The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-25

A 1L the nazdrdS or HaVellng on tHe
 "A modern ocean liner are practical 4 \ ly eliminated today by means of the numerous safety devices employed, and when the new gyroscope principle Is applied to ships for the convenience of those subject to seasickness we may ex- pect to see even this nuisance banished.
 Formerly the death list from fog. fire, collisions and storms was always large, and some seasons the casualties in single instances cast a shadow over the con- tinents: but today an army of 100000 or more travellers crosses and recrosses the Atlantic with little thought of danger. This almost complete immunity from danger applies. however, only to what may be called the transatlantic steamers which are fitted out with all 'the modern safety devices conceived by man.
 The purpose of these safety devices Is twofold; prevention of trouble and pro- lection of the ships in case of accidents. The wireless telegraph has eliminated many of the uncertainties of navigation. but it is not alone in its field of protec- tion The submarine signalling apparatus in its quiet, unobstrusive way performs an equally important function. When a ship Is stranded at sea or damaged by collision with another, the frantic calls of the wire less for help make dramatic appeal to our imagination; but down under the water, attached to the outer skin of the steamer, are two lietle box-like af- fairs, resembling the oid-time receivers on the telephone, which work at all times through fog and storm. Wires run from these boxes to a dial in the wheelhouse and to a telephone earpiece. This little submarine signalling arrangement is 50 delicate that 1t receives and records wave vibrations just as the wireless overhead responds to air vibrations. Fog stations lightships, and the churning of the screws of other steamers can be picked up by this submarine recorder from three to 15 miles away. The bell rings either on the port or starboard side, and in a fog the navigator can foreteIl the ap- proach of danger. Even the booming of the surf on distant reefs and rocks can be picked up by this device.
 Next to fogs the greatest danger on shipboard comes from fire. A fire at sea in former<days was a dramatic and awful thing. Today the modern ocean liner has one of the most efficient fire services iu the world. It is mechanical fire-warnins device which often rings tho alarm before the fire has actually started. All parts of the ship are wired, and thermostat stations are located at various points. When the temperature of any part of the ship reaches a danger mark where igni- ton may soon follow. the wires fuse and create an electric current. This rings bells throughout the ship. and marks by | red light on a dial in the wheelhouss the exact location of the danger~point. The incpient fire can thus be brought undsr control before any blaze has actually started.
 The modern water-tight bulkhead divi- sions of steamers have been improved 90 that they can be operated instantly and in the face of the greatest expedition. Formerly a collision or the striking of rock would cause such an thrush of water that bulkhead doors could not be closed In time; but today the electrically oper- ated doors or those controlled by steam or compressed air can be closed against pressure of many tons of water. In addi- tion to the bulkhead divisions, many of the modern steamers are equipped with double bottoms. which serve both for pro lection in case of grounding and tp carry water ballast. If rock Is struck and puncture made 1t is only in the outer bot tom, and the ship is in no manner threat ened. Powerful pumps connect with the space between the two bottoms, and these will lift over eooo tons of water in a space of few minutes. There Is safety device which protects ships from encounters with iceberss In foggy weather or at night. In approach ing floating berg there is always an ap- preciable lowering of the temperature of the air. and water. A sensitive ther-
 mometer above and below the water-line records such sudden drops in temperature
 and rings bell in the. wheeihouse to give
 warming. Another modern device Is for ] the protection Of uniucky passengers who