SAVED FROM SHIPWRECK BY OIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 208, 13 September 1879, Page 5

SAVED FROM SHIPWRECK BY OIL.

Pouring oil on troubled wafers generally ia regarded by sea captains more aa a fine sentiment than as a practical bint to be observed in time of danger ; but as far back as 1779, a Dutch East India trader claimed to have been saved from shipwreck on a treacherous reef by pouring on the sea a jar of olive oil. Later, another instance is recorded in which a vessel having been wrecked in a hurricane, a cask of lamp oil, which was kept in a small boat, became broken, and so quieted the sea in the immediate vicinity that most of the crew succeeded in getting to an island near by. Captain Jarman, of the four-maated ship Bomsdal, now in this port, stated to a Tribune reporter

recently, that although he had long known of the wonderful effects of oil poured upon a rough sea, yet he never pat his knowledge into practice untill nia last voyage. The subject having been recalled to bis mind lately by a little article in one of the seamen's tracts, he decided to test the receipt. He caused to be made two canvas sacks shaped like a bottle, each having a capacity of about three gallons of oil. These he filled with common lamp oil. Soon after, ia the middle of the Atlantic, he encountered a violent hurricane with terrific seas, which lasted about twenty hours. The waves broke over the stern and threatened to swamp the vessel. Bememberiog his oil, he punctured the canvas bag, and caused one to be towed over each quarter. The effect, he said, was magical. The waves, although remaining at the same height, no longer broke over the stern ; but for several yards around, where the oil had spread over the water, there was apparently a calm. The ship was thus relieved from the tremendous shocks of heavy seas breaking over her, and the danger was considerably lessened. Captain Jarman thinks that the use of oil in the case of a ship hove-to in a storm, would be a very good thing. He says that although this was the first time he he had ever tried the experiment, it was not novel by any means. He had known cases in which crews had escaped from vessels when it would have been impossible to lower a boat without its being swamped, except that oil was thrown over the ship's side and the sea thus sufficiently calmed to allow the boats to be lowered without danger. He has also seen whaling vessels lying quietly, while near by them other vessels were violently tossed about. The whaling vessels were so thoroughly saturated with oil, that the water remained calm all about them. He says that the method is so simple, and so inexpensive, that he intends to have oil bags always ready for use hereafter. — New York Iribune.