Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-10-12
THE ATLANTIC LINERS
Signs, Signals and Flags Used BY
the Various Companies.
coLoRs OF THE BIG TUNNELS
In Some Cases They Are Very Much
Alike, but the Night Lights Used by
the Vessels of the Different Lines
Arc Quite Distinctive.

In Some Cases They Are Very Much
Alike, but the Night Lights Used by
the Vessels Of the Different Lines
Are Quite Distinctive.
1t is said that but comparatively few
of the many thousands. of persons that
each year patronize tile various lines
of steamships crossing the Atlantic
are familiar with the various distin-
gushing signs and signals employed by
the vessels of the respective compa-
MES. Yet it is very easy thing to
tell at glance to what Mle any given
ship belongs-the American line, for
instance.
About all that one must remember In
the case of the vessels of our own line
is that the tunnels are black, each with
it's white band. Whelsyou see an At
lantic liner at night with blue light
forward, red light amidships and
blue light aft you know at once that
she is of the American line.
All Cunarders show red funnel
with black rings and black top,
while the night signals consist OF
blue light and two roman candles.
each throwing out six blue balls.
There are but two of the leading
transatlantic lines the ships Of which
carry cream colored funnelS-the North
German Lloyd and the Holland-Amer-
lea lines. The first employs a perfect
ly plain funnel without any other
color than cream, and the latter shows
a cream funnel with white band and
green borders. Signals displayed at
night by these lines are, in the case OF
the North German Lloyd. two blue red
lights, one forward and one aft, and, in
the case of the HollandAmerica line,
green light forward and aft, with
white light under the bridge.
Two lines use buff tunnels. the White
Star and the Hamburg American. the
difference between the two being that,
while the former shows black top,
the latter is plain buff throughout
White Star night signals are two green
lights flashed simultaneously.
Quite number of lines carry black
~
band. as mentioned above; the Anchor,
which is entirely black; the Bristol.
with a variegated and fancy touch, the
black smokestack being relieved by a
white band in the center and blue
star in the middle of the white band.
In the regular service of the Hamburg
American line. as distinguished from
the express service. we find that the
color is plain black, while the Red
Star is black with a white band and
a black top.
The Scandinavian merican and the
Wilson lines have red and black fun
nels, black in the first case with red
top and red funnel with a black top
in the second.
The red funnel of the French line
has a black top similar TO the tunnels
of other limos, but with different pro-
portions Of color. On this line the
night signals are Il blue light forward
a white light amidships and a red
light aft. forming the French tricolor.
AT night the Anchor line of vessels
IL l.
Bristol displays Il green light only
The Hamburg American ships for both
services. regular and express. show
two red whiteblue lights in quick sue
cession at the stern. The Red Star
displays three red lights, one forward.
one aft and one amidships, all flashed
together. The Scandinavian line en-
ploys one white-red followed by one
red " bite light. and the Wilson puts
out two red lights about sixty feet
apa"t
1t will be observed from the fore
going that the night signals of all the
different lines vary, while the tunnels
in some cases are very similar. This.
however, does not lead to confusion.
for In determining the line to which
vessel belongs one must also take
into consideration the flag or pennant
she flies Every line, Of course. car
ries different house flag" as it is
called.
The flag of the Cunard line IS red
with Il golden lion in the center. while
lilit VI tut W uitC tHtt't 'NSoSio 10 VI
the same color, but swalowtail in
shape and containing a white star.
The house flag of the Red Star line is
exactly the same as that of the White
Star company with the colors reversed
flag white. star red.
The flag of the Hamburg American
line is an elaborate affair-white and
blue diagonally quartered with a black
anchor and a yellow shield in the cen
ter. The North German Lloyd flag is
a handsome one, showing a design of
q key and an anchor crossed in the
center of laurel wreath In blue on a
white field.
The Atlantic Transport line flies Il
pretty flag of red. white and blue hori-
zontal bars-~with stars.-Edwin Tor
risse in Cincinnati Commercial Trib-
une.