The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
RINGING of Ships BELLS.
A Language More Extensive Than
Landsmen suppose.
From the Boston Globe.

FROM the Boston OlODe.
The language of ships bell, so sig
nificant to a sailor man, is full of mys-
terry for the average landlubber, and most
af the visitors to a warship leave the ship
as ignorant 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
v hich a ship ordinarily communicates
with the outside world, he says, so the
bell is that through which she addresses
herself to those on board, 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
British Here there is a curious deviation
from the ordinary naval method of indi-
eating the hour.
tabliShed by precedent. The bell, usually
a small affair. of raher 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 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
I,nl &c MOI CT until
Make it so.
Here is the routine at s a. m: The or
derby 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 or
DERBY then goes to the captain and says,
sFIight bells and chronOmeterS wound,
sir.9 The captain, if he be minded, replies
Very well. Make it So The officer of
fine deck says to the messenger of the
watch Strike eight bells, and If every
bodN has been prompt the messenger
strikes exactly eight bells at exactly 8
a. . N; knows whether it would be
aioht bells if the digDified captain should
take it into his head to withhold his ma
iestic Make it So for an American naval
caDtain is so powerful nerson aboard
shin and routine has so powerful a hold on
tba navy that perhaps the captain, If so
minded might put the nautical day out
u when ships are cruising in squadron
tho entire fleet lying in port awaits the
t anaesrs gliSi bells. on all the other SHIPS
ne MESSENGER stands by the bell. clapper
IN hand. and as soon as the bell has sound
cd the bells throughout the fleet are
soi,nded. Lying, as they are, quite close
ssogeTher. the effect is interesting and
7@The flagship also gives out the time
| 20 the other vessels every morning. Short
=, ~ hefore seven bells; at 1850 o clock a. M,
y = time signal is displayed by the flagship.
a exactly 7:S0 this Signal drops, the
<S1ss,1rs On fha ships are set and seven bells
q etrnc ok throughout the heet