The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-14
RULES OF THE ROAD AT SEA
Measures OF PrecautIon Taken by the Big
Transatlantic Liners.

Measures OF PrecautI0n Taken BY the Big
Transatlantic Liners
With only few exceptions, the reg
ular steamship lines pursue well a .
fined paths, IN going and com -ng across
the Atlantic, and this not only averts
the danger OF collision, but is an ele-
ment of sa ETY. in case of disaster, as
a ship, IL In the '1ane," is reasOna y
sure Of being sighted, if not by one
OF her ster ships, By one of some
other line. The closely calculated
sailing directions under which cap
tains guide their crafts across the
water . Ovide for reaching specified
meridians OF longitude while on GER
tain pa allels of latitude, the merid
ian so degrees we t being mostly
used as a basis for reckoning. Com
ing westward. says the New York
Tribune, the Cunarders will cross
that line in latitude ~ north, or less
than thai figure; the White Star
Line divides the year into Two PARTS,
and from February to Aug st runs
with the Cunard steamers; from Au-
gust to February, however, its yes
sells keep further north, and the
limit for crossing the meridian is 45
degrees so minutes north. The
American Line gets one degree
nearer the equator. and strikes so
degrees west on the fOrty-secOnd par
allel, while the North German Lloyd
captains sal under 'gO-as-you-
please orders, crossing the merid an
or so. however, about eighty miles
south Of the Virgin Rocks, or lit
tie to the north of the forty fourth
parallel Going eastward. however,
the figures change slightly, and the
Cunard Line reaches the mark of so
~ dc. n ~
westward crossing point. while the
White Star Line drops its division of
the year and sticks to a course still
nearer the equator than it's red-fun-
nelled rival making the fOrty-first
parallel the objective point or juno
tiOn with the meridian throughout
the year
One great danger OF the transat-
lantic voyage is in passing the New
fOundland and Georges fishing banks
Little two masted cockleshells swarm
over the places where fish are known
to 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
a school of cod or paddock. When
fog settles down on the water and a
Damp gray blanket of mist shuts out
from view every thing but the tumb-
ling wave that happens to be right
under the beat, there they stay IN
til they are either loaded with Dish
or short of provisions, when they
sup killick" and away or home. At
night it is the same as in fog, and
while it sometimes happens that the
schooner itself is smashed to slim
ters or cut in two or sunk, it is more
often the case that a boat a short
distance from heI is cut down and
two or more men added to the long
and tear moistened list Of 'nissing
from the fishing fleet"
The new rules of the road revive
the article Of the law of 1885, which
prOvid S that open boats and fishing
vessels Of less tndn twenty tons
shall have a lantern with two
glasses, one showing a red and the
other a green light, which shall be
shown on the proper side Of the boat
when approached by another vessel,
and another section prov des that
roaming boats, whether under sail or
oars, shall carry a lantern showing
white light. which must be exhibited
as a warning TO approaching era l.
With these rules strictly enforced
aud OF international effect. it is
hoped that many of the per Is Of the
sea W III he overcome, for while the
biG steamer may come safely TO port
and land her passengers ali right it
is not pleasant to think that in a
rush for Il record human lives have
been sacrificed that might have been
saved if strict attention had been
given by all concerned to the rules OF
the road