New-York tribune., 1909-02-14
CHILD COULD CONTROL THEM.

Probably one Of the most important features %
protecting the vessel itself in the event OF her being
IN collision at IS the system Of closing ths
collision bulkhead doors, which in case OF bad
crash would keep the inpouring flood OF the sea
out .f all compartments except the at the point
OF contact One OF the best systems Of this kind is
that OF the Hamburg-American flyer Deutschland
The steamer has t7venty-four heavy 5Ulhsad doors
each a half ton in weight, which can be closed
from the bridge within minute and without tAs
aid of power from the engine room The little con.
trolIer not large the ones used by the mo.
tormen IN the subway trains. is in the chartrooHs
and the power in the wrist Of twelve-yearold boy
Is sufficient TO turn il
When the captain suddenly finds himself euvsi-
oped in thick fog and hears the blasts Of tbs
sirens OF other vessels too close about him to bs
comfortable he usually turns the controller, and
instantly a system OF bells IS started jingiing N
all sections Of the steamer. The ringing lasts for
about thirty seconds and fremen and triu1uers
have ample opportunity OF getting outside the zons
Of danger before the big doors begin 70 close.
Within half minute after the bells start ringing
the water tight doors descend under the action OF
mechanism operated by a hydraulic pressure OF
about $50 pounds to the square inch The pressure
exerted the big steel doors is so great that they
have been forced through and closed over sons
two feet OF coal
The rescue of person who falls overheard may
not seem a great task A buoy Is thrown OUT tns
steamer Is slowed down. and eventually stopper;
q nfe6Oat,
the man overheard is picked up II this vere
all the effort required the drill for rescuing Voud
probably not receive the great attention and prac
tice that il does to-day
For example let II be assumed that the Deutscn-
land Is steaning through q heavy sea az twenty
three knots when passenger drops over the siaa
The cry Of Man overheard" may reach the oridse
as he hits the water A nfeboat is lowered as soon
as human hands drop IT, The hfeouoy nay
have been thrown over and grasped By the man
In the water All the circumstances may be most
favorable but nevertheless the big liner viii oe az
least a half mile away before her great impetus
checked by the reversing screws.
On such an occasion the mans lie CepaAa'
wholly on the efficiency OF the we'll drilled efcers
and crew. The moment the man goes over
figure in uniform the bridge scans tD'
waves with his glass and rivets his eyes on u9
struggler IN the sea The combers are 50 HisA
that he cannot be seen BY the men in the snia1
boat and their course is directed solely by fas
movements from the Quartermaster on the ofllsS'
who signals according to the orders OF the 0mls. N
with his glasses trained on the man III the 49,.
The steamer usually describes circle aronn1 -
Iifeboat as II is rowed 10 the man on the o-o.
The Deutschland is equipped with copper ouoss'
with tank attachment. containing calcium caroiOs'
which when 1t comes in contact WIKI lAe =
water provides g flame Buoys OF this sofl a.
effective IN rescues at night
Another feature OF the steamers OF the Hanl0uIs
American Line are the smoke helmets Win III -
attachment which will enable sailor 10 SS--'
hose into any compartment, fight hre- ana a. -
same time breathe fresh air pumped INTO 'H7 ~
met through a hose from the deck -.,.-.
The steamers President Lincoln and Freslue
Grant have sixty hose connections. and. II neess
sary, sixty-nine streams could be put mo -
simultaneously. Practically all the drills uss1 - =
the saving OF life and protecting the steamer -
called for at unexpected times while the steamers
are at sea and at Hamburg and New YORK