Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-12-06
ABOUT SHIPS BELLS.
LANGUAGE MORE EXTENSIVE
THAN LANDSMEN SUPPOSE.
In Addition TO Announcing the
ing Certain signals Formally
on Board n Naval Vessel at Eight
Bells.

bei1S.
The language of ships bell, so sig
niiicant to sailor man, is full of mys-
terry for the landlubber, and most OF
the visitors to a warship leave the ship
as ignorant of the meaning Of the bell
signals as when they went aboard.
Commander Rockwell, U. s. n, has
given some information on the subject
which will be interesting to the thou
sands who have visited Uncle Sans
ships.
"As bunting is the medium through
which ship ordinarily communicates
with the outside world" he says, " so
the bell is that through which she adj
dresses herself to those aboard. and
which in all the navies OF the world
rings forth the hours, summons to
worships and peals the danger signals.
Every landsman has probably
learned and forgotten the method Of
striking the hour aboard ship, but the
dullest may make sure of this knowl
edge for the rest OF his life by getting
two or three things clear in his head
The nautical day begins and ends at
noon, when eight bells is struck. The
bell is struck half hourly day and
night, one stroke being added for
every half hour, until eight is reached,
when the count begins again at one
bell.
"Thus the hours are indicated i'll
every navy of the civilized world, ex.
Cept the British. Here there is a Gu
rious deviation from the ordinary
naval method of indicating the hour.
"ln the matter of the bell there is
in the United States navy routine
long established by precedent. The
bell, usually small affair, of rather
high, light tone, hangs either ust for
ward or juSt ahaft of the fvrern~st, on
or under the forecastle. The cap
tain's orderly keeps the time and re-
ports to the officer of the deck the
hour in terms of bells. Tie officer OF
the deck then bids the messenger of
the watch to strike the bell.
There is somewhat more formality
at eight bell than at other times, for
then the hour is reported to the cap
tain, and the bell is not struck until
he has said, Make 1t So
Here is the routine at SA. NJ: The
orderly says to tho officer OF the deck
Eight bells, sir The officer of the
deck replies, Report TO the captain
eight bells and chronometers wound
sir The captain, if he he SO minded
replies: Very well. Make it so.
The orderly returns to the officer OF
the deck and says, Make it So The
officer OF the deck says to the messen
ger of the watch, Strike eight bells,
and ii everybody has been prompt tn,
messenger strikes eight bells at ex
actly 5 A. NJ.
Nobody knows whether it woult
be eight bells if the dignified captain
should take it into his head to with
hold his majestic Make it so,' for ar
American naval captain is so powerful
a person aboard ship and routine ha
so powerful hold on the navy tha
perhaps the captain, if SO minded
might put the nautical day out o
joint.
"When ships are cruising in squad
ron, the entire fleet, lying in port
awaits the tlagship's bells. On all tn
other ships the messenger stands b.
the bell, clapper in hand, and as sool
as the bell has sounded the bell
throughout the fleet are sounded. Ly
ing, as they are, quite close together
the effect is interesting and agreeable.
"The flagship also gives out thu
time to the other vessels every morn
ing. Shortly before seven bells, a
I 80 o'clock A. NJ, time signal is dis
played by the flagship. At exactl
1870 this signal drops, the clocks o
all the ships are set, and seven bell
is struck throughout the fleet.
"The ships bell serves not only t
indicate the hours, but to signal
variety of other things. When tn
ship carries chaplain, the bell
tolled for service on Sunday morning
The bell, however, is not tolled q
funerals. With nice sense of pr,
priety the navy regulations proyid
for the mere passing of the word, a
hands bury the dead In all matte
pertaining to death the navy is di
tinguished for delicacy and touc
of old fashioned sentiment, to be e.
pected of men who, in theory at leas
are supposed to be risking their llv'
in the service of others.
The bell is also the fire signs
When a fire is discovered aboard shi
the bell is rung rapidly, and the ship
company responds with the proper Il
pliances for putting out the fire. Wht
( ship is in action, however, the bell
v not used as Il fire signal, lest Il
= knowledge that there is a fire aboa
ship throw the crew into panic al