The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-02-12
SAILORS GREAT FEAR
FLOATING DERELlcT ONE OF
WORST PERILs OF THE SEA
Forsaken Ships, Practically UnsInk-
able, Can Rarely Be Perceived Un-
til Too Late to Avoid tho
Fatal Collision.

The dismasted, battered hulk of a
derelict, floating so low in the water as
to be almost level with the waves, is.
of course, very great danger to navi.
cation, especially in foggy weather.
The majority of derelicts are sailing
ships laden with timber. They may
have been dismasted and rendered alb
solutely helpless in storms, partly de-
molished by fire, by collision with an
iceberg, or by the mere force of the
waves themselves. The crew, unable
to make their ship seaworthy, may
have abandoned it in the boats, or
have been rescued by some passing
vessel, but, whatever their fate, their
forsaken ship, If laden with wood, re-
mains practically unsuitable and is
driven hither and thither over the
ocean, at the mercy of the winds and
currents.
In course Of time the swelling of the
wood cargo may burst the hull asun-
der, but until this happens, or until
the vessel is driven ashore and broken
into matchwoOd against some ironshod
coast, it will remain a terror to pass
ing ships.
Now and again a steamer may be
rendered helpless owing to its ma
chinery becoming disabled by shortage
of coal, by fire or by the loss of its
rudder or propeller in heavy weather
Its crew may decide to abandon it and
take to the boats, but if they neglect
to open the seacocks on their depar-
ture their ship may float for many a
long day. The erratic movements Of
some derelicts are almost uncanny.
Not so very long ago a Norwegian sail
ing ship called the Crown left Nova
Scotia for a South American port. It
was laden with timber, and while still
in the North Atlantic ocean was over
taken by a terrible storm, which dis
masted and left 1t a battered wreck.
The crew, realizing it was useless to
remain on board, abandoned it and
took to the boats, never to be heard
of again, but their ship, although it
vanished completely for no less than
three months, was sighted at the end
of this time on the edge of the Sargas-
so sea, a good 700 miles away from
where disaster overlook it. Soon aft
terward 1t was sighted off Bermuda,
but then disappeared again, and may
still be drifting about the ocean.
Another sailing ship was abandoned
off Cape May. The crew endeavored
to destroy it by fire on their departure,
but, although it blazed furiously, the
sodden, waterlogged cargo eventually
eXtinguished the flames. A few weeks
later the hulk was off the English
coast and it was thought it would be
dashed to pieces on the shore, but,
altering its course, it proceeded to the
southwark along the French coast and
was next seen near the Azores. Hav-
ing got thus far, it proceeded to cross
the Atlantic, and after covering fully
5000 miles in its wanderings, finally
drifted ashore near Panama.
Derelicts are sometimes salved and
bring in large sum in salvage money
to the crews Of the ships who tow
them into port. On one occasion an
American steamer bound for Liverpool
with cargo Of cotton ran out of coal
off the north coast of Ireland. The
sea was running high, signals of dis
tress were made to a passing steamer,
which passed a tow rope to the help
less ship. But the towing wire snapped
and the crew were accordingly taken
on board the newcomer, while the dis
abled vessel was left to drift
A Liverpool tug heard of the affair.
and being doubtless aware of the great
value OF the cotton cargo, determined
to find the derelict and to tow it into
harbor. After a protracted search It
came upon it and eventually took 1t
into Belfast. little worse for its buffet
Ing. The enterprising tug netted no
less than 1880 for its share In the
proceedings. By an act of parliament.
passed in 1896 the master of any Brit
ish ship sighting a derelict is bound
to report the fact to the nearest
Lloyds agent, so that If the abandoned
ship Is in the track of ships a pan-of-
war may be sent out to destroy or
bring it into port.