Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

rives with his daily official report. The
chief engineer apears in the doorway to tell
chief engineer appears in the doorway to tell
the matter of the crank shafts behavior.
He thinks perhaps the ship should be slow
ed down for half an hour. The captain
thinks not. If the captain has thought
wrong, there will be vast trouble presently.
But If he thinks wrong the other way and
slows down, he will have to burn more coal
to drive her fast enough to make up lost
time Besides, his itinerary demands that
he land a lot of tourists at Constantinople
in time for the annual celebration of the
Selamlik, and his schedule makes it a tight
squeeze anyway.
What's the matter in the Storage now?
oh! well, just lock him up for an hour.
That will teach him not to punch his fellow
passengers again on this trip. No, steward.
Tell Mr.. - that I'm sorry, but l can't
enjoy the pleasure of drink with him just
now. Yes. Kindly convey my compliments
to Mrs. -, and tell her that I've read
her letter of introduction from the COM
pany and will send the ships launch ashore
at Naples to bring her friends out to see
her while We are lying there.
From Cabin to Hold.
A mate brings a report of temperatures
in the holds. A forward hold shows two
degrees TOO much heat. 1t is probably
nothing; it may be the worst thing that
can happen at sea. Quick, silent, effective
investigation must be made without a
seconds delay. Not even the men who are
called to do it must know why. a
breath of suspicion might bring on whirl-
wind of panic.
fifty water-tight doors between the rows of
collision bulkheads must be tested. The
doctors daily report of sanitary conditions
from first cabin to the ever-vulnerable
Steerage must be scanned.
Everywhere by this time accounts are
piling up-records, checked and cross
checked, of the food supplies delivered to
tn. cooks and by them to the stewards.
Somebody watches the 300 tons of drinking
water aboard and notes its daily consump
ton. It's quality is watched daily by the
ships doctor, and he reports on it, too. The
fire equipment is under inspection day by
day and a subject of daily report. All the
navigating instruments are compared, stud
led, noted. Every foot of the tearing en-
glnes calls for its daily history. Not all OF
these reports come directly under his eye
but he must know that all have been made
and that they are satisfactory.
When port is approached new questions
arise. The port regulations of all lands
are different, and most of them are so in
tricate or so voluminous that only legal
mind may know just how to fulfill them.
Few countries will permit any foOling
about their harbor rules. There are fines
for failing to take pilots, for anchoring in
forbidden limits, for emitting to fulfill quar-
antine and customs regulations, for falling
to put everything on the cargo and pas
senger manifestS for careless entries in the
log. for failing to salute national flags or
for failing to display the proper flags at the
mastheadS. And most of these fines are
big. They range from $500 upward. The
port regulations of New York governing
matters connected with navig ton alone,
make more than 10000 words.
Monster Freight Manifests.
The freight manifest of a big ship, such
as Kaiser Wilhelm II or Deutschland, COW
ers from ten to a dozen sheets, each more
than two feet square, and each filled with
figures and notes. This freight manifest
must tell every single parcel, package, bale
or box carried as freight. For each bill Of
lading these heado must be filled in the
manifest: Marks on cases. number or
packages, contents, shipper, consignee, con-
sgnees residence, destination, weight,
cubical dimensions of package, freight rate,
total amount, charges.
The manifest has to be presented to the
deputy collector of customs when the ship
arrives and 1t must be sworn to by The
captain. If it is wrong-Uncle Sam levies
a fine. and collects it, too.
few months ago the captain of one of
the big liners took aboard lion tanner at
the last moment. He was speeding des-
perately to fulfill an engagement, and there
was no time to put his twenty trained
lions through as freight, so he arranged
hurriedly to pay for them as baggage.
When the ship reached New York the man
ifest, which consisted of thirty sheets, did
not show the lions among the freight, be-
cause somebody aboard had made the mis-
take of entering them only in the passenger
baggage manifest.
When the twenty tawny lions came a
roaring and a-shawing of their names and
tried to pass as innocent baggage that
ship was fined $500 at once by the official
instruments of an outraged nation.
Everything that Is sent to a ship is
charged to her by the owners, and the cap
tain must account for ii like the manager of
a department store. Now, when railroad
and lighter and truck have finished supply
ing crack liner for her flight there will be
charged against her more than $4,000 in
coal alone, for she fills her bunkers full
for every trip, and the coal bunkers of such
a fabric as Kaiser Wilhelm III will hold as
much as the bunkers of four battle ships.
For food she stands charged with more
than a dozen beeves fifty sheep and
lambs and ten hogs. She has a. little
bakers bill: of eight tons of flour. The
fruiterers bill calls for 5000 pounds. She
must carry 10000 eggs and $500 quarts of
milk. The fish dealers bill is for almost
ton. The poulterers bill against her shows
that 800 fowl have been delivered to her.
Forty tons of ice have been slid into the
larders and 1900 quarts of wine and
liquor, with more than 1890 quarts of
lager beer have reported themselves on
board.
These are the matters that make the
business of being the ruling tar of big
liner.