The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-08
THE MEN on THE BRIDGE.
Division of Duty Among officers oil
an Ocean Liner.
From the New YORK Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The transatlantic traveller nowadays
rarely meets any of the executive officers
on the ship on which he crosses, except
the captain and the first officer. The
captain is becoming less and less a social
figure on all the vessels. The passengers
see him at his table in the saloon, when
the weather is fine, and they meet him on
deck occasionally when he is looking over
the ship. At other times he is generally
out of sight, except when he may appear
on the bridge. In rough or foggy weather
he may be seen there nearly always,
so far as actual contact with the passen-
gers is concerned.
The chief officer is seen most of all by
the passengers. He has almost nothing
to do with the navigation of the ship. He
is about the deck constantly. When not
on deck he is inspecting various parts of
the vessel. His chief business is to look
after the daily work of the crew. He
takes an observation on the bridge with
the other officers every day at twenty
minutes before noon, but with that eN-
ception is rarely seen there. me other
officers are seen only when one looks
up at the bridge. In the newer shlPs
their quarters are placed above the shade
deck. This is notably the case on the 81.
Louis and st. Paul. Not only do they 90
their work entirely out of contact with
the passengers, but their meals also are
served in a special mess room on the
shade deck.
On ali the large steamships there are a
captain, chief officer, three second OH
GERS, one third and one fourth othcer
The second officers are known as senior
second junior second and extra SECOND.
The general duty of the second oIncers
captains directions. Each OF these onl-
GERS stands a four hours watch on the
bridge. The third and fourth officers
stand a watch of six hours, alternating
with each other There are, therefore, al
ways q second and third or fourth OIL
ficer on watch on the bridge.
The duties at sea are entirely dlnerent
from the duties on entering or leaving
port In the case of the latter every Of
ficer is on duty, and the work Is SO SUD
divided that a ship glides up TO her pier
or leaves it without confusion and almost
as If there were no one giving dlrec-
tions constantly by means OF two dlstlnci
systems of telegraph to various parts OF
the vessel. on leaving port the chleL OF
ficer is stationed on the forward deck
where he can be seen by the CAPTAIN on
the bridge BY wave OF the mana the
captain indicates just what ne wants
done The senior second officer is on the
after deck.
docking telegraph. The junior second Of
fcer is with the senior officer aft, assist
ing in the work there. The extra second
is stationed on the bridge with the cap
tain He has charge or the englne-room
telegraphs. He transmits the captain
orders when to stop or go at half speed
or TO reverse, or any OF the oiten swift
ly changing orders which 1t is necessary
to send in the engine room az tne Il M
Of docking or leaving port. The third Of
ficer has charge of the forward gangWay
until it is pulled ashore, When the snip
is leaving, and then he hastens TO the
bridge where he has charge Of the DOCK
ing Telegraph and of sending signals 10
the second officers, who are on duty art
IVhe fourth officer remains at the after
he bastens to the docking telegraph aft
When the ship is clear ana reelly starts
on the voyage new set of duties be-
gins and lasts until the Piiot ~ SrO |,soel
is busy about the deck seeing that the
vessel is put in ship-shape. The Matches
are made fast, the ropes are mace taut
the ratings are dashed, and the entire
shin is made snug. The senior second Off
Ger is in charge of the ship forward.
Anything special that needs attention ne
looks after. The junior second has charge
~ the storage of all the baggage. The
extra second remains on the bridge at
tending to the engine telegraph. The third
officer is also on the bridge; HIS special
work is to attend TO the whistle and to
send signals aft by the docking telegraph
when signals are to be made, and the nag
on the taffrail to be dipped The fourth
officer also is stationed on the bridge, and
his work before the pilot is dropped is to
pass the steering orders to the quarter
master at the wheel and to note all the
incidents of leaving port in the log book.
These entries usually consist of the time
of passing certain landmarks.
The pilot dismissed, sea routine is TAX
en- up promptly. To the chief officer be-
longs the duty of inspection and executive
management. The senior officer stands
his watch every day from 4 p. m. to S
D. m and from a. m. to q. m. The
Junior second is on watch from noon to
4 D. m. and from midnight to a. m. The
extra second is on watch from m. to
noon, and from 8 p, m. till midnight. The
third and fourth officers are on alternate
watches from to u O'Clock and from y
to O'clock In addition to this watch
the third officer has charge of all the
flags and signals by night and day, and he
also keeps the compass book. The fourth
officer has charge of the condition of the
boats, in addition to his work on the
bridge.
When the vessel is in port there is an
other routine. The chief officer has SUI
perVision of all the work that is going on
The senior second has general charge of
the ships stores. The junior second has
charge of loading the forward holds
and the care of the baggage and its stow
age. The extra second looks after the fire
connections and the ships glasses and
other instruments. He has also charge Of
receiving the mails. The third and forth
officers make themselves useful in assist
ing the higher officers in looking after
details. With the exception of the can
tain the work of the officers is nearly as
arduous and almost as full of RESPONSE
q at