The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-05
PERILS OF A PILOTS LIFE.

Lying in the trough of the sea and tax
Ing on board tons Of water through many
plunges and lurches are the stanch and
graceful pilot boats. without which COM
merce would be impossible
No port Of any consequence is without
these watch dogs Of the sea. and no truly
wise economist in maritime matters
would be without them; for whether It is
"a merchant who wishes the safe arrival
/ Of vessel in connection with an lmpor-
/ tant charter, or a relative anxiousIy
awaiting another. there is a hope based
upon either business conditions or the
prayer Of a loving heart for the safe re-
turn OF some dear one
| So, lying in the path Of incoming yes
sells, these sentlnels of the sea keep
watch and guard, buffeted about by
storms, but maintaining ceaseless vigil
which is occasionally relieved by the
lookout on the cutter singing out, !" Blue
light TO the eastward, SIR Simultan-
eously, the pilot IN charge of the watch
has seen the signal which the incoming
ship has displayed. The order is given 10
answer the signal, while the binoculars
are leveled on the vessel TO determine II
possible, her class and how she is headed
A signal is given the engineer; the wheel
brought over" and with increased
plunging and lurching under Roadway,
the stanch craft comes up head 20 wind
and sea and steers for the ship which one
of the sleepers below is to board and pilot
into port.
Reused from his slumber, and with but
a few minutes notice Ghey are all min
ute mem, the first chance" man reaches
the deck clad in rubber boot. oilskin
coat and sou wester A brief wait until
within short distance Of the vessel
which has now slowed down, and the
hall Of the pilot in charge Of the watch
can be heard. ship ahoy." Hello mot
halloa) comes the answer. Where are
you bound2' is the next hail from the
pilot boat. The destination is given, then
the ship Is directed to "heave to, and we
will give you a pilot. Coming around
the stern of the leyiathan, the cutter is
placed in position for boarding. BY this
time the crew are standing by the boat,
with the pilot ready to transfer TO the
ship. The best position possible having
been gotten, the order TO lower away"
is given the crew and pilot scramble in
the cooked shell of a boat land this must
be done speedily and just at the right
moment, for fear Of having boat or limbs
crushed against the side OF the ship,
and the short but often hazardous voyage
to the ship begins-the pilot reaching her
side. frequently drenched to the skin. or
covered with ice which is formed by the
spray dashing over his frail craft
Reaching the ships side. there is yet
another ordeal not always an easy per-
Torrance, through which he has to go
with a weight of wet or ley garments. A
rope ladder bangles in the air This he
must securely grasp failure might be
fatal, and then a l1barious climb of
thirty or forty feet.
Arrived on the bridge, there is hearty
handshake from the captain. who more
than likely will ask him to have a cup
of hot coffee. The pilot, after assuring
himself that the yawl is clear Of the
ships side, gives The order to go aboard
full sped and straightens her on her
course.
From then on, a beaten track to and
fro on the bridge is courteously accorded
him, and the many Taps" made by Wig
orous walking with the pilots eyes sweep
ing the 1arkened horizon at each round
trip would be found to be equivalent to
the speed of any vassel except a verlta-
bic greyhound" OF the ocean. or tor
pedo-boat destroyer. But he is I'm dead
earnest. and the rapid strides he takes
keep his judgment thoroughly active and
ready for any emergency If it Is night
time the weather thick or dirty, he will
not be bothered with questions; but If