The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-23
How the Crews Of Ocean Liners Are
Trained 10 Flight a Blaze.
DRILLS NEVER so PERFECT AS NOW
On tho Largo Steamers Several mon
Arc Constantly on Duty as watch-
mon ana Tours of Inspcction Fin.
brace Every Nook ana Corner or
tho Craft.
tTrom the New York TrIbune.)

G.I
Ihe people who make frequent trips
across the ocean on board the great
lc1ers, while they may become well in
formed as to the peculiarities of the
various vessels. their construction, their
points OF excellence and their short
conhilgs, rarely know much about the
IRE urlil, which Is one of the most i'm
portahi oally functions on board Of the
great floating hotels
The crews Of ocean vessels have ol-
ways received instructions as to their
duties IN case Of fire or accident of anv
k'hu' out the system of instruction and
me GFills have never becc SO perfect
as they are now, because the number
OF passengers intrusted to the cure Of
me naFisators has never been so large
oh the large steamers several men arc
cohStahtiS on duty as watchmcrl, and
their tours of inspection embrace every
nook and corner of the craft. On each
boat there are stations from which one
may communicate with the bridge but
ASIDE from that every man, including
| the oliiccrs has 4 certain station at
when ne must appear in case an alarm
| Is sounded. and when there he has 81
certain duty to perform.
The first officer OF the Kaiser WiI
REIN der Crosse. in speaking of the fire
uililS on board that huge vessel said
mat the whole crew Is called out every
| gay 10 practice, and that Of the AGO men
not one except the captain or his ron
,eSehtatlNe KNOWS at what hour the
drill may take place Sometimes Il is
early in the morning, and again II will
take place late at night, and an alarm
may be sounded at the time when the
crew is most busy with other duties.
me vessel Is divided into seven teen
Water-t tight compartments, and these
arc closed by forty-three water-tlEht
uoorS' ana as soon as an alarm Is given
me men know to which of these doors
| theS must 30 ind close them Each
compartment has a large steam-ppe
from which live steam may be turned
| on IN case OF fire as soon as the doors
nave been closed and the merl have
gone aloft. An Indicator on the bridge
SHOWS the commanding officer which
doors have been closed, and in case
any of them have been Improperly FMS
| tened the oversight can be made good
IN few minutes. The signals for this
| service are given from the bridge by
| telegraph and telephone. The WATER
tight compartments are not only TO
prevent the spread of fire. but to guard
against disaster IL n collision should
take place. AS matter of fact, the
modern navigator has little fear of fire
put his dread of fog is as great as ii
ever was, and what is known as n fire
driil might as we'll be called a fog drill.
Bnt the drills aboard ship do not end
| with these daily contest against imagi-
| nary disasters. When the vessels
come to port the l:fcboat drills are
added TO the sailors duties. The Kal-
Ser Wilhelm has eighteen iifeboats, and
| every day. while the ship lies in port.
al time unknown before the alarm is
| given, the order comes to clear boats"
and within two minutes the eighteen
| pnats swing clear on the davits, ready
| TO lower away. Every man knows 10
| which boat he belongs and his place in
me boat. When the Inspecting officer
makes his rounds he sees IN each boat
sailors. stoicrs, stewards and an officer
| or petty officer, n mast set and sails
| made ready for use.
The ranking officer becomes the com
mandcr nf his little crew, and the
| others look to him for orders. This
| drill never takes place during n voyage
Tor fear of alarming the passengers.
ana even when 1t takes place in port all
commands are given ny signal without
| noise or unnecessary excitement