The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-11
OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.
Interesting Facts About Smoothin
Waves-Discolored Water.

Interesting Facts About Smoothing
waves-Discolored Water.
Some interesting facts in relation to the
use of oil to calm heavy seas are contained
in tine special bulletin issued by the
branch photographic office of San Fran.
cisco April 1:
Captain Thomas Curd, of the British ship
Narcissus, reports that when in latitude south
A deg. SO min, longitude east 46 deg 81 min, he
encountered q cyclone. On shipping a heavy
sea he Immediately put two oil distributors
over, one on each side, in the waist and forward
chains No moro seas were shipred after this,
though the ship was making fourteen or fifteen
knots. The seas were broken before they came
to the ship aud the water made perfectly smooth
on the surface.
The same bulletin contains the follow
ing reports clipped from the Pilot Chart Of
the North atlantic Ocean for March:
Captain Goodwin, American schooner Eleazer
w. Clark, while bound from Cieniuegos Cuba,
to Boston. encountered q succession of gales
and tremendously heavy seas, especially during
the hurricane of January 1927, latitude North
"a, longitude west "a He used whale oil in
bags hung over the bows, and he poured some
oil down the closets. This had a most wonder
full effect on the high, breaking seas After the
whale oil gave out he used paint oil, varnish
mixed with paint oil, and kerosene. The cap
tain feels perfectly satisfied that the oil saved
his vessel, and he desires especially that this
statement be given publicity and prominence.
He always carries q supply of whale oil and re-
CARDS that as the best kind. In cold weather he
adds turpentiue to keep the oil thin.
Captain Frost, of the American schooner
Charles L Mitchell, reports that during Febru-
ary, in a strong gale off Hat.eras, heavy seas
broke over the vessel fore and aft, and he hove
to under close-reefed fore and maineails, rugged
block to the end of the flying jibboom, and
ran out gunny sack filed with oakum satur-
ated with fsh oil, which dripped into the
water. After this the heavy seas approached
under the oil film without breaking on board
Twice the vessel plunged her flying jibboom
into very heavy seas. but shipped no water.
Chief Officer Collinette, of the American
steamer Shawmut, reports that he has used fish
oil in every heavy storm encountered during
the last eighteen months and always carries q
barrel for that purpose. He finds that the
spreading oil prevents the heavy seas from
breaking on board, and during this entire period
but one sea has boarded the ship. The usual
method of using oil is to put oskum into the
forward water-closet bowls and fill them with
oil. Once of Hatteras a man was lost over
board, but he had no difficulty in lowering a
lifeboat, although the was running very
high and breaking. The oil was of great benefit
The bulletin also contained the follow
ing note about the discoloration of water
noted at sea by another sea captain:
Captain Bergman, of the Spanish Big Bonanza,
reports that on December IL, 1891, in latitude
south AZ, longitude west IS approximately, the
color OF the water changed from blue to dark
green, and the swell became SO short and strong
that he was obliged to shorten sail-steering full
and by at the time. Also on January l6, 1892, in
latitude south "A, longitude west s. the color of
the water changed from light blue to green, and
again from green TO blue January Is, latitude
south a., longitude "a west