The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-02-02
CHEERING 4 BOAT.
Tie Big Of the TilleF Ropes Often
a Source Of Danger.
A CURIOUS LACK or SYSTEM.

On Some Vessels the Chains Are Cross
ed. and On Others They Are Straight.
and This May Mean Serious Trouble
With Strange Hand at the Wheel.
: bronzed pilot was carefully nurs-
ing d big Atlantic liner through the
nluik anu confusion OF early morning
and innnmernble passing craft up the
crowded waters Of New York bay. The
ship was crowded with passengers.
most Of whom had risen betimes to
watch theii homecoming 4 tense ex-s
preston brought Oh by the tremendous
responsibility. east los grim lines over
the pilots face as he turned into the
lower Hudson river and saw a dense
fogbank creeping down from the Pal
isaies. Three miles still to 60. and
3.ua0 lives in his hands. Slowly be
crept along. almost touching ferry
load of commuters. just skipping
triple tow Of sand scows. threading
his way through the maze Of vessels
big and little: the fog. denser and
more dense. making IL impossLpie 10
see the shadow OF nearing craft more
fhan couple Of lengths away.
suddenly a departing liner. just
hauled out into the stream. doomed up
of the starboard bow. The pilot turn
ed CHASTITY white, My God. Crossed
chains Or straight chains? Crossed
or--sfraight! Heaven help me IN
almost instant desperation ne called
"Hard aport the quartermaster
SWINE the wheei overland the huge
noatins Rotei Slowly turned on ana
glldeq Dv. almost scraping the other
crossed rhalns-stralgnt chains
What does this meanE II means this
that there + no inyarlable rule or syss4
tenn ST ara hglhg sthe tiiier rol'es on
vessels 70 that the latter always move
~ the same direction IN response to
Similar turn OF the wheel y equipped
& wlth crossed enalns tne craIt VIII
turn ne opposite way; II with
%straignt chains the wheel must pc
turned ~ the sane direction the vessei
Is ueslred 20 go MOST ocean vessels
are equipped with straight chains,
though this Is BY no means an invari-
biescustom Sailing Craft may be and
are flxed either way. On the other
nanus shilrDor boats. lnciuaing Tow
boats. tugs. etc.. generally have crossed
I flller ropes
Thus our plot friend mad spent most
Of his nautical life aboard tugs and
other inland boats and when confront
ed win Crisis or great responsibility
waFered momentarily between the IN
huenee Of his habit Of twenty years
and the newly acquired information
given him ~ he went aboard II was
just by the sheerest chance that ne or
dered the wheel turned the correct
way.
An able ocean seaman signed for
round trip from Bulfaio TO Duluth and.
asked II ne could handle the wheel,
was sent - the pilot house They
we're already under way. and. not be-
ing familiar with the uncertainties Of
steering gear. he neglected to ask the
usual question Crossed chains or
straight chains?" The coal steamer
neared seoW load Of bricks Hard
aport. called the mate The helms
man dung his wheel to 'starboard. as
ne had been used to do on the high
seas. and bis vessel bore down upon
the unsuspesting tow Hard aport.
you IDIOT. yelled the mate. Don't
you know this boat has crossed
enalns! He reversed the wheel and
missed the scow by bare Craze.
Such Incidents as these are BY no
means rare ~ navigating experience,
though fortunately serious accidents
tnerefrom are uncommon either be-
cause 81 benignant fate watching
over befucdled men at the wheel or
because they instinctively follow the
new conditions ana turn the helm IN
the right direction. Pilots themselves
SCOT at suggestions Of danger. saying
tnat = real seaman's instinct will al
a mi rod