The Ordway new era., 1914-04-24

IL not more than, on land. For
~ this purpose the ocean patrol
has come into being. On the
waste of waters there Is every danger
which taxes the best OF human skill.
foresight and carefulness to combat
1t. At certain period of the year
this danger Of the deep increases and.
therefore, emphatic measures have
been taken to escape it. This most
dangerous time of the year Is that In
which the icebergs occur. when great
masses break away from the parent
glaciers in the north to float down in
their frozen might into the lanes of
travel traversed by the steamships
plying between European and Ameri-
can ports. This period Of utmost dan
ger lasts from the beginning Of March
to the last of July. In some years the
ice drift begins rs early as February.
and by March some of the bergs are
SO far south as to get in the way OF
the northeriy course Of vessels enter
ing Canadian and New England ports.
says a writer In the Christian Herald.
As the season advances the floating
masses get in the main track of the
big liners. and 1t is then that the
greatest danger Is to be apprehended.
To avoid them as much as possible
the principal companies engaged in
north Atlantic transportation between
the ports of New York. Boston. Fast
net and Bishops Rock direct their
captains to take the most southerly
course consistent with the time al
lowed for the voyage. from the begin
ming Of February to the end Of August.
but even this does not preclude the
possibility of coming in contact with
the ice mountains that at any moment
may loom up on the horizon in the
very path Of the vessel.
Region Of Danger.
This southerly course. as II is
termed, which is pursaed during the
spring and summer months. takes the
vessel across the flftieth degree of
longitude (the region Of danger) in lat
itude II degrees 80 minutes on the
west-bound passage and in latitude 40
degrees 80 minutes on the east-bound
passage. Yet icebergs Of immense
sise are frequently encountered on
this track. The ill-fated Titanic was
on the southerly course when she
struck the berg that sent her to the
battom of the Atlantic. Many q state
ly bark which left the home port in
high hope has como to grief in this
dreaded section Of the north Atlantic.
The icebergs float down on the Labra-
bearing south until they enter the
warm waters of the gulf stream.
where they gradually disappear. What
adds to the great danger OF these
frozen dreadnaughts IL the fog in
which they are often enveloped when
OF the Grand Banks. Though the
sharpest lookout may be kept, 1t
sometimes happens that bergs ahead
may not be sighted until too late for
the vessel to veer her course.
1t was the appalling catastrophe of
the Titanic that woke the nations to
the fact that no ship. however stanch.
Is immune from accident, and that the
problem Of elemental danger still re-
manned unsolved. The Titanic was
thought to be practically unsuitable.
Proudly she steamed along on her
maiden trip, defying winds and
waves. floating palace full Of life
and light, when, 10! out of the dark
ness of night came the grim sea mon
ster which sent her to her doom. The
news of her fate shocked the civilized
world. The boasted science and skill
OF man were baffled, beaten, sunk be-
meath the waves by the might of the
ice king.
Navy Takes Hand.
Then 1t was that thought was taken,
not how to overcome, but how to avoid
his Irresistible power in the future.
Our navy department, In the interest
of life and property at sea, set aside
two cruisers for patrol duty; that is.
to scour the steamship track for Ice
bergs and give warning of their loca-
tion and approach.
This year precautions have been Ia
ken earlier In the season than usual
to safeguard transatlantic travel. The
fields. The cutter left Tompkinsville.
Staten Island. New York, on February
is for her Ave months cruise. The
experienced Captain Johnston is in
command. The Seneca is the only
vessel that has been detailed for the
service this year. but when the ice
has moved southwark SO as to make
a constant patrol necessary. an addi-
tional vessel will be sent out for the
purpose. probably the Miami.
There has been q report that some
OF the big companies were to put on
patrol boats Of their own to supple