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530 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

In the Hydrographic Bulletin of the United States Navy,
December 31, 1913, the following reference is made to the use
of oil to calm seas:

“Imperial Transport (Br. ss.), Capt. E. R. Frankland:

“On November 25, 1913, during the voyage from Narvik
toward Philadelphia, a hurricane struck the vessel from the
southwest, gradually shifting to the westward. The hurricane
was of such force that it was found impossible to steam against
it. The engines, therefore, were stopped, and the vessel, losing
headway, fell off beam-on to the sea. During this operation oil
was used plentifully, several pints being thrown on the deck,
and the same washing overboard to windward smoothed the

tops of the seas, thus stopping them to a great extent from
breaking on board. When the vessel was drifting, two oil-bags

were hung overboard to windward, one at each end of the bridge
ng attached to fifteen fathoms of line, this

@ in arresting the force of the seas. One

oil-bag was hung in the forward lavatory at the break of the
forecastle head, and the flush left open, the oil thus coming in
contact with the sea without being blown to leeward. The
same operation was repeated in the lavatory amidships. A
hand was stationed in each of these places replenishing the oil-
bags. During the squalls a little oil was also poured down
the pipes from a can. The seas, although breaking heavily to
windward, had the force taken out of them when coming in
contact with this second distribution of oil. We subsequently
encountered seven hurricanes, and oil was used in the same
manner and with the same effect. The oils used were fish,
colza, engine, and linseed, and no apparent difference in effect
was noticed. All of the hurricanes started from the south and
veered to north through west, and then backed from north to
south through west. The same was experienced in the storms
of lesser violence. At no time during the passage was the wind
from the eastward unless at the beginning of the storm, when
sometimes it was SSE. I might add that the vessel came

through with the minimum of damage, considering the terrific

weather encountered.”
A more recent test of this device was made by the revenue

cutter Seminole. In reply to my inquiry, Capt. G. L. Carden

says, under date of January 11, 1914:
“T am attaching herewith a memorandum relative to the use

of oil by the Seminole when working on the schooner Thomas

 

is pa hai eT ECE
F Nei a Sc mmc ar
. PR, a TRE
Paes OES ;
feted ta eR es Ges RE nan GCE Tis,
EES Geen ra Nee ABO Seng elle eee ae ae ett re Sos esse SMT | TRENT cee ATE
" ee PL 5 Nile Wek beet ae + ae. Ree es PRUNES Oa IA RA enc ae ia Spee - —
ca ete as as Saar we See oan af ee: y z Hk eLapahe = ie ga oa ama

Peace Restored 531

edoeerit As a further proof of the efficacy of oil, I had
or ee oe the month of October, 1910, when command-
ed oe in the Pacific, to have recourse to it. We
tesla, : “2 Island for a run across to the Alaska coast,
para sa oe Ommaney. It had been blowing a gale of
Sista ths a = from the northwest and, not long after
“arias. Hore “ots Kodiak, I encountered a tremendous sea.
“ht ct ~ 1 7: been seen during the entire past five months
Maint = - The Manning was put before the seas, but
pela S 11 every moment they must break aboard. In the
uths of the forward closet bowls, on either side of the bow
canvas bags filled with oakum were placed. The bags were
Ares: with ordinary sail needles, and a plentiful supply of
sh oil was poured into the oakum-filled bags. The closet traps
were then raised and very soon a thin film of oil was seen ‘6
reach out on either side of the ship for a distance of about t
feet, spreading out fan-tail fashion as it worked aft ae
distance of twenty feet abaft the stern, I should say the width
of the oil space was fully fifty feet. The effect was ingevelads
The big seas would come up right to the edge of the oilfield
and then dive under the ship and pass away forward. Th
film of oil alongside kept the seas from slapping aboard. : I eas

the Manning very slowly throughout the greater part of the
night, but towards morning the wind and sea abated and we
7. able to head up on our regular course. During the entire
nig) af I do not believe we used over ten gallons of oil.”
aos See :—The American schooner Thomas Winsmore
= Peres As a. m., J anuary 4, 1914, close to the breakers
fea... = s. The Seminole at the time was in charge
ii he ee . Eben Barker. A fresh westerly gale was blow-
ie omas Winsmore was displaying her ensign union
Phe Bans as were breaking completely over the schooner.
rs neg e anchored to windward of the Winsmore, veering
poke = as to bring the cutter near the schooner. Efforts
see. a ca aboard by means of a line-firing gun proved
Tha oa “ é was used freely through the closets forward.
ented; Ae a5 slick astern of the Seminole and prevented the
mS as ane: After a plentiful use of the oil, a pulling
ay ered and a four-inch line was run to the Winsmore.
ns of the four-inch line a ten-inch hawser was later

gotten aboard the di
stressed craft. The W
towed into the lee of Lookout Bight.” peepee