The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-05
Code Of Ship Signaling.
Common Language Between
Vessels When They Meet
at Sea.

Most landsmen have very elemeo-
tary knowledge of the methods by
which vessels meeting each other on
the high seas make known some urgent
need. such as the want of water or pro-
visions, or exchange items of news.
The stay at-home public read in the
newspapers that vessel was spoken in
given degrees Of longitude aud lati-
tude; but Of the manner 10 which that
vas done not one in hundred has a
knowledge. And yet this matter of
communication between ships that baye
each other sn sight, and are yes out Of
hearing, is matter Of supreme impor
tance, not only to seaiarers. but to the
commercial world. The safety of
nation might hang upon
message sent from one vessel to anoth-
er; the warnings sent be'7een ships
when one is seen to be on dangerous
course have frequently been the means
Of saving many lives and much vaIu.
able property.
To England mpst be given the credit
Of being the first natiou to complete an
ineligible and general code Of signals
for use OF sea- The book was first is
sued 10 1857. Its success vas great
aud from the first it was adopted on
board ships of all nations where our
language was spoken or understood.
Some seven years later in 1864, a
French translation was given of the zig.
nails. and three years afterward Ger
man was added, so that the internation-
al signal book is now printed 10 the
three tongues Since 1869 every other
nation has signi6ed its adhesion to the
code invented by England. so that the
work is practically the only one of its
kind 10 use sdoat.
The methods Ct signaling are Of two
kinds. When two vessels approach
each other and one wishes to speak it
boists black ball on the mainmast.
This, with the addition Of penaou
and flag. constitutes the three long
distance signals. and they are read ac-
cording to their position on the yard.
For fuli-stop the ball alone is shown
The international signal book con-
tains the Interpretation of the letters
shown by the combinations of the three
signals. The latter are 18 10 number.
each ooe representing one Of the con-
sousonaDts Of the alphabet. They are
of four colors, red. white, blue and yel-
low. used in various combinations.
Tnat these would be too numerous to
meotioo will be seen wbeo it is stated
that 10 fewer than 10000 signals eau
be made according to the signal book,
and Of this total 90 fewer than 10000
are sig nails for questions, answers
names numbers, etc. In addition to,
the above, there are the two flag words
"a white peuuon with a red bali 10
the center, meaning "yes," and blue
pennon with white spot, signifyiug
mo "
To prevent confusion, rule is laid
down that not more than FIVE letters
shall be used at once. as being too diff.
cult to read. Signaling with one Gag
is also contrary to rule. For most pu..
poses. not more than two Signals
are requisite Most important mes
sages can be transmitted by two aags,
for example: "Man overheard.
Danger ahead. (" "Illness on board"
or I'VE are io need -
In fact, although the work is SO COM
prehepsive as to include expressions
and terms adequate for every conting-
ency that could arise at sea. it is at the
same time sufficiently clear and simple
as to be understood by all likely to use
it.--Cincnuatti Eoqnire.
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