Gibraltar, Spain 3,290 Glasgow, Scotland 2,934 3,375 miles, 10 days, via London 2,810 miles, 7 days, via New Orleans 645 miles, 2 days. 563 3,544 4,340 miles, 9 days, via London. 1,275 1,413 miles, 3 days 3,193 10,590 miles, 25 days, via San Francisco 15,300 5,645 miles, 13 days, via San Francisco 3,500 Nautical Miles. Postal Route. 12,265 miles, 32 days, via San Francisco 2,355 2,355 miles, 7 days, via San Francisco 4,020 miles, 8 days New Orleans 2,045 Panama Paris Pekin, China 15,325 Sandy Hook San Francisco Shanghai, China St. Petersburg Yokohama, Japan 3,840 6,204 miles, 23 days, 5.030 miles 9 days, via I.ondon 3,394 3,935 miles, 9 days, via London 18 15,843 14,512 9,920 miles, 25 days, via San Francisco 4,432 5,370 miles, 10 days, via London 4,075 4,975 miles, 10 days, via London 11,570 miles, 31 days, via San Francisco 9,750 5,910 miles, 37 days, via Panama 2,185 400 4,740 miles, 10 days, via London 7,348 miles, 20 days, via San Francisco SIGNALS AT SEA. The flags by which ships communicate with each other are eighteen in number. The flags are known by letters, but none of these letters are vowels. This makes it impossible to use the flags to spell words. But the letters are not used as such, but as signs, characterizing the different flags by the most familiar method and in an order well known. The signs are made with combinations in sets of two, three, and four letters each, of the 18 consonants: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V and W. The two-letter sets are combinations of B and the 17 other letters, thus: BC, CB, DB, to WB, BD, etc. The three-letters sets are successive combinations of cach set of two letters with the 16 other letters, thus: BCD, CBD, etc. The four-letter sets are successive combinations of each set of three letters with the 15 other letters, thus: BCDF, CBDF, etc. In this manner 78,642 combinations can be made, of which 306 are of the two-letter sets, 4,896 of the threeletter sets, and 73,440 of the four-letter sets. As it takes less time to make up the two-letter signals, and as they are the most simple, they are used for the urgent and important signals. The signalling paraphernalia consists of one burgee, fcur pennants and thirteen square flags. There is in addition a code pennant, which is also used as an "answering signal." When used as a code signal it is hoisted under the ensign, and when used as the answering pennant it is to be placed "where best seen." The flags, with their names, are described as follows: F.-Red, with white spots. G.-Yellow-blue, in two vertical stripes. SQUARE FLAGS. H.-White-red, in two vertical stripes. J. Blue-white, in three horizontal stripes. L.-Blue and yellow, in four alternate checks. N.—Blue and white in sixteen alternate checks. P.--Blue, with white centre. Q.-Yellow-quarantine. R.-Red, with yellow right-cross. S.-White, with blue centre. T.-Red-white-blue, in three vertical stripes. V.-White, with red diagonal cross. W. Blue-white-red, in three borders. Code Pennant.-Red and white in five vertical stripes. Answering Pennant.-Same as Code pennant. SETTING THE SIGNALS. The pennant C is used for "yes," and the pennant D for "no." Signals are always made by one hoist in one place, and the nature of the signal is indicated by the number of flags hoisted. Two-flag signals, with the burgee uppermost, are "attention" signals; with the pennant uppermost they are "compos" signals, and a square flag uppermost indicates urgent danger or distress. Three-flag signals relate to general subjects of inquiry or communication, including longitude, latitude and time signals. A four-flag signal with burgee uppermost is "geographical," the pennants C, D, or F on top indicate spelling and vocabulary signals; G on top means menof-war, and a square flag uppermost is for the names of merchant ships. The combinations made with the 18 flags fill a large volume, and the requirements of those who are on shipboard have been so well anticipated that there are few conditions which cannot be expressed by the code. and Some of the two-flag signals are interesting to note. HB means "want immediate assistance," and HF signifies "we are coming to your assistance." HM tells of a "man overboard," and HD tells those who wait with anxiety that "no assistance can be rendered." HV means "damaged rudder, cannot steer," and HW "engine or machinery disabled." The signal JN stands for "war between The skipper indicates the contending forces with the flags, thus: JN, Stars and Stripes Spanish flag, would read: "War between United States and Spain." There is a small list of signals all beginning with N, which no seaman cares to hoist or to sec from a place of safety. Among these are "I have sprung a leak, leak gaining rapidly;" "I am sinking," "I am on fire," "Fire gains, take people off;" "I am driving, no more anchors to let go;" "I am unmanageable," and when the mariner in distress sees his possible rescuer sailing away, he hoists NF, which says, "Do not abandon me." When BCN goes up it says "I will not abandon you or your vessel in distress." DISTANT SIGNALS. When the colors cannot be distinguished, the flag signals become useless, and for that reason the "distant signals" are used frequently. These consist of a ball, & flag and a pennant so arranged as to make 18 letters corresponding to those in the flag signal collection. In case of need the proper symbols may be replaced by handkerchiefs for the flags, oars or spars slung horizontally for the pennants, and pails or buckets for the balls. The distant signals are made up of two, three or four combinations of ball, pennant and flag, and when the arrangement of the ship will permit they are shown in the following places: The first letter upon the foremast, the second letter upon the mainmast, the third letter upon the mizzen mast, and the fourth letter under the gaff, the signal being always read from fore to aft. The letters of the distant signals, with symbols or combinations read from top to bottom, are as follows: B.-Ball, pennant, flag. D.-Ball, pennant, pennant. K.--Flag, ball, pennant. L.--Pennant, ball, pennant. M.-Flag, ball, pennant. Preparatory and answering signal, ball. Annulling signal, ball, ball. FUNNEL MARKS, HOUSE FLAGS, NIGHT SIGNALS OF TRANSATLANTIC LINES. American.-Funnel-Black, white band, black top. "In Flag-White, with blue spread eagle in centre. Night Signals-Blue light forward, red light amidships and blue light aft in British waters. American waters two rockets displayed simultaneously, and red-white-blue stars," with the bluered light. |