. Every boy's book of railways and steamships . it not an inspiration for all of us to feelthere are heroes for every emergency, and that inhuman life no danger is so great that some JackBinns is not ready to face it? However well-found a ship may be, and how-ever well provided with safety appliances, it issometimes necessary to abandon her, while yetmany miles from land and no other vessel at handto L render assistance. With this contingency inview it is necessary to provide a ship with lifeboats,lifebuoys, and lifebelts. The material of whichthey are composed, their construction and distribu
. Every boy's book of railways and steamships . it not an inspiration for all of us to feelthere are heroes for every emergency, and that inhuman life no danger is so great that some JackBinns is not ready to face it? However well-found a ship may be, and how-ever well provided with safety appliances, it issometimes necessary to abandon her, while yetmany miles from land and no other vessel at handto L render assistance. With this contingency inview it is necessary to provide a ship with lifeboats,lifebuoys, and lifebelts. The material of whichthey are composed, their construction and distribu-tion, are matters that are not left to the discretionof the shipowners; the authorities of differentcountries prescribe detailed regulations that arerigorously enforced. All life saving applianceshave to be examined at stated intervals, and defec-tive articles have to be replaced by others inperfect condition. Particular attention is paid tothe boats, and boat-drill is engaged in regularly, sothat when circumstances demand it, the passengers. PLATE XXXVII. STARTING PLATFORM, MAURETANIA. SAFETY AFLOAT 253 may be easily and quickly lowered from thedavits. All large liners now carry a powerful electricallamp by means of which to light their path atnight time, and enable the look-out to detect rocks,icebergs, and derelicts. This lamp, called thesearchlight, is usually fixed on the bridge ; it isbacked with a peculiar-shaped mirror from which isreflected the dazzling light of a continuous showerof electrical sparks. The searchlight is invaluable insuch cases as a man overboard, assisting shipsin distress, and also renders excellent service insignalling according to a recognized code of arc lamps, suspended over the deck, providesufficient light for vessels to coal or unload duringthe night, thus effecting a great saving of time. But even the provision of the best safetydevices ever conceived would prove of little valuein a case of sudden emergency, unless arrange-m
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidever, booksubjectrailroads
