The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-11-17

the Stoppage OF the ship to secure
correct cast. and with a properl,
equipped ship this is not necessary.
Is an axionatic fact that STEAMSHIP
running on a parallel course with al
adjacent coast line will ultimately rui
ashore. Experienced seamen, are wei
Iaware Of the fact that two ships in {
continued calm at sea will slowly ap
proach each other, a fact easily ex
planned bysthe attraction of two heavy
bodies floating in liquid. The surface
of the ocean is singularly free from
floating objects, although the great
rivers in freshet seasons are constant.
ly dischargtng logs and trees. The
navigator on the coasts Of the Amer
lean continent during the rainy season
will often see trees discharged by over
flown streams, but even with an Off
shore wind, these all go on the beach
in a short time; simply another in.
stance of the attraction before mem
toned There is also a well-known pull
sation Of the ocean toward the shore,
quite Independent Of other conditions.
1t is evident from these illustrations
that continental coast line must Gre
ate a strong attraction on ship steer.
ing a parallel course considering the
immense disproportion in specific grav-
ity much greater than we can con-
cefve. 1t is an ever present danger
which should not be disregarded by the
coastwise navigator at night or in thick
weather Another frequent source of
disaster is the magnetic needle. Aside
from the variation and deviation Of
the compass, which alone are sufficient
to tax the vigilance Of the navigator,
especially in ships of iron and steel,
we have the equally potent attraction
ore masses on tho continental coast
line. On coast like that Of the west
ern coast of North and South America,
generally bold, too, with ranges of hills
and mountains close to the beach, pre-
sumably often consealing large masses
of magnetic iron ore, 1t is easy to i'm
agine that the compass is often largely
DETECTED thereby, and in a manner for
which no stated allowance can be |
made. There is an island in the navi- |
gable waters Of Northern Europe so |
in this respect, that ships |
within ten miles find their
magnetic needles pointing directly |
toward It, 1t is we'll known that the
island is substantially mountain of
magnetic iron ore. Why should this
example be disregarded in coastwise
navigation close in shore?
Another source of frequent disaster
IS the dangerous dependence on a small
angle of safety obtained by hauling
off" half point or even more, disre-
yarding the fact that while the ships
lead points all right, the causes above
mentioned frequently overcome the
margin of safety thus obtained This
8, Of course, specially the case with a
ee shore or wind and sea on the Off
Ihore bow, dangerous factor on a
course. I recall an instance
When approaching a Central American
'ort on an angle acute with the beach,
n pitch dark might with tropical
ain and breeze toward the land. / !
rad been ordered to arrive at my port
" daylight next morning, and. having
large number of passengers to cross
he Isthmus, 1t was essential that Ii
hould do so, otherwise losing twenty I
our hours on the through voyage hence
o New York. At 9 o'clock p. m. l j
topped and sounded in "a fathoms-- 7
ow far off-shore 1t was impossible to r
ell, since the chart showed no sound :
lgs. But as the shore was compare 4
Ively bold to" ! thought three miles a
fair distance from the land to cal t
ulate upon. But 1 dared not run full ;
peed on a parallel course. or even on q
course two points off shore under a
lch conditions, and half speed would
OF permit the object I was directed to :,
btain. was firm in the determination Il
, obey orders. and to run full speed II
18th safety, SO 1 put the helm hard >
port, turned the ships head directly n
t shore and ran full speed one hour. Il
then turned the ship on a parallel Z
purse and ran until six p m. 1 could n n
D this with safety, for had fully pro- B
ded against running ashore during n
lie night. 1 knew that my command =,
as about fourteen miles off shore r
hen / placed her on the course until al
iylight Daybreak saw me off my port a.
bout ten miles distant had sacrI- 7. +
led an hours coal, but l had made l.
y point with safety to ship and pas 81
ngers. ~
There is one consideration which q
lvigators should never disregard, No
Iances should be taken except such n
are unavoidable in the service. Still ~ ~
E all recognize the fact that avoid az
lie chances are taken. and avoidable Ii
randing occurs. The skilful naviga- i.
r. with confidence in himself, takes -
SKIS that he should avoid. while the C,
Ivigator Of modest requirements, con- tn
ious Of his personal deficiency, is FIRE. !"
emily over-cautious. II possessing a III
III balanced mind, and thus more tn
an atones for the lack OF scientific je
ILL., To err is human. and when the 81, =,
igencies Of coastwlse navigation are ov
nsidered, the fog, the currents, the er
les. dark nights and heavy rains, It an
even remarkable that SO few steam. a 4,
ips are lost in coastwise navigation. sa
ley pass in and out through the @
'lden Gate. and seldom do they dis. sn
point us when due. Underwriters, On
ners and passengers little realize the ed
IN A.. --oo1 s.,z---..o..s ~. II ~