The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1895-05-23
Rules ofthc Road sen.

Ensign John M. Elhcott. in st. Nichol
las, has paper entitled "What the Lights
Tell" This is description Of the sys'
tenn Of signaling at night, Enslgn EiIl'
cott writes as follows Of the "Rules of the
Road.
Presently there flashes ont Of the gloom
ahead a small bright speck; then II Is
gone, and then it shows again, and one OF
the lookouts who has craced his LecR
forward in the intensity OF his gaza cries
ont
Light bol
la an instant the officer Of the deck is y
bis side, glasses IN hand, inquiring;
Where away?
Then he, too, sees it, and by 1t is INFORM
ed of smother vessels presence near him
on dark ocean. Then comes sn anxious
time when with strong glasses he strives
to tell the color of that faint light for
he is as yet informed only Of the other
vessels whereabouts at the moment and
knows not which way che is going nor
what manner OF vessel she may be-
This last is what the next light reveals, for
il it be white it is the masthead light OF
steamer, but il it be red or green the abl
sence Of a white light reveals sailing yes
sci. 1t is for the red and green llghte,
commonly known as the side lights, that
the officer OF the deck mo1t intently watch
es, for by them be can tell which way the
vessel is going. II her red light shove,
be knows that her port side IS toward
him and she /, crossing to his left II 1t
ls net green light, her starboard side is
toward him, and she is crossing to his
night, but il both red and green ire show
ing she is heading straight 10 his dlrec |
tion. Thus he learns by these rnuulng |
lights where the other vessel If, what she |
is, and in what direction he il going and |
he knows in plenty OF time whether she Is |
on bis track or wether she is crossing it |
10 one direction or the other All That i-
not enough, however, 10 avoid collision |
for both be and the officer on the ether vet
sci must know exactly what to do aud |
what the other is going TO do lie must
know. 30 to speak, on lnst what track the
other vessel will switch 10 avoid him This
Is settled by fixed rules, which are the
same the world over, and are known 10 all
men who follow the sea. They are called
the "rules OF the road.
The rules Of the road say that when two
vessels are coming bows on-lbat IA to
sSy, on the same track each vessel shall
turn of to the night far enough to avoid
the other; that when two vessels are crossl
ing -thst is, when their tracks would
cross each other, the oBe which hos The
other on her stsrbosrd (rightl hand must
turn 10 starboard lthe rlghD. and 20 bri
bind the other vessel. while the latte
Keeps on her track, Of 90 rse, and that
steam vessel must slwsys get out Of the
way OF q ssiiug vessel, vessel at aucbor
or disabled, or d vessel With another 10
TOW
Thus the lights tell, 10 the darkes
night, Which way the chips are guiug aua
what hind Of ships lbey ate. wblIe the
rules OF the iolt tell, 10 Il Tor IIht All
day 10 winch direction The ships must ruu
to keep out Of each others Way. II a yrr
eel has smother vessel 10 tow she cal rirs
two MASTHEAD lights IDste.d Of oLe. sud
when . vessel Is At anchor sue ha, 10 i1e
lights or masthead light but sluIis
white hight made iast 70 stay wl'rs II
Gao be seen from sll sFUund L-t