United States Merchant Marine Academy - Midships Yearbook (Kings Point, NY)

Page 9 text:

In the beginning, the bell was known as the main form of com- munication on the sea until mod- ern technology introduced such invetions as radios, lights, and of course the steam engine which added the use of ship’s whistles. Bells were first carried as car- go, to be presented as gifts to the foreigners that the explorer en- countered and as materials for trading and bartering. Up to H twenty thousand bells were car- ried at once, both large and small. Even though they were meant to be cargo, they were of- ten used when holding religious ceremonies. During such reli- gious times, bells were thought to have magical powers. The mari- ners believed that the unpredict- ability of the seas were caused by giant demons and monsters and that the bells could ward off any danger that these sea monsters may cause to the ship. The bells were placed at the stern, the poop, the forecastle and wherever ft.

Page 8 text:

Challenging The Sea Since the establishment of Kings Point, midshipmen have been sent out to sea as cadets on many of the great ships of the world. Not only do they learn practical skills as part of their education but they learn also the legends of the sea. From the folk lore of the first ship to the pre- sent merchant ships, the ship’s bell has had a functional purpose in the everyday operations of the vessel. In Karl Wede’s book on the history and romance of the ship’s bell, he expounds on the use of ship’s bells as the rhythm of life on board. It has marked the time, signaled meals, rang for the beginning and the end of watches and chimed for various religious ceremonies.

Page 10 text:

I else they would fit. The most common use for the bells aboard ships was to mark the time and to signal the end of a watch. Often the helmsman would try to cut his watch short by ringing the bell early, the En- glish would say, “The helmsman has flagged (or cheated) the glass.”, the French said, “Le ti- monier a mange du sable (the helmsman has eaten sand).”, and the Germans phrased it, “Der ru- derganger hat einen Stuetzenbull gemacht (the helmsman has pulled a fast one).”. It was com- mon in many nations that the man on watch upon striking the bells would call out, “All is well; the lights are burning bright.” To this day bells are still sued for similar purposes except that the clock has replaced the sand- glass and through observation it was found that it is not demons that cause the waves in the oceans. Even now, we as students learn about the proper proce- dures for ringing a ship’s bell in text International Rules of the Nautical Road. Through all na- tions on every ship, bells have re-