The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-04
TURN 4; MNCs:H
Book by Salem Man, Long Dead,
Has Become War Factor.
Young officers of the United States
Merchant Marine Are Porlng over
American Navigator" Famed
as Sailors Guide.

so potent an influence in the corntry's
present extraordinary development IL
seagoing as Nathaniel Bowditch, wh }
has been In his grave for more than
eighty years and whose name is unrec-
ognized by millions Of his fellow coun-
trymen.
Persons who follow the rise and de-
cline of the "best sellers" among books
may be surprised to know that Bow
ditch was the author Of one of the
best-sellng books ever produced, which
has run through hundreds of editions,
in all civilized languages, has been sell
ing steadily for more than Il hundred
years, and since the great war began
has been in greater demand than ever.
This book Is known as the "Ameri-
ran Practical Navigator" 1t is the
Guide Of every keel that sails the Seven
Seas, and is familiarly known to sail
0rs the world over as "Bowditch,' or
"Rowditch's Epltome."
With Americas entry into the war
the demand for Bowditch's "NavigH-
tor" became so great that special
edition of the book was published to.
meet il. by the United States hydro
graphic office, Notwithstanding that
editions had been as recently issued as
in 1916. and also in 1914. For a time
It was difficult 10 Obtain copy of the
"Navgator." Since the appearance Of
the 1917, edition, however, all demands
for the book can be met.
The increased demand for the book
was caused chiefly by the stimulus
given the study of navigation among
yonng Americans by the training serv-
ice Of the United States shipping
board. which is schooling hundreds of
young men to serve as officers on the
ships of the new merchant marine.
Bowdltch was called by his contern-
porarles IAN intellectual prodigy" He
has since been termed "the Ocean
On receipt of the news
of his death, in 1886, vessels in the
chief ports of the world half-masted
their flags. His book was then said by
one euIOgist to be Gin practical utility
second to no work Of man ever pub
ished"
OF the personality of the man who
achieved this great distinction very
little is recalled today, in spite of the
vital influence of his work in the pres
mt development of his country.
He was born in the old shipping
own of Salem, Mass, in 1878. His
people were poor, and he was obliged
o leave school when but twelve, to |
serve in ship chandler's shop.
There, while selling rope and marlin |
spikes, the youth fell in with men from
ar voyages. One was an old British |
ailor. who taught the lad navigation.
Algebra so fascinated the boy he |
could not sleep after first glance at
t."
Ii chanced that about this time a
,soty of cruise that included
library of philosophical works the
property of DIR. Richard Kirwan, an
rish scientist, taken from freighter
aptured off the Irish coast.
The books were sold at auction and /
fought by Salem citizens as the nucleus
q library. Young Bowditch had ac-
ess to them. read them eagerly, and
opied most of them for further use.
When twenty-five. BOwditch made
lis first voyage to sea- as captains
kerk on a Salem ship. He Glmed nine
ears in all, one voyage being on the
astrea, the first American ship to visit
lAnlla harbOr.
Every man in the Astrea's crew soen
BArned they had genius among them.
IOwditch looked the scholar and de-
oted many hours a day to study. He
1ade every man aboard a navigator,
nd it was said, each of them 'could
'ork lunar observation as well as
tr Isaac Newton"
When not studying young Bowdltch
aced the deck in deep thought At
uch times nobody spoke to him. know
lg that in due course he would dash
ito his cabin to set Gown the results
I his concentration, az he rarely failed +
D do.
II is related that one day the ship
~ ptlNNhCN DS anu DON-
itch was assigned to pass powder .
'om the magazine. The gun crews got
0 powder, and investigation showed
oW9tch seated on powder keg,
'oFklng out a difficult problem on his
ate.
On arriving in Boston harbor from
voyage in 1902, Bowdftch attended
ie commencement at Harvard college,
nd was surprised to find himself
amed for an honorary degree as bach
or of arts, his work as an authority
a navigation having won him recogni-
on.
Retiring from the sea in 1904, Bow
Itch became president Of a fire insur-
nee company. He declined professor
siTGa at Harvard, the Military academy
/ West Point and the University Of
tExlnla.
His life was devoted largely to per-
scting his Navigator" and to the
from the French and an ,
Dtation of La Places Celestial Me.
lanles," a colossal work on astrono-
y showing great eruditloR by the
anslator, but now known only to !