Evening star., 1897-04-03

outlines OF aim something lar aHeau, out
he cannot tell whether it is the Majestic or
the Volunteer.
"You don't mean to say" says he. half
angrily, that you can m AXE out the ships
name at that distance?"
why, sure, replies the lookout man
with grin.
"Then I'll bet you that the steamer, II it's
a steamer at all. which 1 doubtful bet
that 1t isn't the Majestic says the passen-
ger becoming excited
wait and see, my son, wait and see,"
is all that the lookout man says as he turns
again to gaze at the approaching speck.
When the passenger comes on deck after
breakfast. prepared to triumph over the
lookout man. the latter silently hands him
glass, through which he can family make
out the gold letters "M-a-j-e-s-t-i-c' on the
approaching steamers prov.
But you don't mean to tell me that you
could make out her name when she was
scarcely in sight?" asked the passenger,
still fncredulous.
'Ill admit l fooled We a little on that"
said the lookout man with a laugh. Il
knew from the marks her tunnels that
she belonged to the Majestic's line, and no
other of that line was expected in just
now"
That was easy, of course. for the pilot
but 1t was remarkable enough that he
should have been able to see any mark at
all when the steamer was a mere dot upon
the horizon. Such wonderful powers of
vision are not uncommon among the pilots
Long practice enables many Of these men
ordinary person can with glass.
Everybody seems to be In excellent humor
on board No. this morning, and the pas
senger learns that 1t is because of their
luck IN capturing prize, for the Atlantic
liners are the capital prizes in the pilots
lottery The man whose turn it was to go
on board has put on clean white shirt
and his best suit of clothes for the pilot
suits his apparel to the company he keeps
and 1t is necessary to spruce up when
ne has to take charge of passenger ship.
Coming Into Port.
There is always great interest and some
excitement in watching pilot come aboard
ship at sea. The little yawl goes dancing
up and down over the great waves until she
Is under the lee of the big steamer, where
1t seems more than likely, she will be DASH
ed to pieces against the vessels side or
overturned by the swell. The rope ladder
Is let down, and the ships officers shout
themselves hoarse with directions to the
men below. Presently the pilot jumps from
his place, catches the swinging rope, and
in a moment Is landed on deck, shaking
hands with one Of the ships officers. The
little yawl goes back to the pilot boat,
which continues Its cruise for perhaps a
week longer before she is manned" and
at liberty to return.
Meanwhile the pilot on board the liner
has comparatively easy and pleasant
tfing of 1t. To be sure grave responsibili-
ties are upon him, and he may be held ac-
countable for the loss of lives and property
II he gets the ship into trouble, but his
mind is easy on that score. For several
reasons he has cause to thank his lucky
stars that he has found so easy berth.
In the first place, a pilots pay depends
upon the draft of the vessel The rate
fixed by law is for vessels drawing less
than IA feet $27S per foot; IA to 1S feet,
1888 per foot; IS to q feet. Sab per foot:
over Il feet, s4.SS per foot The big pas
senger boats are of heavy drafts, and be-
sides, their draft Is known. The captain of
q freighter sometimes understates his draft
(although there is a penalty attached to
tn1s) and there are frequently amusing con-
tests between pilot and captain, in which
the 1ormer endeavors to find out the ships
exact draft without insnuating that the
captain is a liar. The passenger steamers
make the fastest time in getting into har-
Dor. SO that the pilot earns his pay more
quickly than he would on a sailing vessel.
AS the pilot who brings a ship in therehv
earns the right to take her ont again the
P1iot ON board a liner may be sure of a
ieW Gays on shore to spend with his family
before he goes back to the trade Of risking
his life for duty. On shore the nilot js
quiet. unassuming, temperate and pentles
manly, as he always is. He lives a clean
lie, and barring accidents, reaches a hale
old age but he never becomes rich man.
and the Pilots Association NAV he called
upon 10 pury him. Many deeds of heroism
OF which the world never hears are entered
10 ms credit by the recording angel and II
may be truly said that of all them that 90
ooWh 10 the sea in ships honor is due to
none mora than to the pilot.
III you want anything. try an ad in The
Star If anybody has what you wish. you
Will get an answer.
The Towns of Crete.
From the st. Petersburg Viedomosti
Gambia, Retimo, Canea are of the "Crete
n he htp
existing. and in using the word city every
attenuation must be understood Gambia.
situated at the mouth of the little river,
the Geofiro, was built in the ninth century
by the Saracens on the site of Heraklion.
one Of the ports of Cnossrs. The distance
between Cncssus end Gambia is under an
hours walking. and in antiquity the two
places were connected by walls, which re-
called those between Piraeus and Athens
In the time of Venetian sovereignty Can
ola enjoyed great prosperity. Today its
aspect is essentially Turkish on account of
its houses, Its mosques, its minarets and its
bazaars, in which are exposed all the
products of the east. 1t is surrounded by
basuoned wall, almost triangular in
shape. Within there is another wall sepa-
rating the old town from the new, the lat
ter being Learer the river. The fortifica-
tons date from the Venetians, but war and
earthquakes have left little or nothing of
called 1t only the carcass of a city. Its
chief monuments the remains of the
Church of st. Francis and the old Latin
Cathedral to ST. Titus. Its population is
between 1900 and 14.0OO mostly Mussul-
mans. The port Is protected by two moles
but the sand has been allowed to sift up
so much that only very small vessels can
enter. Its chief trade is with Trieste, which
takes from! 1t raisins and oil In return for
soap. Canea comes next to Gambia with a
population of 1900, equally divided be-
tween Christians and Mohammedans
Canea is the ancient Cydonia. The modern
town dates from 1852. and Is the principal
port of the island, the commercial capital
and the residence OF the foreign consuls
Not far from Canea is the admirable an
chorage Of Suda Bay. Retimo the third
town, is fifty-two miles southwest Of Can
dia. Its population is not above 5000.
If We Knew.
II knew the woe and heartache
Waiting for down the road,
If our lips could taste the wormwoOd,
II our backs could feel the load:
Would we waste today in wishing
For time that neer be;
WnIpld uyQif in curh yn,,o ffapao