Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-10-19
THE RULE OF
THE ROAD ~
WHAT THE DIAL TOLD
BY JOHN FLEm1No WILSON

lamook Head on the Oregon coast. The
skipper was tamping back and forth on
the bridge, >volubly imprecating olsen
thronement on the weather god. Now
and then he put his hand irresolutely Oh
the lever Of the engine>rOom telegraph,
which pointed, in spite of rules and reg
ulations, to Full Speed" Once or twice
he addressed a question to the thirG
officer. The latter refused to commit
himself, Finallyhis superior glanced 81
the clock under the hood listened for
an answer in the night TO the below CT
the siren. and said: 81 guess we'll let
her go. If we can keep up the gait we
can make Astoria by the morning tide
and there's no shipping to be afraid OF
tonight. Half speeds all right for the
lower coast, but up here there's no need
of losing time that way"
From the note of indecision in the
captains voice, the third mate thought
that encouragement was wanted. But
he stared into the bind haze that hid
from view the very wash from the cut
water. and only grunted.
Il don't see why we shouldn't hit her
along" the skipper went on, irascibly.
I'VE aren't more than good 80 from the
light, and when we get off there we can
slow down and crawl in by daylight.
amt coward to lay her to when there's
no need"
Shall keep her at full speed?" the
mate asked.
We'll, I wouldn't slov down yet
awhile. Maybe if it gets much thicker,
and I amt on the bridge, you better let
her down to half speed. Just tell the en-
gineer to drop her a couple Of revolu-
tions"
The watch officer nodded. He had
served on several seas. and it was no
new thing in his experience for a con-
scientious captain to put his telegraph
at half speed, or even dead slow, and
warn the engineers not to obey too lit
'srally. 1t can't be done any more. for
the new telegraph marks revolutions
and must tally with the indicator on the
engines The mate did not like the look
of the night, and the perils marked on
the chart rose before him distinctly.
But he understood quite we'll young
masters anxiety to get into port on
time. and moreover he told himself that
if they ran down anything it wasn't his
fault. So he nodded again and walked
over to the speaking tube.
The chief engineer answered him
from the working platform. Captain
says when he rings to slow to half speed
Just to drop her a couple" came the
drawing voice of the third mate
The chief looked up at the dial where
the Indicator pointed steadily at full
speed ahead. "All right" he replied.
J "The Shippers Keeping hsr going in
this fog" suggested the assistant en-
gineer
Eyes ne wants to get in. It's pretty
thick weather to be steaming a good
r."
BAD coast, 100, continued the assist
ant flirting his lamp into the champins
eccentric we'll
Its always the way with youngsters,
She chief responded. acidly. "They don't
like to lose time by rules. Petersen's
all right. so he thinks, but he hasn't
been on this coast as long as have, OIL
he wouldn't be driving her in this muck
amt the skipper. so reckon I'll make
no fuss if he is trying to hit the AmphioS
through contrary to rules
Well said the other, glancing VI
at the dial, "lf anything happens. al
we've got to say is: 1t was orders from
the bridge. That telegraph won't lie
Shall ease her only a couple when h,
aionals half sOepd 2"
The gray-haired engineer put his han'
on his subordinate's shoulder. His voic
rose above the whirr of the dynamo an
the clank of the main pump. THAT ism
f, orders" he said Our orders are Of
that dial there. If that says half speed
by Jimmy Grips half speed it is"
Then no talk from the deck goes
sir?"
Take your orders from the telegraph
when It's working" the chief responded
'If it isn't working then the speaking
tub will do.
An hour later the Amphion was sti
beating away through the big, oily sea!
the fog streaming away from her bow
TO swirl back and across theyellow glar
of the deck lights before piling up In
murky wall astern The captain lie!
watch with his mate on the bridge Til
engine-room telegraph stood at fu
speed. Down below in the engineered,
the third engineer went quietly aboJ
his work, while his chief stood on ii
working platform under the huge steal
valve. smoking his pipe
After his rounds. the assistant can
across and stood by the old mans sid
Its an awfully dirty night" he sal
''Tr the stoke-room you can see the fl
pouring down the vertilators like stea1
Strikes me the shipper is running b
risks"
'SYes. he's reckless tonight. I'm pre-
ty we'll used to young chaps with no
headed notions. but the older 1 gro
the less like the captain who boasts
port that he never went half spec
Sooner or later he gets a lesson Som