The diamond drill., 1915-05-08
FIRE ABOARD SHIP
A Danger Every Vessel Faces and
Is Prepared to Meet.
QUICK ACTION BY THE CREW,


Man Springs 20 the Post and the
Work 10 Which He Has Been A.
slersd--Workins the Pumps.
la every ship carrying passengers the
law reqslres that there shah be posted
M conspicuous place what n known
as staticn bih, giving the poet Of duty
for every man In the deck, engineet
and stewards Departments in case OF
ire or abandoning ship. The Law further
requires thst there shan be drills once
each week st least and that during the
stay q ship In port these drills hust
be performed IN the presence Q{s Unit
"a States inspector Of steamthlpe This
is done 10 insure orderly Ind prompt
action against any danger fbd may
threaten. During the65 ddh the
pumps are tried out and All The appa.
rstas must work 10 the 6Sf{lfac cfioh OF
the inspector or the vhip wj(l ne3 be
permitted 10 sail Until rspxirs have
been made and everything NoAs as Il
should.
sonss ships are provjded WIN tubes
let into the deck and extendin6 into
the holds containing thermometer,
which are examined every four bours.
Any suspicious incss4se In temperature
brings about immediate end thorough
investigation. In this way the presence
Of 6re can 10 discovered befoss n gains
serious Roadway.
There ID rapid ringing OF the sfip's
bell for about minute. Instantly
there II change throughout the ship
Where but a moment before things
were going on IN the manner pre-
scrfbed by the daHy routine now an is
activity. Men get to their FIRE stations
with the alacrity induced by danger.
kailors nader the direction Of the on.
GERS get out hose hines and appear with
axes and lanterns One gronp Ia rip
ping the hatter'inss OF the main hatch.
where the Are haas been detected. They
drag the canvas away and open the
booby hatch IA small opening Ia the
large hatch cover). aud immediately
there pours out a column OF dense
black smoke.
Two or three men make an attempt
10 40 down, bat after two or three
trials they are obliged 10 give II up
The captain gives tho order TO food the
hold and turn on the steam lines. Hose
is pushed into the opening. which by
now resembles a crater, for the air adj
mitted by taking the cover of has FED
the flames. and smoke and flame roll
out IN alarming quantities.
Suddenly the hose fills out and the
swish OF water under high pressure Is
heard AT almost the same time far
below in the smoke filed hold the hiss
Ing and roaring OF liberated steam
reach the anxious ears on deck. The
pipes connecting with tho boilers have
been put into use, ana the fire Is al.
ready beginning 10 feel the choke OF
the steam as Il keeps the air away and
settles over everything IN dense,
damp cloud. While some pumps are
throwing tons OF water into the hold
others are hard at work taking that
same water out. FOR any great amount
OF water sIoshing about would cndan
ger the stability of the vessel
Up IN his crnmpcd quarters Sparks Is
with all his SIKH 10 pick up
some station ashore and fash the wire |
less call FOR help The spark crnckles
md crashes, then stops. Sparks SNAPS
shut n. switch and then with deft fin
gers making mn adjustment here ana
there listens IN for the faint buzz that
that his call has been heard.
There comes Just a series OF faint
buzzes like the noise OF ny on a
drowsy summer afternoon. At once the
* galvanized into action
Again the spark crashes out the ships
position apd need Soon ships alter
their courses and with all possible
speed make FOR the Threatened ship. 20
stand by in case of need.
Perhaps the crew are able 10 master
the blaze. And. ngaln and this i
danger that always stares them in the
face perhaps they can't what lrip
pens then II not always pleasant TO
think about You VIII doubtless recall
the burning of the Uranium liner Vol
turno aud the lives that were lost then
while other ships stood by helpless.
That II what II likely 10 happen when
the blaze gets beyond control. And this
Il only one Of the dangers that every
seagoing ship must face.
when n sailing vessel takes nre II IL
a case OF man the hand pumps unless
the ship should be modern one and
carry donkey engine and a steam
pump. Those Of wooden construction
offer very little resistance 10 the nre
once II gets headway, and II is gener
ally case OF all OF when-a wlndjam
mer II discovered TO be anre. New
York sun.