River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-06
THE RULE OF
THE ROAD ~
WHAT THE DIAL TOLD
ny JOHN FLEMING WILSON

4
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 on
the lever of the engine room telegraph,
which pointed, in spite of rules and reg
| uIations, to Full Speed" Once or twice
he addressed a question to the third
officer. The latter refused to commit
himself. Finally his superior glanced at
| the clock under the hood, listened Tor
an answer in the night to the below OF
| 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 or
! tonight Half speeds all right for the
lower coast, but up here there's no neeo
| 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 blind 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.
1--WE aren't more than good 30 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.
well, / wouldn't slow down yet
awhile. Maybe if it gets much thicker,
and l amt on the bridge, you better let
her down to half speed. Just tell the en-
gineer to drop her 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
orally. 1t can't be done any more, for
the new telegraph marks re Iolutions
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 well 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 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.
'The shippers keeping her going In
this fog" suggested the assistant en-
gineer.
Eyes, he wants to get in. It's pretty
thick weather to be steaming good
~"
bad coast, too," continued the assist
ant, flirting his lamp into the champing
eccentric well.
tits always the way with youngsters, "
the 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, or
he wouldn't be driving her in this muck.
He's always throwing it up to me that
amt the skipper, so reckon I'll make
no fuss if he is trying to hit the Amphion
through contrary to rules"
"Well," said the other, glancing up
at the dial, "if anything happens, all
we've got to say is: 1t was orders from
the bridge. That telegraph won't lie.
Shall ease her only couple when he
signals half speed?"
The gray-haired engineer put his hand
on his subordinate's shoulder His voice
rose above the whirr of the dynamo and
the clank of the main pump. THAT ism t
ORDERS" he said "Our orders are on
that dial there. If that says half speed,
by Jimmy Cripps, 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
eff it isn't working then the speaking
tub will do"
An hour later the Amphion was still
beating away through the big, oily seas,
the fog streaming away from her bows
to swirl back and across the yellow glare
of the deck lights before piling up in a
murky wall astern. The captain kept
watch with his mate on the bridge. The
engine-room telegraph stood at full
speed. Down below in the engine-room
the third engineer went quietly about
his work, while his chief stood on the
working platform under the huge steam
valve. smoking his pipe.
After his rounds, the assistant came
across and stood by the old mans side.
''It's an awfully dirty night" he said.
''In the stoke-room you can see the fog
pouring down the ventilators like steam.
Strikes me the shipper is running big
risks
Eyes, he's reckless tonight I'm pref
ty we'll used to young chaps with hot
headed notions, but the older | grow
the less like the captain who boasts in
port that he never went half speed.
Sooner or later he gets lesson. Some
times the engine-room pays for it. Most
ly, might say"
The younger resumed his rounds
through the machinery, his Light had on
bearing, a swift touch on driving rod.
squint at an oil cup, a turn on a valve.
The swerving bedplates, the laundering
cylinders far above, the clacking pumps,
the whirring shaft sang about him as he
went. Suddenly the steady roar of the
huge engines was dulled. The hard
pressed thrust blocks ceased their shrill
cry. The plunging piston rods slowed