Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
the storm with $500 fathoms of cable
Weighing fve tons, tugging at 1t.
Next Day Was No Better.

the storm with $500 fathoms of cable,
Weighing fve tons, tugging at 1t.
Next Day Was No Better.
All chances were carefully weighed and
the vessels bow was kept to the south
west. Tuesday. the 18th, brought no i'm
provement in the weather conditions. The
wind continued to blow great blasts from
the west and the seas constantly bonn
barded the big ships starboard beam.
One particularly heavy sea boarded the
starboard bow and swept the deck from
fore to aft, smashing the scullery light and
broke the gangway ladder. The chart
rooms on the hurricane deck were flooded
and the bridge itself was invaded at times
by the turbulent seas. Those at work in
the paying-out room on the main deck
and about the cable machinery waded in
water to their knees. The companionwayt
we're battered down in order to prevent
the flooding of the saloon.
One of the cooks of the galley was badly
scalded by a cauldron Of spilled soup. The
saloon steward was hurled against door
and severely bruised and injured.
At times the ship rolled terribly and II
seemed that the great strain would prove
disastrous to the cable. Under ordinary
conditions the line is paid out 7 per cent
faster than the speed OF the vessel. This
was increased to 10 per cent during the
storm. Even with this concession the
strain was terrific. AS the ship lifted and
shook the great drum around which the
strand was passing would almost cease to
revolve one moment, only to resume with
rush the next, rendering the life OF the
men in the tanks a probable If not real
hazard. The dynamometer regulating the
speed of and the strain on the line at such
times huctuated wildly, rushing from an
indicated strain OF two tons or less up tC
four and even hve tons.
When It is understood that the breakinS
strain is eight and three-quarters tons, Il
must be apparent that failure to relieve
the strain promptly meant disaster to the
previous line, and it's loss Of the line II
| $500 fathoms would have meant a Ions
and serious delay in the completion of th'
work of laying the cable, as we'll as beinI
most expensive happening to the con
| tracing company. Rare good judgment II
| the handling Of both the ship and the cabl'
at these critical times averted accidents.
Many Hours on Duty.
Throughout Monday night and until Tues
day at noon, when the wind abated in. force
the ships officers and crew and the cabl,
stan were on duty without rest or sleep
| Great relief was expressed when the ap
parently critical situation was passed, al
| though when the wind abated at noon ol
| Tuesday the seas continued with a stronl
heavy swell that ran counter to the ship
course. On Wednesday, the 18th, tn
weather improved and everything RAJ
smoothly and fair progress was recorded
Heavy swells made the ship an uncom
Portable place and rendered close watch Of
the cable necessary.
On Thursday favorable conditions pre-
vailed and IN spite OF a strong southwest
! erly breeze 2O7 knots we're paid out, whic
was the best days run up to this time
On Friday the first section of the cable
numbering 929 nautical miles. was hnishe
and the vessel was stopped at o'clock o
Friday night to make the change to tn
after tank containing the second section.
This operation was successfully carrie
out in a little more than an hour and pas
gage was resumed. AS the vessel gre
lighter the reeling increased. The charaC
ter of the cargo and the ponderous dec
machinery made 1t particularly suseeptibl
to the onslaught Of the seas.
Saturday, the goth. was much like n
preceding day save that the rolling motto
was aecentuated by southwest winds wee
ing at times to twist only 1877 knots reel'
on. For twenty-four hours ending at nos
Sunday. the 21st, 217 knots Of cable we
laid The Wind blew from the souShwe