New Ulm review., 1912-11-13
LEAVING The SHIP
Rules Of the Sea When an Ocean
Liner Is Sinking.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST.

Desperate Fight For Life, With Of
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 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.
"On the deep sea we use force if nec-
essary," continued the skipper, "to keep
back the men and let the women and
children get the first chance at the
hfeboats. But once they have been
loaded then it becomes a case of each
man for himself, and, while the Off
GERS and crew would try to keep
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.
'Not unless the healthier and strong
er ones deliberately oive up their
places" he answered. 'There are no
sick aboard when danger calls. All
are supposed to be we'll enough to look
out for themselves. And so far as the
old men go-there is nothing in that.
Thov 6nrtair1v Cyiv tho rlrnf-
erence. Old men have lived their lives.
Let the young men have the chance to
live theirs. This is the way it is looked
on at sea. Besides, young men can be
of help in a boat, while an old man
just makes that much more dead
weight
"You must remember that when such
a gigantic calamity faces you the lit
tie fnenesses 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
to it and become wild beasts, fighting
and biting and claWing their way to
help. Sometimes we have to shoot this
kind-shoot them down like we would
mad dogs-if they try to interfere with
the orderly first steps when the wo-
men and the young are being looked
after. But later. when it becomes
free for all, then then type has fuller
play. You cannot blame them. Life
is sweet, and they are justified in do
Ing all they can to save themselves.
All we seek to do is to stop them from
interfering with those who cannot pro-
tect themselves and so have not the
same chance Of being savcd''
According to the description of the
method of abandoning ship which is
practiced in daily drill, the passengers
as far as possible are gathered in the
assembly rooms when the captain real
ICES that his ship is in desperate
straits. Every measure is employed
to calm them, and while the officers
and crew take their appointed stations
the passengers are told that it has been
deemed best to take to the lifeboats.
While the passengers are held in the
saloons the crew strip the lifeboats Of
their membranes, 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 at
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 try to break through
these lines they are thrown back. If
they persist and become a menace to
order they may be shot. Each officer
Is armed with brace Of pistols for
use in just such emergencies.
In each boat there is food of a COM
pressed sort and water. The beats
handle from fifty to seventy persons
zach. including the sailors who man
them. Each boat is commanded by an
officer. The surgeon, purser, engineers
and other staff officers take their turn
in the boats when the list of line Off
GERS has been exhausted. 4
Once the women and children are
put in the boats the men take their
turns If there is room left.
It should be said that in loading the
ifebOats absolutely no distinction is
drawn between the different classes Of
passengers. The women and children
Of the steerage are given the same
consideration as their sisters In the
imperial suits.
The horror Of abandoning the ship
hes In the enforced separation OF menu
bsrs of families. Fathers and broth
FRS are torn from the arms Of mothers
and daughters. The children must 60.
There is a "must," too, as regards the
women, but # a wife. should decide to
remain behind with her husband It -
aol1hffi1l if the ssm,lsf" Would ha en-