Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-05-08
MAN OVERHEARD"
A Startling Cry ON shIpboard--Ruies o
Action.

There Is no sound aboard ship so de-
morallzing as that of "Man overheard"
says the N. Y. Times. II strikes terror
TO the heart OF the bravest of men, aud
only the best disciplined crews can
withstand the panic il usually produces.
Almost every ship has u particular rule
of action for such occurrences. Tho
best preconcerted arrangements, how.
ever, are often inapplicable, and sue.
cess depends mainly on the presence
OF mind of the watch, the man ut tho
life buoy, and the normal condition OF
the boats
A cool hand will drop the life buoy
sometimes within the reach Of man;
"bothercd" Que will either not let 20 NJ
all or do so before the man has got
near the stern, OF all persons aboard
ship the officer of the deck should be
cool and collected,
Rear Admiral $. Il. Luce lays down
tho principle that the most important
considerations when n man falls over
board are; First, the quickest and
most cffcctual method Of arresting tho
ships progress and how to keep her rs
near tho spot where the man foil ~
possible. Second to preserve the
general discipline of the ship, TO main
tain silence, and TO enforce the most
prompt obedience, without permitting
foolhardy volunteering Of any Kind.
Third to see that the boat appointed 10
10 employed on these occasions is
placed in such u manner that she may
oe east loose In n moment, aud when
ready for lowering that she is properly
manned and fitted, so MS to he efficient
In all respects when she reaches the
water Fourth, to take care in lower
ing the boat neither TO stavc or swamp
her nor to pitch the men out. And,
lastly, to have sufficient number Of
the sharpest-sighted men in the ship
stationed aloft in such manner us TO
give them the best chance not only OF
discovering the person overheard, but
of pointing him ont 10 the men In the
boat, who may not otherwise know in
what direction To pull.
With steamers the difficulties 10 over
come In reScuing n man overheard are
comparatively few, inasmuch MS n
stcam-ycssel Is always Under control so
long rs her machinery is in good order.
The rule Is TO stop rs quickly rs posi-
Bile, lower the lifc-boat. and pick the
man up. The really fine points of sea-
manship come into play when sailing
ships are being handled, The ordeal
is u trying one for the best of officers,
aud the young scamcn who can proper
" place u large sailing ship aud rescue
u man that has fallen overheard de-
serve the highest credit for seamanlikc
qualities.
Rear Admiral Luce is ono of the best
scamcn in the United States navy and
now on the retired list, had u iayoriio
J habit while In command of the North
Atlantic squadron Of ordering mid.
shipman to relieve the officer of the
deck from duty, the instant the young
man took hold of the speaking trumpet
tho observing officer would quickly
pass signal and in twinkling tho
terrible cry of "Man overheard"
would ring through the ship. II was
all done TO test the young midship-
mans nerve aud fitness for his calling,
and the admirals delight In catching u
young officer mapping was amusing
Generally, however commanding
officers refrain from allowing the cry
to be sounded solely for practice pur-.
poses, inasmuch as Scamcn have been
known TO jump overheard to the rescue
of their supposed unfortunate shipmate.
The rule Is stringent one that no
sailor shall jump overheard unless per-
mitted by tho officer Of the deck, but
many brave fellows do SO In spite Of
the regulation and no few lives have
been lost i'm foDlhnrdy uuuprtukinus