Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-20
NOTES OF SHIPPING
ITEh S OF INTEREST TO MARINERS
GATHERED FROM ALL SOURCES.
10 Ere is Human. StrandinS OF the Pari-.
Remarkable >t-nnl Plnnt.
The Plupger.

OF how the steamship Paris stranded or
the Manacle Rocks off the Cornish
Coast can say that it is not manly. al
though ruinous to himself as Il ship
master The following paragraph eX-
plains the error and practically dis
poses Of the case without further in
veStigation:
II regret to say that the causualty
was owing to an unaccountable error
on my part. 1t is about one hundred
and thirty-one miles from Cape de Ia
Hague to the Lizard. and the run be-
tween these points would. I calculated,
occupy six hours and tirty-four min
utes Unfortunately, + reckoned the
time on this basis for coming up with
the Lizard from twenty-five minutes t.
+. NJ. when :ibeam of the C'asuuets
instead of from t~entytwo minutes to
t. NJ. when ubeam of Cape de ia
Hague. and the vessel was thus really
eighteen miles ahead of the position
was acting upon. In addition. the thick
weather over the land had o,1scured the
Lizard lights"
Ihrre is net in our opinion 4 marine"
or shipowner who understands the con-
ditions OF this lamentable disaster but
has more or less sympathy for Captain
Watkins. and While he has placed him
sured by the mana cement of the Amer
lean Line. in whose employ he was its
wen known appreciation OF the serv-
ices Of this valuable officer in the past
VIII no doubt cause it be as enlent
with its efrng employee as the serious
ness of his error will permit.
Before finally diSpcsing of this mis-
fortune it appears to be an opportunc
time to call the attention of our fellow
mariners to the fact that the effect OF
Il disaster of this Kind does not end
after 1T has been satisfactorily ex-
planned. penalties inflicted and losses
PAID. 1T is blot on the record Of the
line that it happens to that can never
be effaced however quickly lived down
by those who understand that no cor
poration of individual passes through
life without committing more or less err
rorS. but the person or corporation
winch has the most to his or its credit
IS. OF course. more or less under 4 cloud
hence the importance of 4 shipmaster
being constantly on the lookout for err
rors Of any kind. The anxiety. the ex-
tlT, labor. the modification suffered IL
any steamship mana cement through an
avoidable error of Judgment on IT,,
part of Il master is serious enou e,h "a
warrant his continual Notification Of his
navigation IN every possible way to
avoid mistake. 1t is an obligation, YES,
4 solemn duty. the master owes his en-
ri"yers never TO allow himself to do
any guessing when he can BY a litfl,.
extra caution make sure of his position.
1! further admontion is necessary we
1hink ii sufficient to say to every mari
ner. when in doubt think of what that
;iDie shlpmaster Captain Watkins must
nave suffered. and Will always suffer to
4 greater OF lesser degree. for the u.,d;.-
countable error which lost to his oWH-
ers and the community a valuable shin
Marine Journal
with the exceptions PERHAPS of the
oceanic. no vessel now under construc-
tlon has 4 steam plant so remarkable
as me Deutschland, building fer the
Hamburger Co at the Vulcan
Co.'S yard at Stettin. Germany. rn;s
vessel is guaranteed to make % -
knots. and her builders claim she wi i
exceed that speed by fully a knot. Sh..
VIII be engined for $4,000 horse power
and steam will be supplied from tweIao
double BOILERS. each provided with eight
furnaces. and four single boilers each
With four furnaces. The boilers are
constructed with Il View to a Working
pressure Of 225 pounds. This vessel
which exceeds all others save the Dee
anic in dimensions, will also be sur
passed only by that vessed in point Of
morse power. the engines Of the White
star giant being capable of DEVELOPING
in the neshborhood Of 1000 indicated
hourse power
THE PLUNGER.
Some weeks ago it was predicted that
radical changes would of necessity
have rO ihta rOa9a in s,,l,,,,,..;..
petlo bAat Plunger. building at the Col
umbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Md. if
II she were TO come up to the stipula-
lions of the government contract in
point speed and general efficiency. 1t
is now announced that this work has
Deen taken UP and that among the al
terations planned is the removal of the
steam boilers and the substitution Of
Vapor motors to propel the t,iplc
screws. The original plan was to use
petroleum. as fuel. but this. it seems
not only creates too much heat. but
sufficient air supply cannot be gained
under water ITO make combustion pe--
fect Mr.. John P. Holland, Of New
1ork. designer Of the Plunger, says
l'aal some tests with the boat have al
ready been made and that it was hoped
to have her ready for the government
trial in a short time
English shipbuilders are vigorously
disputing the claim on the part Of the
FTench that the rapidfty Of construc-
lion OF British battleships had been
beaten in the case Of the Inca. which,
was launched in less than eight months
Inc English authorities contend THAT
nhe real test is found in the number OF
tons OF material worked into the yesse,
ait the time Of her launch Thus while