal and in a twinkling the terribl,
cry Of Man overboard,n would rinl
through the ship II was all done q
test the young midshipman's nerve anC
fitness for his calling. and the Admiral,
delight in catching young officer nap
ping was amusing. Generally, however
commanding officers refrain from allow
ing the cry 10 be sounded solely 10
practice purposes. inasmuch as seamer
have been known to Jump overheard /,
the rescue Of their supposed unfortunat,
shipmate. The rule is a stringent on,
that no sailor shall jump overheard TO
rescuing purposes unless permitted b,
the officer of the deck, but many brav,
fellows do so in spite OF the regulation
and no few lives have been lost in fool
hardy undertakings Y. Times