Old Sea Wings, Ways, and Words, in the Days of Oak and Hemp (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 Excerpt: ...it was not the case of a single vessel making the best of the gale, and taking care of herself under steam, but of twenty great ships bound to keep iu station for fighting purposes, etc., under sail-power only, and all regulated by night-signals, carried from one division of the fleet to another by the " repeating frigate " or frigates of the squadron. The dazzling electric search-light and flashing signals were then (perhaps fortunately) unknown, and beyond an occasional blue light or "false fire," or a gun or two fired when not in action, all night-signals were given by candle-light in horn lanterns, shown in various parts of the ship's rigging, at times combined with a flag or two--a form of light which, at any rate, left the old seamen's eyes clear and steady to make out the all-important movements of hull and sail by which they were surrounded, often in very close order. The following code of night-signals, forming an article in the " New Royal Cyclopaedia, or Modern Dictionary of Arts and Sciences," 1788, will give a fair notion of how our fleets were handled at night by men like Rodney. When an admiral would have the fleet unmoor, and ride short, he hangs out three lights, one over another, in the maintopmastshrouds, above the constant light in the maintop, and fires two guns, which are answered by flagships, each private ship hanging out a light in her mizzen-shronds. All guns for night-signals to be fired on the same side, to avoid confusion of sound. When he would have them weigh anchor, he hangs one light in the maintopmast-shrouda, and fires a gun, which is answered by flagships and private ships as before. The signal to tack is two flags on the ensign-staff of the admiral, over the constant light on his poop, and a...