El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-03
70 cry ABOARD snip more deeply
III affects its hearers.

70 cry aboard ship more deeply
M affects its hearers.
= In 1903 . typhoon exploded
in the China sea. spread northwards
and eastwards, pIunsing and tearing
across the foam-rlbbed mountains Of
water 10 LEFT in its devastated wake
Full in the path Of the storm steamed
the American fleet, then on its cruise
around the world.
The darkest hour or the tempest en-
veloDed our warships in impeuetrabls
gloom Captains chung to their
bridge rails. Suddenly two red light.
flashed on the ship ahead. a mar
was overheard AT once all ships re-
peated the signal stopped. sheeret
out and turned on searchli Chrs-as d
they We're In the calm Of Chesapeake
bay. Instead Of i'm foul typhOon-
mere was no disorder. llluml1-
ated life belts were dropped The
man caught one. held. and fIoated in
the beam OF a searchliEht- Boats
were made ready for lowering But
no boat could have lived ten seconds
in that raging ocean
signals passed The third captain
backed and turned, not an easy task
with every other sea going clean
over the bridge So feet above the
water line. But ne succeeded A
life buoy carrying a line floated
down The man caught and held
and, wonderful 20 relate. was dragged
aboard unhurt- He is the only man
known 20 have fallen overheard I'm
a typhOou and lived 20 tell the tale.
At man overheard the officer Of the
deck must think Of six things at
once First he must stop his engines
lest the giant propellors make hash
OF the man RCdder must be put over
in such a way as to swing the stern
clear In formation this Is not per
mitted- ships I'm columns swing al
teruately 20 right and LETT
Life buoys release switches are on
the bridge. but great care is taken
not 20 drop the heavy metallic ring
on top OF the man Instances Of this
have been fatal Third. the life boat
must be manned without delay and
lowered. preferably on the lea side
II searchlEhts are not turned on
within a few seconds AZ night the
buoy may be lost And all the while
when In fleet column. collision ahead
and asteru threatens the safety OF
the ship inexpertly handled incest
delc1cy combined with steely nerved
skin IS necessary to the execution OF
these duties promptly and efficiently.
Signals 20 life boats are vital In
= tossing sea. now high. now low.
floating objects are not easily kept in
view instantly -lAr IS A-aAA
signal boy jumps to the rail Not for
q moment does he take his eyes off
the man When a lifeboat heaves in
sight he signals right or left. out or
in 10 the coxswain until the buoy Is
caught
At all times men are stationed aft
20 drop life buOys i'm case the one on
the bridge is too far away. On a 500
foot Warship man may falla a
quarter Of mile away from the
nearest huOy-uo small task in
combers for even a good swimmer.
At night carbide lights attached TO
the ring help him find ir.
In places like Hampton Roads
where the tide Is swift lifeboats are
ready even at anchor During the
niEht an anchor watch crew is
dressed and available az all times
At sea life boats are kept ready
for quick q lease Provisions, water
life belts and other equipment. are
provided I'm case squalls or sudden
arrival OF the enemy force a separa-
ton from the mother ship Rigid In
spectiou OF life boats and muster OF