Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-18

place OF their picking up recorded. In this
way the photographic office II thoroughly
acquainted with the ocean currents and
knows in what direction each derelict is
likely to travel from any given point.
When they are reported as having been
sighted the chart and the reported post
lions are compared. and Il usually Is found
that the assumed positions on the map
correspond closely with those shown by the
reports of the captains who sighted them.
IL is said that neither Cook nor Pear
reached the North pole first, but that the
honor belongs to a bottle turned loose In
Bshring sea several years ago. It's dis
covery on the coast OF northern Europe
indicated that Il must have passed close
to the North pole in travelling from it's
starting point to it's destination.
The number OF derelicts that are cited is
not large. In seven years there were
sighted In North Atlantic waters L6Ss, Of
which only 4S2 we're Identified, Derelicts
do not, as a rule, last long once they are
abandoned to the mercy Of the waves. It
is said that the average life Of a derelict
Is one month, although some OF them with
stand the beating Of the waves for long
periods and insist on staying close to the
track Of commerce.
II is believed that the day soosI will
come when all -ocean-going vessels will be
required to equip themselves with wireless.
The English C Q ID message that brought
relief to the Republic, the equally impor-
tant International 8 o 8 message that
saved the lives Of those aboard a lake
steamer, and a similar message which
saved the lives Of another crew a few days
ago, have all had their lesson-a c Q d
and s o S message to congress to make
compulsory the use of wireless. Such
legislation finds a land counterpart in the
requirement that all railroad trains shall
be equipped with air brakes and safety
couplers. On the sea Il finds it's counter
part. In the requirement that each vessel
must be equipped with lifeboats and life
preservers, and that there must be a spe-
sified number of fire drills. The wireless
companies are pointing cut to congress
the comparatively small cost Of installa-
tion and operation.
Just now congress Is wrestling with the
problem Of the interference of amateurs
with wireless messages. The wireless COM
panies declare hat the amateur operators
are largely responsible for the few diff
ficulties that still present themselves. On
the other hand they are met with the
counter assertion that the whole PROPOSE
ton is in the interest OF monopoly. The
science OF wireless is so new that many
discoveries may grow out Of experiments
ton with 1t, and the amateurs feel thai
this is a deep laid design to cut off the
Unborn right of every American TO work his
inventive genius to the utmost. The courts
rave not yet fully settled the exact status
OF wireless telegraphy as applied to mari.
time matters, though there are cases
pending which may serve to fully determine
It's relations.
The advent OF wireless has served to re-
tire the carrier pigeon from Its usefulness
at sea. The British navy has held auction:
for the sale of it's birds. which were trainec
under every conceivable condition in which
they would have operated in wal time.
A recent incident in the operation OF
maritime law has its amusing side. A bis
wrecking company undertook to salve 6
vessel which had In its cargo several hun,
dred barrels Of wine. The operation wa,
partly successful, but high seas washed
overheard many barrels of the palatablt
liquid. The wrecking company told its mer
that these barrels now were loose on thu
high seas and the property of whomso
ever took them in. There was a scrambI,
~ J1WAp GN 1A0 LAfO oAAiOl
gathered in the floating casks. Afterwart
there was litigation over the ownership Of
the wine. and the courts held tina It wa!
the property of the sailors who had .risket
their all to capture II. $3.50
Another interesting point in internationa
law arose when several pigs which wer,
taken to England were refused admission
to that oountry because they had tubercu
losis. The steamship company carried then
back and forth for several trips and 1t wal
found that the salt air had cured theil
tuberculosis. whereupon they were duly
admitted.
The day Of real hardship for the sailor {,
largely over. The laws of the nations nov
protect him. The United States statutes
declare that nc corporal punishment shall
be inflicted on any American sailor, like.
wise that he must be well fed. His ration,
are prescribed, and he may see It weighed
out to him. Much OF the recent martin,
legislation has had for its aim the recog.
milton Of the rights of the sailor.
ny PRHDERIC j. HAsxm,
TOmoFrow-oAnadIan Winter sports.