The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-25 00:00:00

PADDLE-BOX SAFETY BOATS.
The following is a copy of the reports of Captains
Austin and Caffin, concerning the paddle-box safety
boats (just laid before Parliament) :
" Portsea, March 23, 1847.
"Six,—ln concluding the duties I have been charged
NN ith, that of directing the operations of heaving the
Sphynx off shore, it is my duty to report to you the
great value and security that has been afforded through-
out this service by the paddle-box boats which have
bee❑ employed : namely, two of the first class, such
as were fitted to the Retribution, which has conveyed
more than 8i tons dead engine weight through a
moderate roller; two of the second class, sloop site,
employed by the riggers laying out hawsers and other
rough work, as well as conveying a large propor-
tionate load of dead weight; and two of the siz- as
fitted to the Porcupine, which were most handy and
efficient. And had it not been for these boats, the
weighty and valuable parts of the engines could not
have been removed to the vessels in the offing, on ac-
count of the rollers they had to pass; nor could the
hawsers have been laid out, or the communication be
kept up with the security it has been (for not one
accident of any kind has occurred in their use), but
for them.
Their lightness and buoyancy so particularly fits
them for conveying weights over a topping sea, and
taking a beach where there is a surf; and I desire
much to impress upon you, Sir, the efficiency that
would be given to all vessels by having such a
description of boat, either steam or sailing vessels (the
latter, if one could be conveniently placed), in addi-
tion to the established number of boats now carried.
And further, in coast operations with the fleets, I am
fully satisfied that such a description of light buoyant
boat is well adapted to supersede the transport flat of
the old construction, used and carried for such opera-
tions. I am, Sze.

(Signed) HORATIO T. AUSTIN,
Additional Captain William and Mary.
Admiral Sir C. Ogle, Bart., &c., Portsmouth.
Her Majesty's Steam-sloop Scourge, Cove of Cork,
February 13, 1847.
Sir—ln obedience to your letter of the 22d January,
conveying my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty's
directions for me to report upon the paddle-box boats,
their utility, convenience, and applicability to the
late various operations in which I was engaged for
the relief of the Sphynx, or to services of a similar
description, with any other remarks that circum-
stances may enable me to make respecting these boats
—I have the honour to state, for the information of
their Lordships, that in the operations for the
rescue of the Sphynx I found these boats of the
utmost value; indeed, I feel convinced that no other
boats could have done the work of laying out anchors
and cables, under similar circumstances of surf, which
they did.
I went through the surf, shortly after my cutter
was capsized, in one of the Porcupine's paddle-box
boats (which as surf-boats are a most handy size and
build), when the surf was so high that I did not
deem it prudent to allow the other (and much larger)
paddle-box boats with the cables in to venture, and
was obliged to buoy them outside, but which she
floated over most beautifully.
So persuaded am I of their usefulness, that it ap-
pears to me the strangest thing in the world that all
steam-vessels have not got them; and, indeed, I
think they ought not to be limited to steamers, as I
am sure one or more would be a very great Vquisi-
tion to any man-of-war.
My unfortunate cutter when she got into the surf,
was served as all such boats must be under similar
circumstances ; the surf broke over her stern, and she
went down stern foremost and rolled over. This
cannot (or is not likely to) happen with these boats,
from their build and great buoyancy.
I had once to go through the surf to seaward from
the Sphynx, when it was nearly low water, and each
breaker, after passing, left the boat aground. No
other but such a build of boat could have stood this ;
an ordinary boat would have fallen over on her side
and filled with the next breaker.
From the arrangement of the oars, that is, from
being able to turn and face either end of the boat,
and give way, there is no necessity of winding the
boat, which in a surf is of the first consideration, as
you may either stem the breaker or face about, give
way, and keep the boat on the top of it ; thus exer-
cising your judgment for the safety of the boat.
As for the stowage room for anchor and cables, you
get a much greater quantity with a much less draught
of water, as compared with the ordinary ship's launch.
I found some difficulty in getting the Scourge's
bower anchor, hung by Mr. Cow's plan, through the
bottom of the boat, owing to the heavy rolling motion
which we had at the time ; and I would recommend
that all the paddle-box boats be fitted with a davit
over the stern, as well as the trunks through the
bottom of the boat.
I would suggest that all paddle steamers, instead
of having a pinnace amidships, should have a third
paddle-box boat (of the same size exactly as her
others) stowed there ; so in the event of losing one,
or having it stove and finding it necessary to hoist it
in for repairs, the spare one could take its place.
The difficulty of hoisting them out and in seems
to be the objection which most people have to offer
against their usefulness : this ought not to operate
in the least against their general adoption, as it can
be readily shown this difficulty is much less than
with the pinnace amidships. In smooth water it is
little more than lowering a quarter boat, but in a
heavy sea it is doubtless a difficult task lowering or
hoisting them up ; however, under similar circum-
stances of weather, it would be infinitely less difficult
lowering a paddle-box boat than getting the pinnace
from off a steamer's booms into the water.
In heavy rolling motion twe spars or boats masts
must be put over, to keep the boat's gunwale from
taking under the spring beam.
On the 14th of April, 1846, after having exer-
cised at a target with the 24-pounder carronades which
the Scourge's boats are fitted with, I was anxious to
see how many men one of them would hold; and
everybody I had on board, amounting to 77 men, I
put into one, the marines and boat's crew being
armed ; and these, together with the 24-pounder,
left her gunwhale amidships 21i inches out of water.
I embarked in them upwards of 600 soldiers, wo-
men, and children, with about 50 tons of baggage
and four horses, at Guernsey ; and I am sure, in
light marching order, I could land 150 men in each
boat without inconvenience.
I do not think it desirable that these boats should
be too large; in fact they should be as small as cir-
cumstances will allow them to be.
The last built are a great improvement upon the
original ones, having a better bow and stern ; and it
they could be given more sheer it would improve them
still.

The landing of the meal at Skull was wholly done
by these boats ; and we put into each 100 sacks, or
12i tons, and pulled on shore without inconvenience.
In conclusion, I beg again to say that I feel I can-
not say enough in praise of these boats ; and I would
be permitted to offer one more suggestion—in order
that they should be as buoyant as possible, they
should be built of cedar, and not of teak or other
heavy wood.*

I have, &e.
(Signed) J. CRAWFORD CAFFIN,
Commander.
Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., &c.
Portsmouth.