The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-16
PRESENCE OF MIND AT SEA.
An Old sailorman Recalls Instances
in Which 1t Yves Au-important.
From the Boston Herald,

IN W nlCA IL WES Au-lnDOrGant,
From the Boston Herald.
"Speaking of presence of mind at sea, u
reflected the old Boston mariner, II remem-
Der that many years ago, when Capt. Will
ian T. Glddeu, formerly Of the firm of
Glidden g. Williams, was in command Of a
ship bound to New Orleans, she was struck
by squall off the south side Of Cubs, and
the head of the foremost, close to the eyes
of the rigging, splintered and broke, but
held together. The topmast canted to lee
ward, and it would have gone over the side
if the broken part had separated. Capt.
Glidden kept the ship off. brought the top
mast upright by the backstays, and then
took O spare spar, rove it up through the
catharpins. lashed it around the broken
head of the forenast and the heel or doub-
ings of the tOpmast and around the fore
mast below the top, and thus secured the
lower mast, the topmast, aud ell above
them.
ITO think this out was the work Of
second, but hours were required TO make it
complete. By presence of mind and using
the material at hand, Capt. Glidden saved
the delay and expense OF putting into port.
Seamen, as general rule, are ready rea-
soners. There are no given rules by which
IA disaster can be repaired at sea; all depends
upon the experience and skill Of the captain
n
unmltigated egotlst will act upon a hint
suggested by common seaman.
AN illustration OF this kind occurred in
which q LINK of tho sings of the main yard
was broken. While securing the yard with
a tackle, a sailor suggested that a shacxle
would supply the place Of the broken link =.
There were SIEVE. al shaokles on board, evil
IDENTIFY designed for that purpose, which had
attracted the sailors notice il clearing out
a locker, but which were unknown to her
captain and mates. In addition to these
there we're shacklss for every piece of chain
rigging in the ship, aud for the cables too.
The sailor, in turning them over, OWNED
their use. On that same voyage, while
bringing the ship up in the river Mersey
during a gale, at Liverpool, the cable
parted, but another anchor and chain saved
her from drifting ashore. At low
water the parted chain and
anchor were recovered, aud tue
broken link was replaced by a ska2kle. The
shipmaster who fitted the ship out when
new had provided for such contingencies.
but she was then some 10 years old, the
means to meet them were unknown to her
officers. The intelligence Of the common
sailor rendered them available. These aud
various other means to repair accidents had
been regarded as so much old iron This
led the captain to overhaul the contents Of
every locker in the ship, aad he found COM
plianceS LOT constructing Jury ruQdeT, Tor
repairing pumps, stopping leaks and so on,
and had them all properly assorted, that
they might be- used when required. 1t " as
evident that he who had fitted the ship out
was man of thought and extensive expert
ence, ard had made provision { meet acct
dents that were liable to occur
"WheI Capt. Eben Howes commanded
the New York packet Roscius man fell
overheard while the snip vas going rapidly
through the water. Not only were the life
buoYs cut ndritt, but the spare studding sail
yards, billets Of wood and planks were
thrown overheard. and man was seat
aloft to look out while the snip was being
brought to the wind and the leo quarter
boat was made ready for lowering.
A passenger asked Capt. Howes why
he bad thrown so many things over board.
He was answered, because they would be
guides Co the boat looking after the nan
In seawRy the life buoys, as well as the
man, might escape the notice OF those
in the boat, ana in such an event, the other
articles would multiply the chances of find
ing the man. Guided by the articles, the
boat, after an hours search found the man
safely loHted by a life buoy and in good
condition. he had seen some of the drift
wood. and being a good swimmer, made
toward it and was saved. Capt. Cressy. in
the ship Flying Cloud, saved q man by the
same means after be had been two hours in
the water. A mans head is small object
to find in a seaway, hence the prudence of
throwing articles overheard Us guides to
ind him.