Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-02
The Chinese JUNK
A Curious Craft 1t Is, With Eyes
Painted on Its MaStS.

model seems to have been Chinese
conception OF some huge marine mon
ster. The teeth which are usually
shown in all the terrors of ferocity on
the bow denote the mouth. Long
boards running aft from the bow. both
TO port and TO starboard, represent the
awe inspiring jaws. The sails are fins.
while the tail waving aloft. an appen-
dix which all properly constituted
dragons of the sea must certainly have
is denoted in the high stern. BurEmost
OF these characteristics have lost much
OF their significance in recent Years,
with the one exception OF the eyes.
which are always painted on the mastS.
Captain John is lOath to part with
them. for, as he warily exclaims:
No have eye. no can see: no can see.
no can go"
John Chinaman. shipbuilder. when
he takes a notion TO build one OF his
junks does not bother himself much
about plans and specifications. Give
him the model. Then ne will lay his
lines of ON the floor or on an open
space of ground and build his ship as
he goes along by the simple rule of
trLmb. Considering the result he has
attained, he is no doubt convinced OF
the superiority of his method over ey-
cry other. Fir. teak and pine are the
woods he uses in his construction.
The seams of the hull are caulked
with rattan shavings and ''payed" with
a cement of oil and gypsum. The
whole of the hull is we'll tarred. while
the upper works are smeared with
wood oil. Then comes a final coat of
paint-green, blue. white. red-in fact
shy color hut yellow. which must be
reserved for the many flags the COM
peted ship will carry TO proclaim her
nationality.
When it comes to equipments they
seem ANTICIPATED compared with the
ones we employ. The windass is an
elongated, barrel shaped roller extend
ing across the broad bow. on either
side of which is arranged a series OF
fixed spOkeS bearing a strong reSem-
blance to a wheel without a tire. From
this is hung great teakwood anchors
with iron bound fukeS and cables of
T coir or bamboo rope. This ingenius
contrivanCe is capable of being Oper-
ated by either hand or foot
In the way of sail the style depends
on whether you are in north or south
China. Among the northern Chinese
long mainmast carrying short lug sails
is found. In the southern country the
sails are generally of woven mat strips
Sewed into a single sheet and provided
with yards at the top and bottom. The
bamboo ribs crossing it serve to keep
the hoops on the mast in place and en-
able the boatmen TO haul the sail close
on the wind. This mainsail is the chief
dependence. though sometimes a
driver is placed OF the taffrail and a
small sail near the bow. But bowsprits
are not considered at all necessary by
John Chinaman.
In the matter of rigging we find John
quite familiar with everything he re-
quires. Halyards. sheets and braces
are used as With us. His blocks. though
larger. are not as shapely and are
fewer in nGmber. Clumsy as the rud-
der appears. il is so COntrived as to re-
quiTe little effort TO manipulate it. for
willy John has understood the principles
of a balanced ruddeT and CenterbOard
for centuries The inbOaTd end resem-
bles just what it is intended 10 repre-
sent-a huge oar hande-and is so cum
niDGly rugged with guys and whips that
it makes our own stiff jointed wheel
and short helm a poor alternative.
His compass card is stationary The
needle swings on its pivot and points
cOntrariIy 10 the south pole. With
twenty-four divisions and some 1900
minor points or degrees on this faith
full guide. John insists on referring to
: his course as f. 5. or the wind blow
Ing from the W. y. How be would dis
arrange such complex compass bear
jnGS as Z. by y. a L. or y. w. by y. I.
y. can be left to an imagination sutti-
GENTLY vivid TO embrace such calaI4-
; ity.
In the arrangement of his ship John
, again exhibits his consistency by be.
ginning wrong end foremOst-that is.
considering the matter from our view
point His provisions are carried
above deck and aft instead OF for
/, ward and below. The crew eat and
: sleep near the stern. The passengers
are accommodated in the forward end.
In China there is no Plimsoll mark
and no government inspector ready to
check off the number Of passengers
! as they go aboard. Neither is there
any instance upon such requirements
as life belts. fire appliances and life
boats. When everything is ready John
starts forth on his voyage feeling safe
in the happy possession of his pratique
or clearance papers, whereby be is
commanded to refrain from many prac-
tees These include about everything
: from smuggling to the carrying of
, stinkpots This pratique also com
!, mends his SouI to the gods and bids
: him an affectionate farewell and
!. wishes for n safe passa Ce.-Norman
W. Browne in New York Post
=. Hibbing. Minn.-At Oscar Bey's tie
!, camp, 10 miles south, Michael Maxi is
+ said TO have run amuck with a rife,
/. driven every one out of camp and kill
= ed himself. Maxi was once a de.ec
L tive.