Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-08-02

Derelicts have become one OF the
chief interests of the photographic Of
flee. All the ships that sail the seas
are encouraged to consider themselves
part of this office. Whenever they pass
or sight floating object large enough
to be dangerous. whether ship or lum.
Der raft, or broken spar, they note its
exact whereabouts in latitude and Ion
gitude, and the first port they reach,
the information, with a description OF
the object, is given to the American
Consul, who forwards 1t to Washing.
ton. In the photographic office at
Washington is large blackboard, on
which the location Of these reported
objects is jotted down each day. Once
a month chart is made from the data
collected on the boards, and copies of
II are printed and sent to all sea cap
tains who contribute the data to I'LL 1t.
Few newspapers or magazines have
such a worldwide circulation as this
monthly chart. On it are not only the
locations OF derelicts, but a deal more
of valuable information about cur
rents and winds, fogs and icebergs,
and reports OF general interest - all
compiled from the information sent in
from over seas.
The work of the derelict hunters
does not, however, stop with merely
locating them. For those that lie well
outside the main lines of travel report
ing is sufficient; but when a derelict
Is sighted in the direct lines of COM
merce, her presence is Immediately
telegraphed to the Secretary of the
Navy. who sends the nearest small war
vessel after her. The cruiser goes to
the nearest likely spot, cruises back
and forth till the derelict is finally
sighted, and then proceeds, either
fastening torpedoes to her and explod-
ing them by electricity from a safe dis.
lance, or by shooting at her, to break
her into small, harmless pieces, or sink
her outright. II she will burn burning
is very good way of demolishing ner,
and provides the necessary pillar of
flame by night and of smoke by day
to serve as warning for approaching
vessels until she finally sinks.
Drifting about the North Atlantic
ocean, susceptible to the varying
changes of waves and winds, are hun.
dreds OF common beer bottles, thrown
overheard by ships of the American
and Russian merchant service and
occasionally picked up and reported to
the photographic offices Of these gov
ernments. This is in the interest OF a
scientific research instituted few
years ago to determine the direction
taken by bodies coming under the in.
| fuences of streams and currents OF
which little is known by the physical
geographers.
The methods employed are simple,
and the results obtained are expected
to prove of inestimable value to com
mercial interests generally, while re.
moving many doubtful questions arts.
ing out of the tortuous drift of derelicts
which heretofore have been regarded
as correct examples of the directions
ships would take when abandoned to
the influences OF ocean currents.
| Thousands of these bottles contain
| ing minute directions printed in seven
different languages are annually
thrown into the sea under the supervl-
sion of the American navy department,
with the expectation that many will be
found and rescued by passing vessels,
their location noted and the fact re-
ported at Washington, Each bottle
contains a.Yritten direction as to what