The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-26
This indicates No War.

This indicates No War
New York, Feb. 25.-Fear of war has
not yet attacked the shipping interests.
| for, although there have been many in
duiries to the marine companies for war
rates" only one policy has yet been Is
sued This is on the vessel it is proposed
| 10 use in connection with raising the
Maine.
| At the first evidence Of any real uneasi-
ness among shippers war policies would be
| in demand, as a clause in the regular ma
| rine policies exempts the underwriting in
| teIests from damage if the loss occurs on
| account of war.
This clause provides that in case loss
| occurs through capture, seizure, detention
or destruction arising from any beliiger-
ent nation or by or from any officer, civil
OF military, or other persons claiming TO
act in their or under their authority or
in their behalf. the assured shall have no
claim against the underwriters
A a. Raven, president of the Atlantic
Mutual Insurance company (1narlne), ac-
knowledges that he has received a consld-
cradle number Of inquiries relative to
war rates" and in this connection said;
in the instance of an East India voy-
age l viii put the matter in this form;
We are willing to insure against the pos
sibilities of war at l per cent, but later
on, should the situation become graYer, We
would require 10 per cent or 20 per cent
or more if we were asked to insure the
same risk
1t certainly does not look as though the
fear of war has become very distinct IN
shipping circles, when the marine insur-
ance companies are willing to write war
risk at l per cent.
A warship, when she pays off, says a
London exchange, flies n paying-on pen
nant. This is an enormously long stream
of ribbon with a gold bladder at the end
which is allowed to flop and fly about
where it lists. Two hundred feet is gen
orally the length of these streamers, but
in the case of the St. George, which has
just paid off after her commission on the
Cape station, it is 400 feet in length, and
has been merrily curling and twisting
itself round everyone and everything in
the dockyard.
No women are allowed to live on board
present-day English warships. Yet in the
olden days sometimes a quarter of those
on board We're women. Nelson, however,
set his face against the custom, and re-
fused to have any women on board his
ship. This led to several getting on board
disguised as men.
Divers in the British navy, before being
passed as proficient in their craft have to
be able TO work in twelve fathoms of wa
ter for an hour, fifteen fathOms for half
an hour, and twenty fathoms for a quar-
ter of an hour.
Sailors have always expressed some
doubt as to the utility of the massive iron
clads, and nowhere says the indianapolis
News has this doubt been better express
ed than by Kipling in his Ballad of the
Clampherdown." He tells of the massive
Clampherdown, which puts to sea and be-
gins to fight. After the first few rounds
from her guns, the guns are useless, and
then:
Captain, the bow-gun melts apace
The deck-beams break below,
'Twere well to rest for hour or twain, |
And bOtch the shattered plates again."
And he answered, make it So"
And so the fight goes on until:
Captain, they lack US through and |
through;
The chilled steel bolts are swift;
We have emptied the bunkers in open sea, |
Their sharpnel bursts where our coal /
should be-"
And he answers, Let her drift
1t was our warship CIampherdown,
Swung round upon the tide.
Her two dumb guns glared south and
north.
And the blood and the bubblng steam ran
forth,
And she ground the cruisers side.
Captain" they cry. the fight is done,
They bid you send your sword"
And he answered, "Grapple for stern and
bow.
They have asked for steel. They shall
have it now;
Our cutlasseS and boardv'
1t was our warship Clampherdown,
Spewed up four hundred men;
And the scalded stokers yelled delight
As they rolled in the waste and heard the |
fight.
Stump Ger their steel-walled pen.
They cleared the cruiser end to end.
From coming tower to hold.
They fought as they fought in Nelson's
fleet;
They were stripped to the waist They
were bare TO the feet.
AS it was in the days of old.
It was the crew of the Clampherdown,
Stood out to sweep the sea.
On cruiser won from an ancient foe,
AS It was in the days of the long ago,
And as it still shall be.