Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1929, Page 87

BY ALICE WATTS HOSTETLER. NOTHER king is about to be de- posed. Neptune, arrogant ruler of the seas, in his tantrums makes it as rough as possible for wayfarers in his domain. Consequently, the diplomatic corps of the mighty nations of the earth are planning a conference to determine ways of curbing his cruel and merci- less powers. In view of the marine disasters of the past few months those who live in Arizona’s deserts or Hoosiers in the land-bound center of commerce, In- dianapolis, can appreciate the need of ending the reign of the tyrannical and temperamental marine monarch. Three ships of major league class ayiound, seven distress calls in one night and the tragic loss of life when the Vestris sank are examples of Nep- tune’s whims which make it obvious that the Internaticnal Conference on Safety of Life at Sea to b2 held in Lon- don this Spring has work to do. In tme midst of all the preparation that going on some one may rise to inquire, “Will the outcome of this meet- ing to deprive the trident of its power Justify the investment of time and re- search by scientists and warrant the attention of governmental departments and experts of private agencies?” If in the light of past events those of the future can be prognosticated, it is possible even now to answer “Yes.” The first conference, held 15 years ago, brought about both directly and indi- rectly benefits to the marine world that are of inestimable worth. Since then not a single life has been lost as the result of the collision of a ship with an iceberg up in the ren- dezwous of the glacial terrors in the North Atlantic. R h N JEBRUARY 7 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the mauguration of tne service which gives this security to the seas, for it was on that date in 1914 that President Wilson instructed what was then known 2s the Revenue Cutter Service to start as soon as possi- ble -the patrol of the ice-menaced At- lantic. At the early conference one nation had been authorized the inter- nauonal agent for the patrolling of this dangerous territory. To the United States was given the responsibility of preventing another tragedy like that of the Titanic. As a consequence ships of the United States Coast Guard, ‘which now embraces the Revenue Cut- ter Service and the Life Saving Serv- THE MOJAVE, ice, act as the International Ice Patrol. They have made the treacherous routes of the Great Circle safe for sailing. The principal task of the interna- tional ice police is to discover icebergs and watch them from day to day. Seven-eighths of the mass of these perils are submerged, making them many times more dangerous. Their icy teeth are as much of a dread in the cold oceans as the saw-edged teeth of sharks in warmer waters. The data that are obtained are reported daily to the Naval Hydrographic Office. The lo- cation and drift of icebergs are radioed three or four times each day for the benefit of all ships equipped to receive the messages. The last conference had for its inspi- ration a tragedy. After the Titanic had its disastrous encounter with an iceberg all nations cried for something to be done which would prevent similar calamities. It was this disaster in April, 1912, that aroused nations to the need of preventive as well as of rescue work on the seas. Only one-third of the more than 2,000 Eersons on the ship that was thought to be the last word in construction were saved that cold night. If the ship on which passengers con- sidered themselves as safe as in their homes could meet such a fate what of the hundreds of fishing vessels that comb the rich waters off the Grand Banks and the boats of lesser grandeur that constantly make the trip across the North Atlantic? Something must be Cone about the iceberg menace and that Jjob was put up to the United States. Both unfortunately and fortunately public interest has been stimulated in the meeting held in April. Such a par- ley had already been suggested and persons primarily concerned with the shipping business had undertaken to prepare useful material and data when a tragedy harrowed the world not so much because of its magnitude, but be- caese of its uselessness. When the Ves- tris sank last Fall people everywhere demanded, “How could such a thing have happened?” and “What can be done to prevent its happening again?” PATROL DUTY T YEAR. JANUARY o7 19%-PART T. . Seas, Vessel Construction and Life-Saving Devices Are Factors to Be Considered. In this day of the student class, Eu= ropean voyage and the consequent in- crease in voyageurs, it is not so hard to stir up interest in promoting safety at sea, for almost every one and his neighbor is planning that “Next Sum- mer I think I'll go across.” Class dis- tinctions may be disappearing on boats, but the very increased popularity of what used to be scorned by Zanesville and Spartansburg and Oshkosh, who would rather not go at all than not go first class, develops popular concern in ONE OF THE UNITED STATES CUTTERS OF THE COAST GUARD WHICH WAS ON ICE the safety of vessels to which they may intrust themselves. Attendance at the April conference necessitates the presence of experts who understand the cogs of the machinery and of diplomats who can get it into motion for a period of three months. The leading nations of the world were invited to send representatives. And before the American representatives have even set foot on the docks of New York en route, months of investiga- tion by various governmental depart- ments in Washington and by important persons of the shipping, insurance and other allied interests will have gone into the preparation of their conclu- sions. ‘They will have received higher education into the finest points of their respective fields. * oK ok K HE Bureau of Navigation of the Department of Commerce is su- pervising the work of technical com- | mittees which are studying the pro- posals of the British Board of Trade. These were submitted over a vear ago, at the time when Great Britain sug- gested the holding of the conference that will investigate ways of protect- ing and saving, first, lives, and second, property at sea. ‘The very fact that all this prepara- tion has been going on makes assur- |ance doubly sure as to the worthwhile results of the internatioinal meeting in London. That this is true is indicated because the first conference had simi- lar purposes, but was handicapped be- | cause the delegates were not adequately informed and instructed to form con- matters which came up for discussion. In spite of this, certain resuits of the first affair have proved of incalculable value to the world. Although the United States delegates were signatories to the agreement that was promulgated, this country did not ratify it. Even so, there has been a general improvement in standards. for safeguards at sea, and American cri- teria are high. clusions ‘on all the highly technical | { " No one would question the value of ' agreement could radio to mariners, and many are agreed that a wireless is as important to a ship's complement as the rudder and propeller. It was after the first conference that American ships carry- ing 50 persons or more were required to bear the apparatus that is the means of bringing assistance in distress and, more ‘important, of securing informa- tion that will prevent accidents. The La Follette’s seamen’s act con- tains a section that, except for minor differences, follows very closely the words of the pact. By it specifications are established for lifeboats, for their equipment and for the davits which support them. Requirements are laid down for the embarking of passengers in lifeboats and for manning them by | crew and officers. Even life preservers | and buoys are described. Another indirect respit of the stimu- | lating meeting of 1913-14 is the added | attention given to derelict destruction along the Atlantic coast by American cutzers, 7 Nations generally have followed '.hlsI upward trend in promoting safety at sea. It is probable that the attention of this 1929 conference will be focused | on provisions which were omitted or on those which were included and found to be not workable. ‘There is the same number of main provisions to be discussed, with somei differences, however, in subjects and in order of arrangement. Whereas safety of navigation, including ice patrol, con- struction of vessels, radiotelegraphy, life-saving appliances, fire-fighting ap- pliances and safety certificates were the topic of the 1914 day, subdivision of ships, life-saving appliances, wireless telegraphy, fire-extinguishing appli- ances, ice patrol and collision regula- tion are the proposed agenda for the forthcoming conference. The subdivid~ ing of ships into new classifications will be most important, because it is thought that mistakes made along this line be- fore prevented the indorsement and en- forcement of proper regulations. Many of the proposals which were omitted because nq common point of be found, and’some which were included but do not func- tion, have an economic basis, and it is from that angle that they must be dis- cussed in order to become a part of the new pact. The most conscientious pro- moters of safe marine travel recognize that standards of safety at sea must be qualified by economic factors. * K Kk 'VERY one is agreed that ships must be constructed to obtain the maxi- mum of seaworthiness before they are allowed to put out, and the worth of even the most efficient safeguards is Government Representatives to Meet in London in Spring to Discuss Safety of Life at Sea and to Formulate New Set of Marine Regulations Destined to Reduce Hazards to a Minimum—Plans for Patrolling the diminished if vessels.are not seaworthy. Radio beacons and compasses, effective ice patrols and life-saving stations are given more than their share of the bur- den if ships are allowed out which are not made us safe as possible in the first place. It is solving the problem in the wrong way to demand protection for that which by its very insecurity demands iIncreased protection. However, on the other hand, require- ments can be made so stringent that it is impossible to come up to them. Under the covenant of 1913-14 sections were made so exacting it a certain class of ships would havé been forced out of existence, or else lgx enforce- ment brought about that greater evil, indifference to law. For instance, certain regulations were applied to all passenger ships. Since in England vessels carrying more than 12 passengers are relegated to that class, it became apparent that it was impossible or decidedly unjust to apply the same standards to a freighter car- rying a small quota not classed as crew as to the Leviathan or other grand ships designed to transport in luxury enough persons to populate a village. Since what is known as the mixed type of vessel would be forced out of business by certain expensive construction or equipment costs required by the agree- ment of 15 years ago, it is not surpris- ing that these regulations, good in themselves as they were, should fade out in the mist of non-enforcement. Shipbuilders, shipping companies and insurance agencies, as well as Federal departments which come in contact with such problems, will be on hand to see that standards will be established not only which are desirable, but which are practicable in terms of dollars and cents. This attitude does not indicate a callousness to human welfare, but the contrary, for experience has shown that no benefits accrue from the idea that cannot be made the fact. Although every one apparently has the same problems at sea, there are numerous questions which will have to be compromised. Very likely it will be dificult to reach an international un- derstanding on many of the points which have a decidedly national aspect. This time all nations present -tp:(l:u congress will be fully prepared, for they were invited by Great Britain in a note of September, 1927. There has been time for the questions to be studied thorougnly. It is blieved that it will take every bit of the three months allotted to thrash out the many and complicated and highly ‘technical ques- tions and to find answers. The very developments that have taken place in invention in the last decade and a half will introduce new problems. Although certain standards could be set up for wireless at the okuer session, radio beacons and radio compasses, acoustic depth sounding and distance measuring could not be touched upon because they did not. exist. Not only did the losses suffered by shipping interests during the war point out that ship construction and equip- ment which had. formerly been classed as of a very high type were not ade- quate, but there are new developments in shipping upon which there are no international agreements as to stand- ards, For instance, an entirely differ- ent system of fire fighting must be em- ployed for oil-burning ships, because the old way of using water has no effect. When ofl has caught on fire special apparatus which discharges car- bonic-acid gas in froth is necessary. International agreements must be reached on this point. * kK K IT will not be necessary to sell the conference on the expediency of an ice patrol, or even on exundl.n; its duties this time, because it has func- tioned so efficiently that its worth is well established. Difficult as it is w estimate the worth of the international ice patrol in dol- lars and cents, it is obvious that na- tions will never give it up. How is it possible to compute the cost of what might heppen? Probably not many ships would have met the fate of the Titanic were the waters unguarded, but the perfect record stands that not any life was lost because of the collision of iceberg and vessel during the last 15 years. Not only have large, well equipped ocean-going steamers which carTy passengers but also the fishing vessels of the men who look to the sea for their productive fields and gardens received protection. Moreover, many more ships now go through this region, which does not have to be avoided for longer but safer routes. In addition to observing icebergs, the personnel of Coast Guard vessels gives aid to ships in distress, removes debris (Continued on Seventh Page.) UP WHERE THE ICEBERGS BEGIN. A GREENLAND GLACIER WHICH WILL BREAK OF INTO BERGS. Local Scientist's Hobby Revives Interest in Ancient Sport BY GENE A. DAY. ARKING back during these days of modernity to the glory of yesteryears when archery was in flower, a Government scientist, in indulging his fa- vorite hobby, plays the role which in some aspects resembles that of his- torical Robin Hood. This Washingtonian is not only an able archer but also is a skilled bowyer, an amateur craftsman who can convert saplings of yew, slabs of osage-orange and rods of lemonwood into champion- ship bows of such superiority that they Would have delighted the famous Eng- lish archers of yore. It was by the merest happenstance and quirk of fate that W. O. Robinson of Falls Church, Va. became interest- ed in bowmanship and the technical craft of the bowyer. For several years Mr. Robinson engaged in target prac- tice regularly with a friend, another national scientist. ‘These shooting matches were contested at the Congress Heights rifle range or in the rugged highlands above Great Falls on the Virginia side of the Potomac. The weapons used were high-power Tifles and revolvers. The pair were good shots, the contests were nip and tuck, regulation scores were kept. The zest of one holiday spent in target shooting and the mutually agreeable study of firearm ballistics led to many other such enjoyable meetings. ‘The time arrived, however, when the range at Congress Heights became con- gested. Residents of the Great Falls section began to object to target prac- tice in that vicinity. Then, to cap the climax, Mr. Robinson's friend resigned from the Government service and moved to Cincinnati. His departure apparently was the swan song of the happy shootings days for Mr. Robinson, s CUITING TURKEY FEATHERS FOR THE ARROWS, Government Expert Who Rivals Robin Hood as a Skilled Bowman and Bowyer Led Reorganization of the Potomac Archers—Has Made 75 Championship Bows of Native and Imported Woods in Spare Time. who hung up his rifle and stored away his target pistol. * Kk x K THE advent of Christmas some years Jater brought a long slim parcel to the Robinson home in Falls Church. The children of the family were great- ly interested in the package, but as it was addressed to their daddy they left it undisturbed until the night before Christmas, when their father unfasten- ed the bundle and disclosed a hickory bow and a trio of target arrows. The gift came from Mr. Robinson's former shooting companion, who, meanwhile, had become interested in archery, and by this Yuletide token attempted to arouse the enthusiasm of his friend in the ancient art. Instinctively every marksman is fas- cinated by archery when once he meets this attractive sport face to face and gets acquainted with its delights and advantages. Poetry and research have long since combined their praises in describing the beautiful ~parabolic flight of a properly released arrow. There is a certain thrill about the bend of the powerful bow, the twang of the bowstring, the release of the swift-fly- ing arrow and the resounding plunk with which it imbeds itself in the dis- tant target made of rye straw which intrigue the sportsman. “Here’s a sport, quite different from the majority,” he says to himself—‘one in which the personal equation and individual skift gauges the ultimate score.” Mr. Robinson reacted favorably to s archery, ‘but he also became interested Forthwith, after testing out his new bow and arrows, he devoted his eve- nings to a scientific study of available archery literature. This government scientist read up on the history of archery but he also became interested in the homespun production of hand- made archery equipment. Eventually, he began to experiment at his home workbench in this new and novel type of craftsmanship. In the course of time Mr. Robinson learned of several other Federal em- ployes who were interested in archery. He met and shot on various occasions with these gentlemen—informal home contests. Finally, Mr. Robinson by his energy and enthusiasm was successful in reviving the historic Potomac Archers in the Spring of 1927. This club was originally organized in 1879. About the time when bicycling and tennis gained the maximum of popular public attention in the District, archery went to seed. Under the guidance of Mr. Robinson, the vencrable and ancient sport has been repopularized. The Potomac Archers now has a mem- bership of some 35 amateur bowmen who practice target shooting twice weekly on the Mall opposite the Smith- sonian Institution during favorable weather. The directors of the club now seek to increase its membership roster. Mr. Robinson says that all in this vicinity who are interested in archery are eligible for bowmanship honors in the organization. = Vo “Archery was of particular appeal to me because it was & sport which I could enjoy at home on my front lawn,” tion. “It is a comparatively simple sport, one in which the tyro can gain | fair proficiency in several months. One of the chief charms of archery is that it offers many variables, all of which must be controlled if the archer is to acquire accuracy. Skill in this pastime depends on your physical powers and the proper correlation of eyes, nerves and muscles. “Archery is quite different from tar- get shooting with firearms. The rifle is a weapon of extreme precision. This arm, in itself, is a wonderful example of mechanical accuracy. The sports- man who uses it soon acquires adept- ness, as all he has to do is to aim cor- rectly and to hold the gun steady while he pulls the trigger. In rifle shooting, the weapon and good ammunition are about the whole show. In bowmanship, on the other hand, the individual skill and technique of the bowman is all- important. Man counts 75 per cent and his equipment only 25 per cent, say the American champ*ions." * ok k¥ BECAUSE the mechanics and physics of archery tackle are of outstanding significance in this ancient amusement revived, Mr. Robinson began to experi- ment in making bows and arrows as soon as he became thoroughly con- versant with this new sport. The intri- cacy of this craftmanship challenged his tool-handling skill. He had always been interested in woodworking and craftsmanship. His adeptness as an amateur builder is amply demonstrated by his eight-room residence which he built himself during his leisure and holidays. He devoted the spare time of two years to this task. When Mr. Robinson began his self- tutored education as a bowyer, he cen- tered his practice in his well equipped home shop. It was well equipped with ordinary hand tools at the outset, but the amateur artisan soon discovered that specialized tools were needed for bow and arrow making. Gradually, he rocured equipment some of which he imported - from England. During the last two years Mr. Robinson has made some 75 bows and from 500 to 600 ar- rows. Some of the finest of these bows represent from one to two weeks of spare time work, while Mr. Robinson devoted similar periods to making a superior set of eight arrows. Special tropical woods are preferable for bow-making. Mr. Robinson says that one of the difficulties in playing bowyer as a hobby is in securing sat- isfactory raw material. He purchases bow staves from wood importers in New York City. He has also cut con- siderable material from his home wood lot. ' He buys the dowels for making arrows from professional archery com- panies or lumber yards which deal in specialized wood. This Washington craftsman has made experimental bows of lemonwood or degame, yew, elm, hickory, snake- wood, bethabara, majagua, amaranth, cedar, black locust, osage-orange, beef- wood, lancewood, sassafras, mulberry and Florida snakewood. Mr. Robinson reports that he makes his best bows for expert archers of yew and snake- wood backed with elm, while the bows for beginners are usually of lemon-= he remarked during a recent conversa- |, bow for hunting, and is particularly valuable because of its remarkable durability. ‘The best arrows are made of Nor- way pine footed with some hardwood, such as beefwood or rosewood. Be- ginners’ arrows are customarily made of birch. This_modern bowyer has made arrows of Port Orford cedar, red spruce, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir. His experiences have demonstrated that Norway pine excels all other ma- terials for fine arrow production. Mr. Robinson has gained local fame as a bowyer during the short time that he has been interested in this hobby. The majority of the Potomac archers now secure their new bows and arrows on order from their fellow clubman. He also makes archery equipment for Girl and Boy Scouts who are inter- ested in target shooting. * ok k% IT is a difficult task to make a superior bow and harder yet to shape, fletch and finish a top quality set of arrows. Some ama- teurs spend two to three years of hard work at their benches before they master the ancient art which looked for a time as though it would lapse into a lost art. The stave from which the bow is made is usually 6 feet long and 1!> inches square, although those for ladies and Boy Scout bows are only 5!2 feet long and 1 inch square. The grain must be straight and the material free from knots and discolored spots. The first and one of the most fundamental processes in bow making is to select the back of the potential bow. It should always be the soundest side, free from imperfections and generally flat grained. It is customary to use the bark side as the back of the bow if any bark shows on the stave. The bowyer next marks the middle of the bow on all four sides of the stave and then pencils two other cross-sec- tion marks, one 1 inch above and the other 3 inches below the center, This space forms the ultimate handle of the new bow. A median line is then drawn with & straight edge lengthwise of the bow stave and two other lines are laid off at the ends of the stave five-six- teenths of an inch from the median ling.. The sides of the bow are subse- quently marked, these lines curving gradually so that the bow maintains its average width up to a point 10 inches from the ends, whence it tapers in rapidly. A fine rip saw and plane are then used in cutting down and shaping up the back of the bow. The side or lateral shape of the bow is ob- tained by tapering measurably near the handle and at the ends. spoke shave is em- cising care to keep both sides sym- metrical and avoid lopsidedness. depth and width of the bow are sim- ilar at the handle, but at all other points the depth is less than the width. After the bow stave is smoothed thor- of the bow, as such carving will weaken the shaft so that it will surely break. ‘The bowstring is made by hand, using from 30 to 5g'haualrmdl of Irish linen wood., Osage-orange is the most satis- | wel factory, material fo Mo I WpkloR T most durable and satisfactory bow- strings known to science or practice. ‘Woven loops are provided at either end of the string, by means of which the bowstring is strung in the notches at the end of the bow. Animal tissue is unsatisfactory for modern bowstring manufacture, as it varies in length with weather changes. Turkish archers used bowstrings made of silk, but English an American bowmen prefer those made of linen. The usual lemonwood bow when first strung has a pull of from 60 to 70 pounds, which is general- 1y reduced to from 30 to- 45 pounds. ‘The average man learning to shoot can handle such a bow, while a youth or woman begins with one which has a pull of from 20 to 25 pounds. * K Kk IN reducing the bow's pull, the bowyer uses a block of wood called a tiller, equipped with from 12 to 15 notches spaced from one to two inches apart. The tiller is clamped in a vise and the bow, braced against the end of the workbench, is bent so that the bowstring can be pulled back to the first notch in the tiller. The bowyer inspects the bow carefully to see that both “limbs” bend practically alike under the strain. The upper limb is two inches longer than the lower and hence bends more. It any undesirable inequalities - are found, he marks the stiff points and works them down with a cabinet scn&er or spoke shave until the bow m evenly throughout. The draw of bow is increased gradually and its bends studied until the full draw of 27 inches is reached—the maximum aver- age draw of the ordinary archer. A spring balance is used in detecting the pull of the bow at this point. General- ly, the bowyer is satisfled if it registers about 42 pounds. The usual practice in target practice is to use the bow for some time before its pull is reduced. ‘The bow is then smoothed and pol- ished with steel wool or sandpaper, whereupon it is ready for either var- nishing or shellacking. The handle is finished with tight wrapping of heavy cord or else a suitable piece of lealh(’Ar: is glued into permanent position. special leather arrow plate is provided as a protector where the arrow passes over the bow in the draw and release. Mr. Robinson makes beginners’ ar- rows from five-sixteenths-inch birch dowels. When purchased from lumber dealers, such dowels usuaily are crooked and have to be straightened by heat treatment, which must be done in order to obtain straight shafts. Some archery companies now sell straightened dowels at a slightly increased price. The bow- yer cuts the dowels to an average length of 28 inches—the length of the ordinary target arrow. Bullet casings purchased from cartridge manufactur- ers make satisfactory points for target arrows. Hunting arrows, which are heavier and stronger, are provided with small metal spear points, which inflict mortal wounds in big game when they strike vulnerable spots. Both the bullet casings and the spear heads are fast- ened to the arrows with waterproof fer- rule cement. Three hacksaw blades mounted in a special frame are used to cut the notch in the end of each arrow for the bow- string. Mr. Robinson has also con- trived a clever little device for sand- papering the arrows. He has cut a semi-circular groove in a block of wood. IHe covers this groove with sandpaper | and then rubs the block vigorously back |and forth over the arrow shaft until the desired smoothness is obtained. The most difficult hand job assoclated with arrow making is the task of fletching the arrow with turkey feathers. The amateur bowyer purchases the feathers from turkey farmers or butch- ers. The pinion feathers abstracted from the wing are most suitable for arrow fletching. The feathers are first of all stripped—the stiff side of the feathers and some of the midrib are | removed without disturbing the vein, which is then cut into from 2 to 23 inch lengths. The small pieces of feather are then sized to the arrow with either casein or animal glue, am- beroid or housenold cement. The cock feather is attached to the arrow at | right angles to the notch for the bow- string, being supported by Steel pins until the adhesive dries. Two hen feathers are also attached so that they are located 120 degrees apart. All these feathers are trimmed with scis- sors or a sharp knife to either a wedge shape or parabolic form after the glue has dried. The arrows are then ready for varnishing or shellacking. The feather end of each arrow is painted with bright colors, the design being called the archer’s crest. Each archer has a different and distinctive crest which serves as an accurate identifica- tion marker for his arrows. The crest is frequently a combination of yellow, orange and red with black and white contrasts.