Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-05-07
LEAVING THE SHIP
Rules Of the Sea When an Ocean
Liner Is Sinking.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST.
After They Are All Safe In tho Life
boats It Is Every Man For Himself In
a Desperate Fight For Life, With Of
ficers and Crew Trying to Keep Order.

OeSpSFdte Tl9Ht FoT LIE WIKI VT
ficers and Crew Trying to Keep Order.
"The women and children first al
ways, and after them-hell."
This was the way the rules of the
sea" were explained by a veteran cap
tain of big Atlantic liner He was
asked to explain in detail just what
would take place on big steamer
when she was sinking and the order to
abandon ship had been given.
ION the deep sen we use force il nee
essary," continued the skipper. Ito keep
b.ck the men and let the women and
children get the first chance at the
Efeboats. But once they have been
loaded then 1t becomes 4 case Of each
man for himself, and While the OIL
GERS and crew would try to keep a
semblance of ORDER they have no right
to give preference to any one. The
first ones in line are the ones to get on
the boats Perhaps they have fought
and struggled to Get in line. We have
nothing to do with that"
aren't the Old men and the sick
men put off first, before the healthier
ones?" he was asked
mot uiGess the healthier and strong
er ones deliberately give up their
places" he answered. There are no
sick aboard when danger calls. All
are supposed to be well enough to look
out for themselves. And so far as the
old men go-there is nothing in thar.
They are certainly not given the pref
erence. Old men have lived their lives.
Let the young men have the chance 10
live theirs. This is the way it Is looked
on at sea. Besides, young men can De
Of help in boat, while an old man
inst makes that much more dead
weight.
.sYou must remember that when such
A gigantic calamity faces you the NJ
tle finenesses of life are thrown aside
Men become animals, brutes with the
first instinct-that of self preservation.
Some are stronger than others and put
this desire under control. Others yield
tn II and become wild beasts, hghtlhg
and biting and clawing their way 10
hem. Sometimes we have to shoot TINS
kindLshoot them down like we would
mad dogs-if they try to Interfere win
the orderly first steps when the Wo-
men and the young are being looked
after. But later when 1t becomes
free for all then then type has fuller
uay. You cannot blame them. Lire
is sweet, and they are justified IN 40
ing all they can to save themselves
An we seek to do is to stop them from
interfering with those who cannot pro
feet themselves and so have not the
same chance of being saved
According to the description OF the
method Of abandoning ship which ls
practiced in daily drill the passengers
as far ms possible are gathered III tne
assembly rooms when the captain real
ICES that his ship Is IN desperate
straits. Every measure Is employed
to calm them. and while the oihcers
and crew take their appointed stations
the passengers are told that 1t has been
deemed best to take to the lfeboats
While the passengers are held in the
saloons the crew strip the lifeboats OF
their incumbances. RIG the falls and
then lower themselves IN the boats
from the boat deck down TO the upper
deck. where the boats swing from the
davits. touching the ships side Just be-
low the rail
Say there are eight lifeboats on each
side Of the vessel lanes are formed
Of members of the crew. and through
these lanes the women and children
are passed TO the officer who stands mt
the railing and who hands the passen-
} gers over the rail into the lifeboat with
: the help OF two OF the boats crew.
If any men my to break through
these lines they are thrown back. II
they persist aud become ii menace Ia
order they may be shot Each oi1ce'
Is armed with brace Of pistols for
use in Just such emergencies.
In each boat there Is food OF com
pressed sort aud water, The beats
[ handle from afty 10 seventy persons
/ each. including the sailors who man
/. them. Each boat Is commanded by al
p officer. The surgeon, purser eaglneef'
J and other staf officers take their turn
2 I'm the boats when the list OF line ON
{ GERS has been exhausted.
I once the women aud children are
! mt I'm the boats the men take theil
+ turns If there Is room left.
/. II should be- said that ia loading th'
. lifeboats absolutely no distinction b
drawn between the different classes ol
uassengers The women nnd chidfei
. OF Che steerage are given the sam'
r consideration as their sisters In th'
imperial suits.
, The horror u abandoning the sui
, lies in the enforced separation OF mem
p hers OF families Fathers nnd Dro'n
ers are torn from the arms OF mother
and daughters. The children must 50
There Is must" too. as regards ih'
women but n wife should decide =
, remain behind with her husband IL
doubtful II the "mUst' would be en-
r forced.-New York World.
Wise Physician.