The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-14

Al around you things begin to glisten
and drip with the fog. You go into
the saloon determined TO read. as the
weather Is too nasty to remain on
deck. Just az you settle yourself
comfortably with n favorlte book there
comes a mournful below from above,
rs though the ship had lost her way
in the fog and was calling for help
Reading and sleep alike become i'm
possible after tHat. In time that
nerve racking wall from the siren
has its effect on you n uncon-
.~clously you wait for the crash OF col
lision, while all the stories OF ships
sunk in fog run through your mind
with unpleasant vlvidness.
TO some natures II il ConsolinC 10
think that the officers are not without
their troubles ton. on the bridge the
officers on watch are in dripping oil
skins. looking like figures carved from
polished ONYX as they stand motion
less with their ears straln'ng for thu
f~aintest answering blast Of siren to
come through the mist about them
The captain. that autoCrat. stands
there. zoo. He Is most concerned of
all. FOR he is uoid responsible FOR al
that may occur. Extra lookouts have
been posted. and every one e. ~ tho
qul vive.
Below in the cnrin" room they are
az much concerned as ~ N" hridgr
II anything. more So. For upon them
devolves the task Of chewing direc-
lions promptly and WITH good iudg-
ment
The engineer on watch scarcely
moves from the throttle and reverse
lever. VIII slow. ponderous dignity
The engines are turning over ~ half
speed. Suddenly the harsh ianGle ~
the engine room telegraph skaters
the quiet and sends tire blood pound
ing through every mans veins Ful.
speed astern'
with liehtninglike rapldity the
valve links swing over IN obedience 10
the push OF the reversing gear and
tho engines pound ~furioIsiv. while the
ship auivers IN every plate. Each
man braces himself for the expected
shock. not knowing from what quar-
ter Il VII, come. And each man 10
wondering II she will go down too
quickly TO give him his chance.
For a ome there IL a terrific
nervous tension In that hot engine
room while waiting for the expected
shock. There t. another jangle and
the telegraph dial shows half speed
ahead. The whole thing has been n
false alarm. But let me assure the
reader that one Of those same false
alarms will do any ordinary person
Tor the rest of his natural life.
Not all such incidents have the same
happy ending. Far from II. Some
years ago the Merida OF the Ward
were picked W shortly after by one
OF the vessels ~responding 20 the dis
tress cal.
within a still shorter time tn, New
York OF the American Line was in q
collision with the Pretoria OF the
Hamburg american Line. Some forty
OF the New York's bow plates We're tn
tured and 4. was due only 10 the Clip
per bow OF that vess.! hat She was
not sent 10 the bottom. one Of the
pretorla's anchors remained fixed IN
the New York and was brought back
TO port by that vessel. These are but
two incidents ont Of many That have
occurred and ones in which there was
fortunately no loss Of life. Fog Is an
other OF the perils the sea!arlng man
must face.
Along the coast there are men IN
command of small sailing vessels who
are such close managers that despite
all governmental regulations 10 the
contrary they run AZ night without
Line was rammed and sunk by the
Admiral Dewey of the United Fru..
Company. Fortunately tho ship re
NAMED afioat nearY SIX hours, giving
the passengers and crew ample time
10 get the boats over and send a cal.
for help. No lives were lost In that
! affair and the entire ships company