The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-19

sagacity and study he is ever on the alert TO see
II he cannot make few more miles Oh the next
DAYS Iun.
This viii show you what an important part
the members Of our association take In the COM
cial interests of the civilized world yet not
Withstandtng these facts lie engineers are not
as we'll known as they ahOuid be. No poet has
ceel)ra ed them, no musician has found
melody Tor their acts. Hidden In the glowing
interior of the steam-fend's iron bowels, 10 The
eye of one peerng downward ihey show but as
the meTest shadows they Tit through The ruby
lakes of light flung from the open doors OF the
furnaces. This Is the class Of men that nave
arisen to accept lie grave aud serious obligation
OF The kissing boiler aud The evolving shaft.
AN ABSOLUTE AUToCRAT.
The chief engineer the man who. IN these days
OF poie-masis, Is absolutely Tie most important
person Oh board the shtp, without whom the
captain might go on taking sights for months
and not DO the least good; without whom the
first officer might continue seeing that the decks
are kept scrubbed and The DidssWOrk bright
with no practical resut-ihis important man i
scarcely heard Of ON board the ship. Some OF
lie reoule Who take Their meals AT his table may
| Indeed converse with him but the interval OF in
| terc0urse Is exceedingly blief, and it is no ex-
! agEef"loh 10 say mat, although voyage might
| last month or six weeks, seven eighius of Inc
passengers would not be able TO point out tile
! chet engineer standing amid group Of the
ships officers and his own assistants TO a GER
lain extent. perhaps, TINS IS owing TO the region
OF his labois. The captain Is always or pretty
nearly always with bis passengers; The life OF
the engineer, on he other hand, IS passed amid
pistOns and shafts, amid revolving arms of fash
lu4 Steel ana tue pONQetOuS WiltZ OF moving ma
chinery, dancing 10 It's own solemn Chant. He
must lie for ever vigiiaut and alert. watching the
giant machine with far closer vigilance than Is
necessary In a captain INF attending to the duties
OF the bridge. Still lie has opportunities of leis
, ure. abundant enough to enable him to mix with
| The passengers and to become known 10 them
hardly less Intimately than the CAPTAIN himself.
THE EFFECT OF CUSTOM
Why he should not enjoy every privilege OF the
| shipmas er is hard 10 understand. HIS position
| ia the vessel Is probably the effect OF custom
| On the Introduction of Sllus pd
went fun igged as before. Tie padGle-wheel
| and propeller were regarded as little more than
auXlllaTes. Sail was counted tile main support
and the obligation Of seamdnShtp Kept the can
| tain very much IN the front The engineer, as "A
feature Of Tie internal economy cf The ship, was
| not very strongly defined. Now the sail Is
| scarcely supplement; the propeller IS the es-
| sential condition. The AIT OF seamanship has
| been narrowed down 10 mere vigilance, the ca.
| paclty o ma out vessels position and the
| knowledge OF eeplng ship slightly 10 The eye.
| Great, indeed, i the stress over anu over
| again The heavy aud solemn responsibilities OF
| Inc shlpmaster nave been represented and public
| recognition and sympathy sought for him. To-
| geihei WIN respect and admiration for his fdeli-
| W ana uutllulness. Yet even the most cOnserya.
| tive merchant captain must admit that the
| responsibilities oil the engineer are to thu fun
| as OnerOus as his own. The bridge is power less
| without The engine room; the respective chief,
| must consult and the anXietes of The one mus
| be tie anXeties of tile other. Nor let il be for.
| gotten that the marine engineer Of Today is pre-
| emInentiy man of talent aud education, "a per
| son OF great scientific knowledge and IN b arms
| ana conversation me equal Oh lDOse VINO, by Tx
| tyranny or custom, In the eyes OF the public
still take the lead Of him. A jaSt aud SATISFYING
| recognition OF the duties, conduct and persona
| qualifications of the engineers of our grea
! ocean steamers canuOt be expected until The
Truth OF their lives has been put before III.
| public.
HEROIC ACTS.
| A collection OF heroic acts Of the marine en-
| gineer might serVe as beginning and the pro
! fessiun In It's own interest should 10 such
| compilation. When We hear OF deeds of bravery
| rendered the more beautiful aud astonishing
| sight Of tie world We are tempted 10 look close
| y at the doors, aud an examination OF this klnt
| is almost always rewarded by discoveries which
| are Of singular help 10 the growsb Of publication
| Of humanity Comparatively speaking, the pro
| fessOn Of marine eugineers young. The annal
| OF his calling go but little further back thar
| lilly years. Y6t regarding his life as but hair
| century old, the career OF engineer Is already
| crowded With noble aud valolous trophies. Few
| sights are grauder III human lie than the spec
| tacc OF the captain standing on the deck of
| sinking ship, blind 10 the liquid grave that yawn
| blackly under his feet, whilst with his last breat
| he gives directions for the safety OF the peOpl
| committed TO his charge. The memorials OF tn
| englue-roUm, however, again ana again parable
| such deeds by stories of heroic men In their iIo
! dungeons standing to their posts with quiet am
| resolved hearts, neyrr Offering To stir when th
| hres were out and the water washing about thei
| feet until a call from the deck summoned then
from duty which they were fully prepared L
! die In dlschargIng.
10 night we have laid aside the cares aud re
| spOnslOHitleS OF the eugne-roOm and have as
semDied here with our families and friends [
| ENJOY lew hours OF recreation III Inirth an
song, aud we hope That each and every one o
! you VIII do so TO the fullest extent, and when yo
| return 10 your homes you Will look back upo
| this as an evening well spent, and have warn
| place III your heart Tor lie MAJ Inc engineer