The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-20

uats-r On ~sssi ses-
sci at Eight Bells.
The language of a ships bell, so sig
nificant to a sailor man, Is full OF mys-
terry for the average landlubber, and
most of the visitors to 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 Sam s
ships.
"As bunting is the medium through
which ship ordinarily communicates
with the outside world" he says, $50
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 wor-
ship and peals the danger signals.
Every landsman has probably learn
ed 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 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 in every
navy of the civilized world, except the
British. Here there is curious devia-
tion from the ordinary naval method of
indicating the hour.
In the matter Of the bell there is in
the United States navy routine long es-
tablished by precedent. The bell, usu-
ally 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 The Off
Ger 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 the bell is not struck until he has
said, Make it so.
Here is the routine at a. M: The
orderly says to the officer of the deck,
Eight bells, sir. The officer of the deck
replies, Report to the captain eight
bells and chronometers wound, sir. The
orderly then goes to the captain and
says, Eight bells and chronometers
wound, sir. The captain, if he be so
minded, replies: Very well. Make it
so. The orderly returns to the officer Of
the deck and says, Make it so. The
of the watch, Strike eight bells, and
if everybody has been prompt the mes
senger strikes eight bells at exactly s
a. m.
Nobody knows whether il would be
eight bells if the dignified captain should
take it into his head to withhold his
majestic Make it so, for an American
naval captain is so powerful a person
aboard ship and routine has so powerful
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 fiagship'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 bells throughout the
fleet are sounded. Lying, as they are,
quite close together, the effect is interest
ing and agreeable.
1.-THE flagship also gives out the time
to the other vessels every morning.
Shortly before seven bells, at Z 80
o'clock a. M. time signal is displayed
by the flagship. At exactly 80 this
signal drops, the clocks on all the ships
are set, and seven bells is struck through
out the fleet.
1.-The ships bell serves not only to in
dictate the hours, but to signal variety
of other things. When the ship carries
chaplain, the bell is tolled for service
on Sunday morning. The bell. however,
sense of propriety the navy regulations
provide for the mere passing Of the
word, All hands bury the dead. In all
matters pertaining to deatA the navy is
distinguished for delicacy and a touch Of
old fashioned sentiment. to be expected
of men who, in theory at least, are sup
posed to be risking their lives in the
service Of others.
"The bell is also the fire signal When
fire is discovered aboard ship, the bell
is rung rapidly, and the ships company
responds with the proper appliances for
putting out the fire. When a ship Is in
action, however, the bell Is not used as
fire signal, lest the knowledge that
there is fire. aboard ship throw the crew
into panic and distract them from their
business of fighting. A fire during ac-
ton is reported to the captain, and he
details officers and men to the duty Of
putting out the blaze.
1.-The ships bell is employed in all
the navies, except the Turkish, as fog
signal When ship lies at anchor in a
fog the bell is kept going with strokes
in sets of three, separated by short in
terval The Turks, who have distrust
of bells, use drums for this purpose.
1.-THE provisions Of the United States
navy make it impossible that the various
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