The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-09
NAVAL NAyIGAT0RS.
They HAVE Many VERY SERIOUS pu-
TIES TO PERFORM.

Must BE Possessed Of Vast fano OF
Technical Scientific knowledge.
It is doubtful If any Office in the
navy. aside from an absolute command,
involves so vast responsibility as that
Of navigator of man -of-war. The du-
ties Of this IN uortant station in former
years fell to o...cers Of the rank Of mas
ter, bnt with the abolition of that
grade its affairs devolyed upon the !
lioGienants holding the highest mum
bcrs on the list Upon the navigator cf |
> warship depends lot only the task OF |
shaping tho vessels course for any /
point across the seas to which her des-
TIMES may direct her. but also the re-
sponsibility of plotting her in and out
of harbor and of selecting safe anchor
age for her in every port visited during |
the period of her cruise. Hence, 1t fol- |
lows that, combined with thorough |
nautical training. the competent nayi-
gator must be possessed Of a vast fund |
of geographical. meteorological and ny |
biographical knowledge. While at sea- !
he must know the vessels position to a
degree. which necessitates his taking |
frequent observations Of the celestial
bodies and making solutions Of intricate
problems in geometry and trigonometry'
such as constantly arise through deyia-
tions, brought about by innumerable
causes, from her given course.
Unqnestionably the most Important
element in navigation, because OF It's
infallihility under ordinary conditions,
in determining the latitude, longitude
and error in the ships compass, is what
is known IN maritime phraseology as
nautical astronomy With the aid OF
a sextant OF quadrant for measuring the
altitude Of the heavenly bodies above
the horizon CT their distance from each
other, a timepiece TO marx the instant
of an observation, chronometer TO
show the time at the first moridlan, a
nautical almanac and an azimuth com
pass, the navigator can readily deter
mine his position with the utmost ex-
actitude
The average voyage is more or less
characterized by erroneous estimates III
distances sailed, in varying currents,
careless steering. deviation IN the com
pass and numerous other obstacles, and
upon the navigator rests the responsi
bility Of adjusting such errors. In long
passages across the open sea the navi-
gator is governed by rather complex
combination of motives, which may be
summed up as follows: To cover the re
quired distance in the shortest space OF
time with the smallest expenditure OF
fuel and the least wear and tear of the
vessel that is possible
With these objects in view the navi-
gator must pzior to sailing superintend
personally the slowing Of the hold, the
arrangement of ballast, water, proyi
siuns, stores etc, and the inspection
and adjustment of the motive appliances
Of the ship, all of which features. sever
ally and collectively, greatly affect her
speed aud seaworthiDess-
If his vessel possesses the facilities
for making sail, he must while at sea
exercise the keenest Judgment and fore
sight as to utilizing the same, for sail
used to good advantage is great saver
Of eoal. while otherwise, If used indis.
cTiminately. it may entail much loss OF
tine The expert navigator draws the
line with exceeding fneuess between
high fair wind and a gale, making the
most Of the former as long Us his vessel
is not jeopardized. heaving her to at
Just the proper period and getting under
way again at the first sign of moderation
in the weather The commander of
warship TepOses the utmost confidence
in skilled and careful navigator ana
rarely interferes with his plans. Anoth
er of the numerous details coming under
the navigator's supervision is the keep
ing Of the ships log. This is commenced
| by him at the time the vessel is placed
in commission. and its pages record the
events Of each succeeding day There il
absolutely nothing which transpires Of
ficially ON board Of man-ofwar that
is not written in the log, and each day
the navigator must carry il to the com
manding officer for his inspection At
the expiration of every six months the
ships log must be closed and forwarded
to the navy department at Washington,
where it is placed among the records
The navigator is provided with a
large and varied assortment of instru
ments and appliances designed to facili-
tate his work While in port he is often
detailed to make surveys of portions OF
the coast line which may be defective
upon the charts or to determine the ex
act location of rocks or shoals which
hitherto have not been marked with
sufficient accuracy.
The navigator has charge Of all the
various weather indicators of the vessel
and must render quarterly reports OF
all meteorological observations. These
are taken at regular intervals by the
quartermaster Of the watch and fully
entered upon the ships log. The navi
gator must regularly inspect the steer
ing gear, compasses, anchors and chain
cables Of the ship and daily report their
condition to the commanding officer
He must also keep a separate book in
! which are recorded all calculations re-
lating to the navigation of the vessel
and in which no erasures are permitted
to be made At the expiration of the
cruise this hook is forwarded TO the
bureau Of navigation
The duties of navigating officer are
more than sufficient to fully occupy his
time, but. notwithstanding this fact
be frequently stands his watch at sea
While in port be is ex officio the execu
tive officer during the latter's absence
from the vessel.
The illrstrious Dewey was, during
the earlier period If bis career, an ac-
knowledgcd expert as n navigator. and
to his excellent ability in marouvCrirg
may be largely accredited his sPlen
did victory at Observation-Disclosures
Times