The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02

the bridge. and so perfectly has il been
arranged hat the entire vessel could be
controlled. ii the necessity should arise,
by means OF a series OF levers and push
buttons. There are a surprising variety
Of b~arometers, thermometers, thermostats,
wind and rain gauges and other less familiar
looking instruments.
The danger OF fire at sea in anticipated
by a thermostat connected with a frame
like a hotel indicator. There are ther-
mometers in every part OF the ship eleo-
trically connected with this box which
are constantly on guard.
II a fire should start in any part Of the
great ship the temperature would Of course
rise. and the fact would instantly be an
nounced in the wheelhouse by the ringing
of a tell. while a red light would fash at the
same time in one Of the squares Of the in
dicator. The "a at the wheel could tell
at a glance the exact point Of danger.
The wheelhouse is also the telephone
central of the ship, and it would be only
the work OF a moment to have men at the
point Of dancer.
The modern ships are divided into many
different compartments by many partitions.
each carrying heavy steel doors. A series
of levers will be pointed out to you in the
wheel house by which these great doors
may be closed in any part OF the ship at an
i~nstant's notice.
ThCse steel compartments are so strong
hat in Ease OF collision or OF fire n or
more of them might he filled with water
and yet the rest OF the ship would be I'm
harmed. Should a fire be discovered an
entire compartment might be flooded in
a few seconds.
There is a series Of squares in another
indicator corresponding to every one OF
these steel doors throughout the ship. In
case of danger II IL possible TO close all OF
these doors at the same instant by touching
a single lever on the briige. And should
any door fail TO close a red light would
INSTANTLY amman in one nf the little anIlarQa
TO tell Just where the trouble lay.
Still another safety device which may
be watched from the bridge is the indicator
connected with the submarine wireless
system which gives warning of the approach
of another ship. This invention. but lately
added TO the great ships, consists OF a deli
cate instrument so connected with wires
beneath the water that the presence OF a
large body OF iron or steel, even at aeon
siderable distance, 10 instantly record ed.
There is besides, OF course, the regular
wireless for sending and receiving sig
nails over hundreds Of miles Of water.
The bridge Is especially impressive at
night when the great ship Is asleep. The
wheelhouse is completely dark except for
the covered lamps in the pinnacle. From
time to time the captain enters the house,
asks a few questions in a quiet CONVERSE
tional tone, perhaps gives some order.
The marvellous machinery which lines
the walls stands silent guard. The bridg &c
is quiet except for the curious singing note
OF the wind in the rigging and the sharp
crack Of the halyards against the masts, AMI
endlessly the deep pulsing Of the engines.
Outside the lights at the masthead swing
from side to side, marking of the roll Of
the ship in great arcs against the sky.
II you are 50 fortunate as TO stay until
midnight you will see perhaps the most
curious sight OF the twenty-four hours,
when the ships officer changes he time.
Tho clock which sets the tune for the life Of
the ship is put back about an hour II he
vessel he sailing west. or an hour ahead II Il
be pointed east, and the sleeping hundreds
beneath will wake up in the morning to
find their timepieces all wrong.
The helmsman's watch comes to an end
when the call OF the lookout from the crows
most announces another day. The beauti-
full sea cry is taken up and repeated down
the long deserted deck:
"Eight bells and all's we'll"