The Coolidge examiner., 1932-05-13

ty other bergs.
The set and drift data enable the
ship navigators to know that the
two bergs. which are the two south
ernmost, are coming south at the
speed given.
rotation of corn, oats. wheat, hay.
The oceanographer notices, while
plotting the water temperature. re-
ports from ship that their present
course might carry them close to a
number of dangerous bergs. An ice
warning is Immediately dispatched.
which the vessels acknowledge with
thanks. The vessels alter their
courses TO clear the Ice.
On the great steamer lane be-
tween Europe and America liners,
cargo carriers. and tramps pass con-
stantly. Ii Is an avenue of the sea
just as much as Michigan boulevard
or Fifth avenue is a heavy traffic
street. On what is known as the
"westbound tracks" are the ships
coming from Europe, and on the
"eastbound tracks" GO miles south.
are the ships going TO Europe.
All vessels off the tracks are re-
ported for violation Of the rules. A
vessel Off the track is just as dan
gerous as an iceberg or derelict.
The ice patrol cutter stands as a
traffic officer on the avenue of the
sea. If the ice threatens blockage.
the cutter sets the stop sign and
turns traffic into side street"
detour to the south.
Three separate charts are plotted
recording the ships ice and water
temperatures. The latter Is very
important, because by using from
900 10 1900 messages in Is days one
can locate the "cold wall" the line
Of demarcation between the gulf
stream water and the cold Labrador
current water
The Danger Line.
This line is the danger line, be-
cause icebergs that are perils TO
shipping seldom cross it. The loca-
ton of 1t at the beginning of the
season is an index TO the severity of
conditions to be expected.
a berg that crosses the line com
mits quick suicide. for water of 55
to GO degrees melts ice very rapidly.
The cold wall is easy to see.
North of 1t the ocean Is a beautiful
olive green, south of ii the water
is indigo blue. The higher content
of microscopic marine life gives the
Labrador current its olive-green
tone.
The PROV of a cutter can be in
green water of 40 degrees Fahren-
heit. the stern In warm blue wa
ter that registers 60 degrees. The
crew may swim in tropical tenn
peratured water. while half a mile
away to the north floats large ice
berg. drifting in cold water.
AS boat approaches a floating
ice island a sizzling sound becomes
audible. Close attention shows that
this comes from small pieces of ice
slipping off into the sea. Unlike or
binary Ice Jumps, the pieces effer-
vesce. This is a popularity of gla-
ciaI ice.
Thousands of Americans sailed to
Europe last year. Few of them were
aware as they retired to their state
rooms at night, of what precautions
were being taken for their safety.
They did not know that in the radio
room on the upper deck of their
ships, a message from the ice patrol
was coming in, telling about fog and
icebergs.
Nor did they realize that their
liner was reporting coast guard
cutter drifting on the Grand Banks.
so that officers on the cutter could
check to learn If the liners course
was entirely clear OF danger.
The Titanic catastrophe in April,
1912, shocked the entire world. and
universal demand for patrol
gave birth to the International Ice
patrol. Immediately after the I'll
tanic disaster the United States
navy detailed two cruisers for
guard duty until the last bergs Cis-
appeared from the steamer lanes in
late June. In the spring of 1913
two revenue cutters were detailed
to carry out the patrol.
During the fall of the same year
the international conference for the
safety of life al sea was convened
at London. 70 organize this patrol
on an international basis. in recos
milton of its service TO ships of all,
nations. Representatives of the
principal maritime nations of the
world signed the agreement on Jan.
uary 20, 1914. creating the Inter
national Derelict Destruction. Ice
Observation. and Ice Patrol service.
The United States was asked to
undertake the management of this
service. This country agreed 10
send two vessels which would pa
troll the danger zone during the ice
berg season. Each of the contract.
ing parties consented to bear a