The Caucasian., 1896-03-05

What It Means to Run An Ocean Grey-
hound.
From Harpers Round Table
JUST as the government of the
city of New York is divided among
the Mayor, Aldermen, and boards
and commissioners of various depart
ments, 50 the administration of q
giant steamship is divided into spec
ialties. The Mayor is the chief Of
ficer of the city. The Captain is the
chief officer of the ship. He is more
than that. From the time she leaves
port until she enters port he is mas
ter of the life and liberty of every
person aboad the ship, as we'll as of
all the property in it. He is an
autocrat. Of course he must ad-
minister his authority wisely. Un-
wise autocrats don't last long,
whether afloat or ashore.
The head of each department is
responsible for sll that goes on in
it. The first officer is at the head
of the crew, or navigating depart
ment. The chief engineer directs
everything connected with the en-
gines. The chief steward has full
control of all that has to do with
the comfort of the passengers and
crew. Each of these chiefs makes a
written report at noon every day.
Thus the Captain is kept informed
of everything pertaining to the
ships welfare.
Every one of the senior officers of
the ship is duly qualified master,
capable Of taking her around the
world if need be. The day is di-
vided into watches" or hours of
duty, of four hours each. One jun
ior officer is on the bridge with each
senior officer on duty. The senior
officer directs the ships course. He
never leaves the bridge while he is
on watch. Should he do 80 he
would be dismissed at once. There
is no excuse possible. 1t would be
just as if he had died suddenly. His
friends would all feel sorry, but
nothing could be done to help him.
Two sea.nen are always on watch in
the bow of the ship, and two more
in the foretop. Twice as many are
on the lookout in thick weather.
Observations are taken every two
hours, In the good old sailing-ship
days the Captain was content to
"take the sun" at noon every day.
If the sky was cloudy for a day or
two, it really didn't matter much,
for he could jog along on dead reck-
oning. But on an ocean greyhound,
rushing over the course between
New York and Europe at the rate of
more than twenty miles an hour, it
is highly important that the ships
position be Known all the time. Fog
may come down at any moment, OBJ
servations may not be obtainable for
ten or twelve hours. The positions
of more thau he hundred stars are
known. By observing any one of
these the ships Whereabouts can be
ascertained in a few minutes. Of
course the "road" becomes more or
less familiar to a man who crosses
the ocean along the same route year
after year. Yet this Familiarity
never breeds contempt or any care
lessness. No man knows all the in
tluences that aff,c the currents of
the ocean. You may find the cur
rent in one place the same forty
times in succession; on the forty
first trip it may be entirely changed.
Sometimes big storm that has end
ed four or five hours before the
steamship passes certain place may
have given the surface current .
strong set in one direction. There
is no means of telling when these
influences may have been At work
save by taking the ships position
frequently.