New-York tribune., 1898-11-27

thereof. where unless the hand Of the engineer
b almost In a second at the lever a ftightfu
ocCjdent would enSue. The main point which l
vash to impress is that no matter how magnih-
sent or perfect any machinery. the really ex-
perenced engineer never feels himself secure
against breakdown. and Is consequently for
sver the qui vive. his attention literally
dveted his engines
THE DELICATE BRAIN MACHINERY.
Now. the workings OF the human brain are
Infinitely more delicate. and. above ALL more
fragile and liable to break down. than steel or
iron machinery and just in the same manner
that no machinery is safe from the danger of
sudden giving way at the most critical moment
Z mans BRAIN no matter how well equipped
and powerful, will occasionally and unaccOunta-
bly, give way. the difference being that in this
latter instance there is no engineer on watch
to put a stop to the human machinery at once
II may be permitted to expression
IL the captain Of the Mohcgan had had by his
side on the bridge a brother commander, who
thr very moment that he perceived GrlilithS
Altering the course of the ship and steering her
straight on the rocks. would have realized that
the suffering from temporary aDerra-
ton that his mind had suddenly given way
hai caused him to be put under restraint ana
had assumed the command Of the ship, there
would not to-day be over one hundred ta'niIies
On both sides OF the Atlantic mourning the
cruel death OF those most near and dear 10 th u
The question will naturally arise as to why
tse first officer Of the Mohegan on seeing the
extraordinary course which the captain was
steering, did not venture TO demonstrate ana 10
realize Lhat something had gone wrong with his
commander This Is easy to explain. Ihe uisci-
plne on the big ocean liners. especially on boar1
those flying the English flag, is almost as StIct
as that On a man-of- war As a general rule. the
skipper does not invite familiarity on the part Oh
his subal;ern officers. and for the latter 10
demonstrate if they saw anything that they did
not quite understand. Or which Ill their opinion
vas an error Of judgment would in nine cases
out of ten result in sharp censure. possibly dis-
charge. and extreme difficulty in finding another
ship, berths on an ocean liner beng al pre-
MUM among officers Of the merchant navy.
Moreover. it is doubtful whether any one of the
officers on board the Mohegan realized at the
time that so sound brain as that of the com
nander could possibly have thus suddenly and
unaccountably got out Of gear.
Who does not recall the foun1cr!ng OK
thc British batte-ship Victoria. some years
ago. off the coast Of Syria, with more than
nix hundred men board. many Of whom
we're literally sliced to pieces by the cruel
Screws which continued churning the water I'M
IN the great ironcad finally disappeared bow
drst beneath the waves? The loss OF the VIC
toria Is to be explained only In the same man
ner as that Of the MOhegan. Like captain Grii-
dths of the latter vessel, Admiral sir George
Tryon was Of the most absteml0uS or men
and experienced Of ofiicers-a naval commander,
In fact renowned for his cleverness. his brill
fancy and his skill az a strategist. Those who
knew him would readily have set him down as
the very one of all their acquaintances whose
mental balance was the best poised and
whose sanity the most sound. Yet while on the
bridge Of his flagship directing the movements
of the Mediterranean feet, Of which he was in
rhicf command he suddenly gave order for
mannuvre which it was at once apparent 10
every captain Of the squadron must result In
disaster.
Captain the Hon. Maurice Bourke. who was
his flag captain and beside him on the BRIDGE
ventured probably on the strength OF his social
ousition as brother and heir to the Earl of Mayo
And as eauerry to the Duke of Edinburgh. TO
udtrr a word Of remonstrancc. and to point out
n his chief that a catastrophe must ensue But
he WAS soundly rated by the Admiral for MS
,rcsumptiOn. and few minutes later. as he
had foreseen the flagship was rammed amid
.h;ps bv the Camperdown and sunk. Here.
.vain as in the case OF Captain Griffiths on
ho.rd the Mohegan. Sir George Tryon at the
t.s4 minnie seemed TO recover all his wits. urged
-. Honorable Maurice to save himself. and dis
..ov.a a natheticaliy paternal interest in the
=, fp,v of the MILDLY on duty beside him. whom
tNn