The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-09
OIL UPON THE WATER.
Lieutenant W. H. ::cehlsr G:ves au In.
teresting Account of the Use of
Oil in - Storm at Sea.
A Sleepy Little schooi--spoopendyk
Crab Fishing-How Cinnamon
tray-His Own.
The Use Of Oil 10 st,ll the Waves.

Ouucf inc ABOVE LltiC LiCuLCnanC w.
H. Beehler contributes to the Century
an account of the experiments made
with oil in rough water We quote
the following account of two rcscues:
"The captain of tho ship Martha Cobb,
loaded with petroleum, fell in with u
sinking vessel during a heavy gale in
the North Atlantic in December. 1886.
The signal made stated the vessel was
sinking aud that all her boats had
been stove. The Martha Cobb had
lost her large boats, her bulwarks
washed out, and decks swept in the
same storm; the only boat left was
small sixteen-foot dingey, which could
not possibly live in tue sea that was
then running. Tho captain SAYS he
sswas puzzled and lay by for some hours
hoping that the gale would moderate;
but as there was no appearance of bet
ter weather and night coming on, he
decided to make an attempt to rescue
the crew of the sinking vessel. The
Martha Cobb had a cargo of petroleum.
some of which leaked, aDd the captain
had noticed that the sea in the wake of
the ship was much smoother wien the
pumps were worked.
"He signaled to the other vessel to
haul by the wind while he luffed to get
to winIward, and at the same time
started the pumps; but the ship drifted
faster than the oil, and while the oil
made the sea comparatively smooth to
winlwaral. it did not cover the sea lee
ward. He then ran down across the
other vessels stern, hauled up close
under her lee. and started the pumps
again; at the same time also lle
emptied a tive-gallon can Of fish oil
down the scuppers. The effect was
magical. In twenty minutes the sea
between and around the vessels was
broken down. The long heavy swell
remained, but the combers and break
ing seas were all gone. Tho little
dingey with three mon had no diff
Guilty in pulling to wiDdward. and the
crew were saved. The boat was deep
| lv loaded and did not ship any water,
| although the sea was breaking fierce
ly outside of the charmed space in
which the vessels lay on oiled seas.
"In June, 1855. the British ship
Slivemore took fire and had to be
abandoned when eight hundred miles
northeast of the Seychelle Islands,
Indian Ocean. The people took to the
boats and made for Seychelle Islands.
The third day after leaving the vessel
cyclone came up. and no one believed
that the boats would live through it,
Before they left The ship the boats had
been supplied nith oil for just such an
emergency. i. .rli boat got out drag
made of si,lr,an irats lashe'l together,
| for what is known us II sea-anchor.
Oakum saturated with paralline was
stuffed in long stockings hung over the
bows of the boats. Before the oil was
used the boats had been several times
nearly filled with water and the oc-
cupants had to bail for their lives; but
wien oil was applied no further
trouble was experienced. An oil-slick
formed around the boats, which rode
in perfect safety on tremendous swefIs
which took tic place of the previously ly
breaking seas. Little if any waite,
came over the sides of the boats, ant
tae occupants could lie down an(
sleep. The boats eventually reached
the islands, but every soul would have
perished except for tie forethough
Of Captain Conby. tile captain of the
Slivemore."