The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-02
THE USE OF OIL AT SEA.
IL Proper Precautions Are Taken Vessels
Nay Weather Heaviest Gales.

May weather heaviest cafes.
Terrible gales on the English coast, and
| heavy weather off 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
! photographic office 10 induce all vessels
! to provide themselves with appliances for
! ejecting oil.
When Commander Bartlett was hydrog-
rapher the matter of using oil for quell-
ing the waves was made special feature
and placed under charge of Lieutenant
Dyer, who, when he became photographer,
I pushed the matter still further. The re-
suit of this intelligent and persistent eff
fort has been tine collection of a large
amount of information on the subject that
has been embodied in aset of rules which
the branch photographic officer in this
city, Lieutenant o. w Lowery, is dis
tributing among the shipmasters.
The belief in the efficiency of this meth
Cd of calming the waves has so firmly es-
tablIshed itself in many cases that num-
bers OF vessels are now especially provided
with oil distributing apparatus, and sell
dom a storm passes without one or more
reports being submitted on the subject.
The general conclusions being that had
the precaution not been resorted to fatal
results would have followed. To substan-
tate this opinion one need only refer TO
the marine reports of disaster that follow
any one Of the severe storms on our coast.
When scudding before a gale the rules
say that the oil should be distributed from
the bow by means of oil bags or through
waste pipes. 1t viii thus spread aft as
the ship continues on her course and give
protection from both quartering and fol-
lowing seas. The effect is almost miracu-
lous, the toaming seas as they come tear
ing along, looking for all the world as
though they would swallow up the vessel,
masts and all, stop when they reach the
''slIck, over which their com bers cannot
pass, and eXpend their energies in futile
efforts to reach their prey.
If drifting in the trough of a heavy sea
use the oil from the forward waste pipes
and put the bags over on the weather side.
Lying to, to tack or wear ship, the oil can
also be used from the same places. 1t seems
wonderful that a film of oil too thin for
the most delicate instrument to measure
can have such an instantaneous effect even
when there Is flashing and diaboIical
play of the water that no pen can describe.
Everybody knows how much easier ma
chinery runs when it is oiled, or, in other
words, when the friction is reduced. 1t is
the same thing in this case-the wind cam
not catch good hold on the water, as it is
prevented from so doing by the oil on It's
surface
A vessel hove to for pilot should dis
tribute oil from the weather side and lee
quarter. The pilot boat runs up to wind
ward and lowers boat, which pulls down
to leeward and around the vessels stern.
The pilot boat after sending off her boat
then runs down to leeward, gets out oil
bags to windward and on her lee quarter,
and the boat pulls back around her stern,
protected by the oil The vessels drift to
leeward and leave an oil slick to windward
between the two.
Towing another vessel in heavy sea is /
very dangerous operation,
and again and again has the attempt been (
given up until wind and sea have abated, /
whereas IN many Instances it could readily /
have been accomplished had the oil bags |
been at hand, or rather had they been in |
service. They are very easy to make, as
they consist of nothing but conical can
vas bag stuffed with oakum, on which oil |
is plentifully poured, and having large .
sail needles thrust through the canvas so |
that the oil can have chance to ooze out.
Again and again could the towing hawsers
have been kept from swapping had this
simple remedy been applied.
The above instances are but samples of .
the many cases in which oil can be used.
Lowering and hosting boats, riding to a
sea anchor, crossing rollers or surf on bar
and from, lifphOatS and stranded vacceIS
are cases in which its utility is very
marked. Mineral oils are not so effective
as animal or vegetable oils. Raw petro-
leum has been experimental with and has
given favorable results, but is not as salts
factory as the refined quality. Certain
pills, like cocoanut oil and some kinds of
fish oil, CONCEAL IN cold weather, and are
therefore useless, but may be mixed with
mineral oil 10 advantage. New York
World.