Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17
THE USE OF OIL AT SEA.
How Vessels Can Safely Be Taken Through
Stormy Seas.

Stormy Seas.
From the New York World.
The recent terrible gales ON the English
coast, during which a large number of vessels
and many lives were lost, and the approaching
season of heavy weather of our own coast and
upon the North Atlantic ocean bring forcibly
to mind the strenuous efforts that are con-
stantly being made by the United States hydro
graphic office to induce all vessels to provide
Themselves with appliances for ejecting oil.
When Commander Bartlett was HYDRO
grspher the matter of using oil for quelling
the waves was made q special feature and
placed under charge Of Lieut.. Dyer, who.
when he became photographer. pushed the
matter still further The result of this intel
igent and persistent effort has been the col
lection OF iatge amount of information on
tn. subject that has been embodied in set of
rules which the branch photographic officer
ir this city. Lieut. o W. Lowery Is distr4but-
ing among the shipmasters
The belief III the efficiency Of this method of
calming the waves has 80 firmly established it.
sell 10 many cases That numbers OF vessels are
now especially provided with oil distributing
apparatus snd seldom a storm passes without
one )r more reports being submitted on the
subject the general conclusions being that
had the precaG;ion not been resorted to fatal
results would have followed. To s,rbstautiate
reports of disaster that follow any one OF the
severe storms on our coast
When scuddinS before gale the rules say
that the oil should be distributed from the
bow by means of oil bags OF through waste
pipes. 1t will thus spread aft MS the ship con-
tinues o. her course and give protection from
both 1uarterlng and following seas. The effect
is almost miraculous the toam,ng seas AS they
Come tearing along, looking for all the world
as though they would swsiow mp tho vessel
nlsts and all, stop when they reach the slick y
over which their combers cannot PASS, and ex-
pcud their energies Ill futile efforts to reach
theII prey.
Ii drifting IN the trough Of a heavy sea use
the oil from the forward waste pipes and put
tho bags over on the weather side. Lying to.
To tacA or wear ship. the ri can also be used
from 'he same places 1t seems wonderful
that film OF oil too thin for the most delicate
instrument: to measure can have such an III
stantaneous effect even when there is lash
ing and dabolicai play Of the water that no
per- cali describe Everybody knows how
much easier machinery runs VIII. 1t is oiled
or in other words. when the friction is re-
duced. il Ii the same thing in this case-the
WIND cannot catch good hold OF the water,
as It Is prevented from SC doing by the oil on
ITS surface.
A vessel hove tc for a pilot should distribute
oil from the weather side and Ice quarter The
pilot boat runs mp TO windwsrd ard lowers q
boat, which pulls down TO ieeward and around
the vessel . slern The pilot boat after sending
on her boat then runs down TO leeward, gets
out oil bags to windward and on her lee quarter
ana the boat pulls back aronnd Eer stern. pro-
tected BY the oil The vessels DRIFT TO leewurd
ana leave an oil sick TO windward between the
two.
Towing another vessel in a heavy sea is fire.
quenily very dangerous operation, and again
and again has the attempt been given up'until
wlrd aud sea have abated. whereas in many
instances it could readily have been accom-
rlished had the Gil bags been at hand, or,
rather, had they been in service They are
very easv TO make, as they consist OF nothing
but conlcal canvass bag stuffed with oakum.
OF. which oil is pleutifully poured. and having
large sail needles thrust through and through
the canvass SO that the oil can have I. chance
TO ooze out Again and again ould the tow ing
hdwsers have been kept rom swapping had
this simple remedy been applied
The above instances but samples of the
many cases in which oil Can be used. Lower
ing and hosting boats riding TO Il sea anchor,
crossing rollers or surf on IA bar and from life
boat and stranded vessels are cases in which
lit utility Is very marked. Mineral oils are not
so effective as animal or vegetable ellis. Raw
petroleum has been experimental with and has
given favorable results but is not as satisfac-
tory as the refined quality. Certain oils like
cocoanut oil ard some kinds OF fish oil, congeal
Ill cold weather, and therefore useless, but
may De mixed with mineral oil TO advantage.