Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-01-29
MASTERY OF THE OCEAN.
Behavior Of Big ship Lusitania In
Heavy Sea.
From the scs-~sisc Amsrica~.l

behavior OF Big snip Lusttania In
Heavy Sea.
From the Scientific Amevican.1
The first week Of December, 1907, will
long be remembered as one OF the most
boisterous in the annals OF trans Atlantic
travel. The steamers which made the
western passage encountered what was al
most continuous gale from the time they
left the English channel and the Irish
coast until they passed the Sandy Hook
lightship. Not only were the winds at
times OF cyclonic force, but the captains Of
the various ships agree in stating that the
seas were among the heaviest encountered
In their experience. The fact that
although all the ships were some days late
Tin arriving none Of them received any
serious damage, testifies to the high state
OF perfec ion which the art of constructing
and navigating the modern ocean liner
has reached.
OF all the ships which made the passage,
the greatest interest naturally attaches to
the Lusitania, which, because OF her great
size and power, would be expected to
show superior ability, not only to smash
her way at high speed through the heavy
ssas, but to do 40 with far less discomfort
to the passengers than would be exper-
fenced on . smaller vessel. Let 1t be re-
corded then, at the outset, that her ex-
perience in the boisterous weather she en-
countered makes it certain that the ship
will never be built whose size 10 such that
she will not be more or less the sport Of
the elements, and whose power will never
be 30 great but her speed will be to some
extent cut down by the combined resist
ance Of the wind and sea. But having
admitted this much, 1t was proved in the
recent rough passage that increase in size
and power contributes enormously to the
comfort Of the passengers and the average
speed Of the trip.
A length OF close upon 800 feet, q bear,
OF eighty EIGHT feet, and draft OF thirty
four feet, to say nothing Of a displacement
OF over 10000 tons, provide dimensions
and mass to which even the most furious
OF Atlantic gales are able to 'impsrt only
slow rythymical movements OF pitching
and rolling. Although the rise and fall OF
! the bow must at times have been as great
a. fifty feet, the movement, except on rare
occasions, was gradual, and did not in
volve those sudden changes Of position
which are so strongly provocative Of sea-
sickness. So also the rolling, which rarely
NAL, was very slow, and was accompanied
by an appreciable period Of rest before re-
covery. 1t has been proved in this ship,
beyond question, that increase Of comfort
is gained by increase OF size, and the
future is certain to see a growth in the
dimensions Of trans Atlantic ships, whose
only limits will be those imposed by the
length of piers at which the ships lie and
the depth OF the harbor channels through
which they must pass.
The 1000 horse power, quadruple tur-
bine engines proved to be admirably ad-
apted for driving the vessel into q heavy
head sea. Racing" that bugaboo OF the
marine engineer, has been practically
eliminated. The four propellors are so
deeply immersed and their diameter is
relatively so small that the tips of the
blades are fully twelve feet below the sur
face OF the water, and, consequently, they
are very rarely lifted clear OF the water,
even when the ship is pitching heavily.
When they do lift the speed Of rotation
is already so high that the increase due to
the lessened resistance is scarcely notice.
able. Moreover, there is no lowering OF
the ships speed, as in the case OF racing
reciprocating engine, the thrust on the
ship being constant or subject to only
slight variations. This even thrust,
coupled with the fine entrance lines OF
the ship and her great momentum, en-
abled the Lusitania to maintain remark
ably even and high rate Of speed against
the biggest seas that were encountered.
There was none OF that severe impact, loss
OF speed, and subsequent acceleration
driven by reciprocating engines. Conse-
quently, the turbine as drive for big
ships has already rendered itself very
popular with the officers on the navigat-
ing bridge.
During the first heavy gale, which was
encountered of the coast OF Ireland, the
ship was driven into enormous head seas
for some hours at speed Of over twenty
three knots an hour. Ultimately, in spite
of her freeboard forward of fully fifty
feet, she began to ship green seas, which
swept the fore deck, tore loose the derrick
booms, and began TO batter in the lighter
plating OF the forward breastworks. Sub
sequently, for the rest Of the trip, she was
driven under reduced power, the revolu-
tions being about 157 as against the maxi
mum speed Of 100 per minute. This pas
sage proved that il suitable alterations
were made forward on the forecastle deck
and the bridge structures, in the way Of
breakwaters and extra heavy scantling,
and plating sufficient to stand the impact
Of the seas, it would be possible to drive a
sh;p NJ thia aize with the full mower of