Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
RINGING OF SHIPS BELLS.
A Language More Extensive Than
Landsmen Suppose.

A Language More Extensive Than
Landsmen Suppose.
From the Boston Globe.
The language of a ships bell, so signifi-
cant to a sailor man. is full of mystery for
the average landlubber, and most of the
visitors to a warship leave the ship as ig-
norant of the meaning of the bell signals
as when they went aboard.
Commander Rockwell, United States
navy. has given some Information on the
subject which will be interesting to the
thousands who have visited Uncle Sans
ships.
LAS bunting is the medium through
which ship ordinarily communicates with
the outside world" he says, 80 the bell
is that through which she addresses her.
self to those aboard, and which in all the
navies of the world rings forth the hours,
summons to worship 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 knowledge for the rest
of his life by getting two or three things
clear in his head The nautical day be-
gins 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 in every
navy of the civilized world except the Brit
ish. Here there is curious deviation from
the ordinary naval method of indicating
the hour.
I'm the matter of the bell there is in the
United States navy routine long estab-
lished by precedent. The bell, usually
small affair. of rather high, light tone,
hangs either just forward or just abaft of
the foremost, on or under the forecastle.
The captains orderly keeps the time and
reports to the officer of the deck the hour
in terms of bells. Tho officer of the deck
then bids the messenger of the watch to
strike the bell.
There is somewhat more formality at
eight bells than at other times, for then
the hour is reported to the captain, and
Make it So
Here is the routine at am: The order
ly says to the officer of the deck, Eight
bells. sir The officer of the deck replies
REPORT to the captain eight bells and
thermometers wound sir The orderly
then goes to the captain and says, Eight
bells and chronometers wound, sir The
captain, if he be minded replies Very
well. Make it So The officer of the deck
says to the messenger of the watch, Strike
eight bells and if everybody has been
prompt The messenger strikes eight bells
at exactly am
Nobody knows whether it would be
eight bells if the dignified captain should
lake 1t into his head to withhold his ma
jestic Make it So for an American naval
captain is SO powerful person aboard
ship and routine has so powerful a hold
on the navy that perhaps the captain, If so
minded, might put the nautical day out of
joint.
When ships are cruising . in squadron
the entire fleet lying in port awaits the
fasship's bells. On all the other ships the
messenger stands by the bell, clapper in
hand. and as soon as the bell has sounded
the Dells throughout the fleet are sounded
Lying, as they are, quite close together,
the effect is interesting and agreeable.
The flagship also gives out the time to
the other vessels every morning. Shortly
time signal is displayed by the flagship.
At exactly I:3O this signal drops, the clocks
on all the ships are set and seven bells is
struck throughout the fleet.