New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05


GRossE-ALso USEFUL IN THE CASE OF
FoG-THE ILFEBoAT DRILLS
The people who make frequent trips across
the ocean on board the great liners while they
may become well informed as to the peculiari-
ties of the various vessels. their construction,
their points Of excellence and their shortcomings,
rarely know much about the fire drill. which is
one of the most important daily functions on
board Of the great floating hotels
The crews Of. ocean vessels have always re-
ceived instructions to their duties in case Of
fire or accident of any kind. but the system Of
instruction and the drills have never been SO
perfect as they are now. because the number Of
passengers intrusted to the care Of the naviga-
tors has never been 50 large. on the large
steamers several men are constantly duty as
watchmen. 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 officers. has a
certain station at which he must appear in case
alarm is sounded. and wher there he has
certain duty to perform.
The first officer OF the Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse. in speaking of the fire drills on board
that huge vessel. said that the whole crew is
called out every day TO practise, and that Of
the four hundred and sixty men not one except
the captain or his representative knows at what
hour the drill may take place Sometimes it Is
early in the morning and again it will take
place late at night. and an alarm may be sound
ed at the time when the is most busy with
other duties The vessel is divided into seven
teen water-tight compartments. and these are
closed by forty three water-tght doors. and as
soon as an alarm ~ given the men know 10
which of these doors they must go and close
them. Each compartment has large steam
pipe from which live steam may be turned on in
case Of fire as soon as the doors have been
closed and the men have gone aoft. An indi-
Gator on the bridge shows the commanding OFF,
Ger which doors have been closed and in case
any Of them have been improperly fastened the
oversight be made good in a few minutes
The signals for this service are given from the
bridge by telegraph and telephone The water
tight compartments are not only 10 prevent the
spread If fire. but to guard against disaster If a
collision should take place. AS matter Of fact,
the modern navigator has little fear Of fire but
his dread Of fog is as great as it ever was. and
what is known fire drill might we'll be
called "A fog drill.
But the drills aboard ship do not end with
these daily contests against imaginary disasters.
When the vessels come to port the lifeboat drills
are added to the sailors duties The Kaiser
Wilhelm has eighteen lifeboats. and every day.
while the ship lies in port. at time unknown
before the alarm is given the order comes to
clear boats" and within two minutes the egh-
teen boats swing clear on the davits ready TO
lower away. Every man knows To which boat
he belongs and his place in the boat When the
inspecting officer makes the rounds he in
each boat sailors. stokers stewards and an
officer or petty officer mast set and sails
made ready for
The ranking officer becomes the commander Of
his little crew and the others look to him for
orders This drill never takes place during a
voyage for fear of alarming the passengers. and
even when It takes place in port all commands
are given by signal without noise or unnecessary
excitement.