New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-27
THE STRAIN on THE CAPTAIN.
NEEDED PRECAUTIONS FOR THE BAT
NAVIGATION OF oCEAN-GolNG
VESSELS.
John Hyslop in Harper's Magazine for June cop'
right 1893. Harper & Bros .


,A t1rs,or IN uarner's Magazine for June, copy
right 1899 Harper q Bros
Two questions arise Given due compiemehtt u
competent officers for the pro PTepfT eect to their
Combined skill care and direction. or Is II rae.
that in important respects me msi necessarily
be but that he is practically leit "thou e' .
is il sufficient 10 merely provide for vessels boats
OF a sufficient number and size, even thousn w
,do 20 mai under conditions OF any difficulty
and where many boats would need 10 De ia 1II ne,
together or within limited time. miserable failure
II should be Understood that the Michigan was
lost by striking the Manacle Rocks near 10 a al
mouth and TO Lands End. shortly after DARK ana
two and half hours after P1ssshbs three niles 10
She had on deck the second and third o iI
that he had observed the course and the compass
shortly before the ship struck. A course west oy
nortn-the course she "ss o,,i M would RIM lust
inside OF the Manacles. as would De PLAINLY sp-
p6rrse was a bsf point more norihery and
into the land than the same vessel under me sane
voyage from a position four miles further on shore
That the captain was sober; careful ana capaoIe
the particular debility or aing was that had for
time possession Of him cannot say. and II does
cannot believe that this brave and unfortunate
man had a mind clear and in its normal working
appeared in print bearing on this point ana %hat,
captain 5irfiths misfortune. 1t cannot be doubted
that shipmasters as class are subjected from time
to time TO the most severe trials OF physical hard
ship. responsibility, care and exhaustive enort.
10 seepless nights. and added TO these. 10 me
ordinary lis and cares OF men. to CONSEQUENT
periods OF reduced mental vgor. 10 preoccupatlon
and to errors Of perception and CALCULATION me
system which TO so large extent depends on the
healthy and vigorous working OF one MIND ior me
direction OF affairs has OF Is only unls i 70
condition or to a maximum OF safety. II con
sistentiy and properly needed checks and safe
It is the opinion Of the writer that to single
mind should be eft unsided snd m
vessel to the extent which now obtains, ana !,
routine by which added safeguards may be had
without Injury to discipline and without. by the
mhd Ess 9 aM Ra ' properly
the captain AS the custom now Is when yessei
observation with the sextant and to work out by
calculations knowledge OF the vessels position,
Internationally by one, and perhaps two. OF his OFF,
GERS. and the result OF the calculations when these
sequence Of n lack Of such check, considerable
error were made there would be sso Os as the
H. however. during night or day the vessel i, we1,
m R aoTs and on ns set By the captain
and II an officer saw danger In 1t, or failed to see
most cases be chary about asking questions or in
Offering suggestions: and he would be especially
SO H. from not having chart open before him, or
known experience and carefulness. he entertained
the least doubt Of his own correctness.
In any case ne would probably, be willing TO run
c.ose to danger. IN the hope and expectation that
matter OF the relations OF officers to the captain
receives some light from the evidence given before
formerly sailed with Captain Griffith az third ON
GER In reply 10 the question as TO whether the
ca ptain would have been extremely pleased II he
had any OF the officers looking at the cha t
going down channel. he said: NO. 90 not thihS
he would: he generally looked after that sort OF
fnd that among sea captains and officers there
is common opinion that any examination OF
course given by ca plain would in the majority
OF cases be resented and would be too risky TO De
Conditions vessels position is most carefully
taken and checked OFF when she is In open water,
where a large error would bring no peril when she
is close TO land and when the smallest deviation
from a correct course may make all the dlherence
between safety and DESTRUCTION q snip saiey Is
practically wholly in the charge OF one man ana
headache or At OF forgetfuness may determine
things the wrong way and send the snip TO the
The subject Of An Improvement on present meth
DDS IL well deserving OF consideration and discus
he sad suggestivev that IT, instead OF the cap
tain laying the vessels course. u was mace 70 De
The ordinary routine that this should be done py
an officer under him. subject, OF course, 10 ths
CAPTAINS concurrence a new ana valuable cneck
would be provided. and without any trenching on
,hs dignity OF the captains position disci-
wyb,eh might otherwise be unknown excepting to
Div be unsafe. In OF error. or or dherences
Of view these would naturally Lead to Tssndss
bilIty and cali for Increased wntchfu.ness Due
warrant TO look al and examine ne charts wouIu
aver there was occas sion for H. H. In addition 10
mis- regulation there was further one that wneh
ne vessel was Tii n.lanee Atty mies-a chart or
charts OF the locality should be spread open ~ .e
eharroow s sSou w"r marx the vessel. position and
course and this should he checked oy Ms sue
cessor.