The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-08

uss Mexico had bot little Of pure Castlisn bsood
sDessd In that var, else the result woald have been
very diff rent.
But have .psn out this letter TOO long. 7 must
win pay any man to vfsit Europe, bat Gao see
nothing that could induce man 70 stay here twen-
ty.four hours, except the climate or dollars and
cests.
Hope to recover my health, il possible, and 70
turn homo 90 soon a l can.
Respectfully, E M srom.
The Loss OF the Arctic.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SIMILAR
CASUALTIES.
FREDERICKSBURG w., Nov. 2, 1854.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Since the late terrible disaster which has happened
TO the Collins steamer Arctic have noticed in your
very interesting columns many communications
Suggesting prsventves Of collision ct sea, and (ir
may presume 80 far,) have given the subject a
much, II not more attention, than many whose my.
gestions you have kindly published for the use OF
the mariner. Much examination and thought have
suggested 70 mo the following plan ~ one which,
iffully carried out by the ship owners Of this coun
try and Europe, would be the best insurance which
oouA be placed upon the vessels n d lives Of the
thousands who annually embark upon the sea. Ny
plan IL this:-
lst Let every steam vessel provide herself with
steam fog whistle, and let syero sail vessel pro
vide herself with large fog hell, both Of which
shall b capable Of being heard for the distance II
I'd. Let every vessel, whether steamer or sail
vessel, be ALEC provided with smaller BELL which
shall be proved 70 be audible ct distance from the
vessel Of one mile, during moderately still weather.
and which may DO capable Of being heard at :
| greater distance II necessary.
Sd. When . f,g comes on aud becomes 80 dense
to render objects hsfs mile distant invisible, let
tho hv thah vne e.
whistle IL the vessel be steamer. and by the heavy
toll Of the fig bail II the vessel be sailer which
signals shall be at intervals Of minute, cause
If they coming right iowa ds 60 cd other at
! the greatest common speed, viz, twelve miles per
| hour. or one nth miles per mnuts, sup
posing that they hear the smaller bell,
audible for one mile, they will have three .ffths
OF mile u step 10, or 056 yards viii b. the dis-
taDce between them, even II one minute eapses
after each one has given his signal before the other
hears 1t, which viii make 52s yards 1850 which
space, either vessel at the rate Of twelve miles per
hour, win be allowed TO stop in before it could
4th. When . vessel hears the signal Of the small
ben let her continue her signals apd stop as quickly
a. possible. Let her then ascertain, by her speak
ing trumpet, the direction Of the other, and after
sscertaining such direction and indicating ner own
they are both steamers or both sailcrs let the one
hairg keep her course, and II disatng the same to
tire other vessel BY firing musket and by blowing
the whistle twice; but If one be steamer and the
4
giving way to the sailer.
9th. Wien the vessel again begins motion, let
such motion be slow, as the larger signals can be
sci to begin her smaller signals until the larger ones
Of an approaching vessel be distinctly heard.
! Iwould suggest as . common bell, oEe which was
stationary, and struck by an iron rod moving fresy
in . cylinder, such ~ common pipe having .
noveable closing ct one end, and having upon this
spiral spring. b. regulating the postion Of the bot
tom could regulate the Intensity Of sound; thus
Is The bottom was moved towards the top OF tae
pipe the spring would force the hammer or rod up
wards against the bell with force proportionally
greater, and We could thus obtain any required
| sound. ANGUS.
CAPACITY OF ONE OF THE ARcTIC's BOATS.
[From the Philadelphia American Nov. o.
Our readers will remember that Steamship Osprey
the Of
brought hthcr fronINewoundland Of the boats Of
the lost steamship Arctic, being that in which Mr. Ed
ward Baaham the second officer left the Ship and in
which twenty-six persons saved though she had
less than that number at the time she parted from the
vessel At the request Of Mr.. Collins, the capacity
OF this boat tested Saturday, in the Delaware
river in order to ascertain how many persons she might
70 ho ms on an rn Is hs waiter
wind blowing what Is technically termed single reef
topsa breeze" At the request Of Mr. John L. ianoa,
number Of our well known Philadelphia captains
attended on the occasion, and four experienced
manned the oars and then many persons entered the
beat were found willing TO at the point OF depar
turc, just above Pine street wharf. There fifty
board, nearly all OF whom were seated and Il
was the general opinion that she would accommodate e
full seventy. Certainly she did not be full
her guEwaes fr sixteen eighteen inches above
tire water, and there apparently plenty oil room or
II be that in this instance there
carefully studied arrangement OF persons in order 10
how many could he crowded in, all being permitted
provide for themselves except, of course that the
captains, naturally enough, assisted those about
them TO ecoronlze Thus the thing made to
conform much possible 10 the circumstances or the
wreck and the test altogether fair could be de-
sired. The boat showed Off and rowed out into the
stream, toward Windmill Island, then down stream
some distance, then again, making altogether wide
circuit The river being rough, the boat was tried in
every possible way to the effect upon her with such
load, and she rode beautifully duck the back
side or in the trough Of the waves. or course, We
can hardly form judgment Of things ut from the
experience of river trial like this but II the opinion
OF the captains aboard that with the guidance of
petent ships officer like Mr.. Baahlam the boat would
i've at sea as easily az on the river with the same or
much heavier load This trial attracted much attention
along Delaware avenue and large crowd collected at
various points after the boat in the stream to watch
her movements Those who stood upon the wharves
describe the spectacle quite mposing and such in.
deed, IL must have BEEN for the boat was ssilfuly
managed, and worked admirably.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Among the various inventions to life in case of
accidents at is by Thomas Hogson Of Brooklyn
namely that of converting the upper portion Of paddle
boxes into permanent life boats, and for which he has
taken TO letters patent in Europe and
America He proposes to have the upper part of paddle
! boxes made TO be unshippcd in q few minutes,
and with oars, mast SAIL &c hung in becketts that
next the ueck,
ascend the boat when in the water The steps the
outside Of the paddle box he has arranged to form
air chambers, allowing each end to be constantly
filed with water the other with provisions either in the
shape of canters Of preserved meats Of other kinds
Access to these to be had by simple contrvance from
the interior, when the paddle box life boat Is ahoa
with oil the arrangements for fixing the mast and sail
Tie sail he proposes TO make water proof to
awning during night or in wet weather. So by
these arrangements we would have two conmodious fo
boats and that without material difference from the
resent appearance and no additional bulk and when
in the element Is intended all the waters in the At
| antic could not sink. orc.
Kansas Items.