The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-21

Measures of Prccaution Taken by the Big
Transatlantic Liners.

Transatlantic Liners.
With only few exceptions, the regu-
lar steamship lines pursue wel-dcfined
paths. both in coming and gong across
the Atlantic.and this not only averts the
langer of collision, but is an element
of safety in case of disaster, as a ship.
II in the ''lane," is reasonably sure of
being sighted, if not by one of her
The closely calculated sailing dircc.
tions under which captains guide their
crafts across the water provide for
reaching specified neridians of longi-
tude while on certain parallels of lati.
tude, the meridian so degrees west be.
ing mostly used as u basis for reckon
ing. Coming westward the Cunarders
will cross that line in latitude 43 north,
Or less than that figure; the White
Star line divides the year into two
parts, and from February to August
runs even with the Cunard steamers:
from August to February however. its
vessels keep further north. and the
limit for crossing the meridian is IS de.
grces so minutes north. The American
line gets one degree nearer the equator,
and strikes 50degrees west on the forty
second parallel, while the North Ger
man Lloyd captains sail under ''go-as.
you-please" orders, crossing the merid-
ian of so, however, about eighty miles
south of the Virgin Rocks. or little
to the north of the forty-fourth paral-
lei. Going eastward, however, the fig
ures change slightly, and the Cunard
line reaches the mark of so degrees
west one degree south of it's westward
crossing point, while the White Star
line drops its division of the year and
sticks to a course still nearer the equa.
tor than it's red-funneled rival, making
the forty-first parallel the objective
point of junction with the meridian
throughout the year.
One great danger of the transatlan
tic voyage is in passing the Newfound
land and Georges fishing banks. Little
two-masted cocllleshells swarm over
the places where the fish are known tc
congregate, and, blow high or blow
low, poke their noses up into the wind
and let it keep on blowing. while the
guiding spirits of the frail craft are out
in their dories chasing school Of cod
or haddoclS. When fog settles down on
the water and a damp, gray blanket OF
mist shuts out from view everything
but the tumbling wave that happens to
be right under the boat, there they
stay until they are either loaded with
fish or short of provisions, when they
cup killiclS" and away for home AT
night it is the same as in fog, and
while it sometimes happens that the
schooner itself is smashed to splinters
or cut in two and sunk, it is more often
the case that a boat a short distance
from her is cut down and two or more
men added to the long and tear-nloist-
ened list of missing from the fishing
fleet
The new rules of the road revive the
old article of the law of 1885, which
provides that open boats and fishing
vessels of less than twenty tons shall
have a lantern with two glasses, ont
showing red and the other a greer
light, which shall be shown on the
proper side of the boat when ap
preached by another vessel, and an
other section provides that roaming
boats, whether under sail or oars, shal
carry a lantern showing white light
which must be exhibited as warning
to approaching craft. With these rule.
strictly enforced and of internationa
effect, it is hoped that many OF TIL,
perils of the sea will be overcome. fo
while the big steamer may come safel,
to port and land her passengers al
right, it is not pleasant to think tha
in rush for record human lives hav,
been sacrificed that might have beci
saved if strict attention had been givel
) by all concerned to the rules of tn
, road.-N. Y. Tribune.