But what is there to prevent
those doors to be fitted so as to move upwards, or horizontally, or
slantwise? In which case they would go through the obstructing layer of
coal as easily as a knife goes through butter. Anyone may convince
himself of it by experimenting with a light piece of board and a heap of
stones anywhere along our roads. Probably the joint of such a door would
weep a little--and there is no necessity for its being hermetically
tight--but the object of converting bunkers into spaces of safety would
be attained. You may take my word for it that this could be done without
any great effort of ingenuity. And that is why I have qualified the
expert's objection as inane.
Of course, these doors must not be operated from the bridge because of
the risk of trapping the coal-trimmers inside the bunker; but on the
signal of all other water-tight doors in the ship being closed (as would
be done in case of a collision) they too could be closed on the order of
the engineer of the watch, who would see to the safety of the trimmers.
If the rent in the ship's side were within the bunker itself, that would
become manifest enough without any signal, and the rush of water into the
stokehold could be cut off directly the doorplate came into its place.
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