Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-10-01
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S@Nkz%s<Es
THE COFFIN, FLEET.
Coal BarEes the Most Dreaded u,
Marine DANGERS

Marine Dangers.
There are today numbering about the
sehcoasts of the United States a large
and dangerous assortment Of uncoutl
| oailahoos, euphoniOllsly called
! bargas, that constitute in themselves
by far the most dreaded of marine
| dangers.
The experienced sailor accepts the
natural dangers Of his calling as a
matter of course. To battle with the
elements Is part of his trade, and he
snrfnks not from struggle wherein
MS safety is dependent on his own
skill and the we'll found condition OF
MS ship. But tie great and ever in.
creasing number of barges, especially
on the Atlantic coast, confronts the
sturdy mariner with a new, an artiti
cal ana withal an unnecessary danger
with which in an emergency he cannot
cope successfully
Most OF these barges are engaged in
the coal trade between Norfolk. Balti
more. Philadelphia and New York and
New England ports A large pr,por
ton Of them are converted merchant
ships-i. e., dismantled hulks no longer
mt for general sea service. The ridicu.
lously low prices at which old mer.
chant ships are sold to the barge tiends
IS an earnest Of their condition.
Those barges which are built for the
trade are Of the tiimsiest constructions
d mere parody on marine architecture
IN nautical parlance they are built
with flush decks and no bottom and |
STUCK together with putty and tenpeu.
ny nails. Although regularly and Off
cially listed as merchant sailing
ships in the reports of the bureau Of
these barges are in ma
sense sailing ships, Dor are they sub
)ecteu 10 the annual inspection which
all sailing vessels are required to HI.
lergo IN order to determine their seo.
These helpless lows, usually consist
ng OF from two to five barges, are on.
lrely dependent Oh the painting OK
'rtlons or lone tugboat or a heavily
aleli collier for locomotion. In heavy
Weather, when the tug is no lon~rY
Die to propel TIE barges in the teen,
4 bead wind and raging sea. her
aptain is ofteD constrained. LET Ms
oi'e Wltn reluctance. to cut the hnw
er and abandon his erstwhle charges. G
} their fate.
After being abandoned by their tuo
lie barges are wholly and helplesslv
the mercy of the elements. Owing o
their general unsea worthiness their a
use Is hopeless. Not being rugged nor
u'lt FOR sailing, they can neither wear Y
Or tack s1lp to get off lee shore a
nd II in deep water they cannot Law tt
to ride out gale. Manned nv tha a
OF common laborers, who N
low nothing Of the various expedi.
It's which skilled seamen can uti,iza cl
times OF danger to save heir shin a,
preserve their lives, they are entire. s,
at the mercy of the elements and Y,
saser is sure to follow.--Philadel.
Ma, North. American. ~
The Disease Did Not Fit. pc
Inc doctor had paid visit to Mr.. -
ssldy. and after his departure Mrs vt
ssldys friends in the tenement ne
'ppeu IN TO hear the verdict all
Well" said Mrs. Cassidy, smooth. lar
down her apron with an air Of Nj
'uest triumph, the docther saws {
'ike seems to be having an attack 81. 81:
plural pneumonia, but Oh says to him, Oh Oh
says, 'Docther, you know we'll that 81
ike is shmall little man. OF saws
a amt you exaggerating a bit, for I
my thinking, single is all there'd he A;
m In him for OF says. But whin I,
went off his wurrd was unchanged
It's plural pneumonia Molke has nv II
telling, and sure it's a grand, large lla1
ease for so shmall a man as him" =. [
Ell