The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
BOXING THE COMPASS.
The Test Between a Sailor and n
LandIubber.

DdlldS news.
Boys who live in seaport towns are some
times asked to box the compass" II
they can do IL quickly and accurately
they are fine sailors and may grow up 10
be the captain of four-master. II they
miss point can only do it slowly they
are landubbers, and will never see blue
water. To box the compass means to name
all the points in order just as fast as you
can speak. This is the way an old down
East skipper will rattle il off: North, nor
by east, nor-nor'east, nor'east by north.
northeast, nor'east by east, east-nor' east,
east by north, east. east by south, east
east by south, sou'-sou east, SOU by east,
south, SOU by west, sou sou west, SOU
west by south, sou'west, souwest by west,
west-sou' west, west by south, west, west
by north, west-n0r west, nor west by west,
nor west. norwest by north, mormon west.
nor by west, north.
Can you do it?
If needle is drawn a few times over
the ends of horseshoe magnet it becomes
magnetiZed. Push such magnetized
needle through small cork. Place the
see that the cork, when ii floats on the
water, will carry the needle in a horizontal
position, or 'on an even keel: Another
way is to cut about three inches from a
hollow straw (such as is used to suck
lemonade), and to push the needle inside the
straw. The straw will float and carry
the needle. Now, observe what happens.
The floating needle will slowly swing round
till II points north and south. The straw
Will behave in the same way. Push ii in
any other direction. and the moment II
is free IL swings back again.
AT the opticians you can buy a small
pocket compass. This is more convenient
that the floating needle, and will give us all
the points Of the compass and enable us TO
decide at any time which is north. This
would be very handy if we were caught in a
fog when boating or were lost in the woods
while camping. On some railroads. In
Switzerland the trains travel through cir
tunnels. entering mountain one
place, travelling up spiral tunnel and COM
ing out much higher up the mountain.
Travellers passing through the spiral tun-
nels sometimes amuse themselves by watch
Ing a compass. They cannot tell in the
dark which way the train is going, but the
needle OF the compass always pointing to
the north will apear to swing completely
around. 1t Is the train that turns around
and not the needle.
We do not know who first observed the
fact that a floating magnetized needle will
cisely when or where some unknown In
ventor used this idea to make a compass.
All we know is that the Chinese made and
used compasses more than 1900 years ago.
When men began, perhaps 10000 years
ago. to sail upon the water, they used
marks upon the shore to guide them on
their way. Long years after they observed
that certain star kept at all times the
same place in the sky, and they used this
pole star as a guide in steering their ships.
To-day a steamship starting down the Hud-
son river for Europe is guided by a pilot,
and he uses the buoys, beacons and other
guide marks to steer the ship down the
bay. on Sandy Hook he gives up the ship
to the captain, who instructS the helmsman
TO steer northeast by east, east by north,
helmsman, watching the compass, keeps
the ship headed in that direction.