Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-03
W|THASH|P'S PILOT
IN DANGEROUS SEA
Threading English Channel
From Dungeness to
GraveSend.


Ting-a-ling. Ting, The engine room
telegraph rings, the engines cease re-
yolving and the big steamer gradually
comes to q stop. From its foremost
head union jack with white border
stands out in the breeze. which. being
Interpreted, means 81 want a pilot"
To starboard the procession of ships
from which the English channel is
never free moves silently onward: to
port is the sandy spit of Dungeness.
off which a Trinity house cutter al
Hays cruises. Expectant passengers,
grimy stokers and uninterrupted COOKS
peep over the rail of the waiting ship
as the cutter maneuvers into position.
From the davits a boat drops lightly
into the water, and muscular arms
bring it along side the liners JACOB
ladder man in the stern stands up,
watches for an opportunity and tnen
steps on to the swaying ladder. the
pilot is aboard.
Ashore. he is no different in appear
ance from the rest of mankind, but
when he boards ship he has at least
three distinguishing features. He wears
the uniform of Trinity house, he has
an oilskin coat thrown over a shout
der, and, lastly, he carries bundle OF
newspapers; for the pilot is a Thought
full man, and knows the latter Will DE
sengers eagerly seek details of the lat
est news. he goes up to the bridge, ana
the captain gives him a fervent well
come. -
"Fuff ahead" the pilot says. s,,5y
The. captain experiences a feeling Of re-
lief 1t Is only eighty-five miles from
Dungeness to Gravesend. but those
eighty-five miles demand the most care
full navigation in the world The liner
FORCES ahead, and the gray. SOLITARY
he NRG0 iS
evening mists. One by one mysterious
lights blink out. Far away to starboard
the French light on Cape Grisnez staps
the night. Close at hand. on the port
side the feeble lights Of Folkestone blink
as the ship passes. Ahead. Dover and
the loom of the South Foreland opens up
Eight bells rings out with startling sud
denness and both the officer and the
helmsman are relieved The pilot greets
the fresh officer and continues to stand
under the lee of the weather dodger,
his chin thrust over the canvas as he
searches the black. illitable void ahead;
Light on the starboard bow. sir!
chants the lookout and the pilot knows
i, is the South Stands Head lightship.
He gives an order to the man at the
Wheel and the vessel heads up through
the famous Downs. On one hand flicker
the distant lights of Deal: on the other
stretches the dreaded Goodwins-the
burial ground Of many a stately ship.
F!fty-eight miles to Gravesend.
Quickly the ship hurries on. as IL anx-
ious for it's own safety. The Gull
slides by. and then comes heavy squail
Of rain. No lights are visible now, but
the pilot takes the ship along slowly and
with infinite patience. He listens for
the warning sound of foghorns or the
dismal clang of a bell buoy. He orders
soundings to be taken, and ascertalns
the nature of the bottom.
Suddenly a steamers whistle sounds
right ahead Full speed astern!. Hard
over the helm shouts the pilot. His
promptitude has averted collision.
Gradually the rain ceases, and the
North Foreland light is visible. Full
ahead"' is the order. and the ship darts
forward again.
Again eight bells rings out Midnight.
Again the officer and the helmsman are
relieved, but not the pilot. He still
stands. peering into the blackness ahead.
The More shows up and draws abeam.
Nineteen miles to Gravesend
The traffic increases and the lights get
more numerous. The red lights on
Gravesend pier come into view. Half
speed!' says the pilot. And the throb-
bling engines slow down.
. The captain appears on the bridge.
Slow" the pilot orders, watching for
suitable space out Of the fairway where
the vessel can lay.
stand by to let go the anchor. he
shouts And a stentorian LAY, ay"
comes back through the night. stop
her." Is the next order.
The channel pilots task Is done.