The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-27 00:00:00

MR. COPEMAN'S SEAT RAFT.

Mr. Copeman, who took the first gold medal for life-
saving gear at the Fisheries Exhibition, has been com-
pelled to postpone the trial voyage of his seat raft from
Dover to Calais, on account of an accident which oc-
curred on Tuesday morning during the launching. The
raft had been got ready on the previous night, and
was brought round to the Esplanade Quay at
five 'o'clock in the morning. Mr. Copeman, ac-
companied by his foreman, four Dover boatmen,
and Mr. J. Day, the coxswain of the Lowestoft
lifeboat, went down to the quay and slung the
raft by the crane so as to lower it into the water. The
raft was being lowered, when Mr. Day jumped on to
it, causing two of the ring bolts to draw, and the raft
consequently to fall into the water. Mr. Day fell
across one of the rowlocks and severely injured his
back. He was removed to the Harp Hotel, where Dr.
Colbeck was subsequently called in and he was after-
wards taken to the Dover Hospital. The raft was
afterwards brought alongside the Granville harbour
tug, which was lying in the outer dock, and on board
of 71:itch were about a dozen gentlemen, who were
waiting to accompany Mr. Copeman on his voyage.
Owing to the falling of the tide, it was considered ad-
visable to take the tug to the Admiralty Pier, and the
vessel was proceeding thither with the raft in tow,
when another accident occurred, which at the time
caused considerable excitement. Through some fault
of those on the raft in making fast the rope, it sud-
denly slung round and was caught broadside on.
The sea swept clean over her, and three of the four
men on her were washed overboard. Fortunately
there was a boat near, and the men were quickly
rescued. Mr. Copeman being detained with Mr.
Day for three hours, and the wind having increased
to a strong gale from the south south-west, accom-
panied by a continuous downpour of rain, it was de-
cided to postpone the experiment. The raft has
every appearance of being a tho:oughly useful and
practical invention, and so far as the experiment
went it answered admirably. The raft consisted of two
deck benches, tied together by cross beams. Each
bench is a buoyant wooden box formed in seven com-
partments, and fitted with air-tight metal tanks. It
is also supplied with sails, masts, spars, oars, provi.
d i
dons, and water, the latter of which are kept n
water-tight lockers in the benches.

OVERCROWDrNG ?—Lady: "Little boy, you should
know better than that, to drag the child along in that
cruel way; you are likely to kill it."—Boy (who evi-
dently considers the family already too large) :
"Never mind, there 's 'nother at 'ome, mem."—Judy.
CONCLUSIVE I—Volunteer Colonel (Swell Brewer).
"I'm afraid, Mr. Jenkins, you had been indulging
In potations that were too strong for you I "—[Private
J. was being "called over the coals "for insubordina
tion at the Inspection.].—Private Jenkins (who is
still wearing his bayonet on the wrong side). " Qb, I
couldn't have been drunk, Sir, for I never had no
more than one pint o' your ale all the blessed day I "
Punch,