Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-15
experimental Trial Of Mr.. Francis's Patent
Metallic Life-Boats.
From the London Pos, ., IT,

experimental Trial Of Mr Francis's Patent
Metallic Life-Boats.
tFrom the London Post OF June N1
on Thursday, numerous party Of scientific
gentlemen assembled at the Guitar -basin of
Woolwich Dockyard, for the purpose Of wit.
Messing thorough trial Of the admirable in-
ventions of Mr. Joseph Francis who has nsf
ented his metallic boats and army wagon.
Among the party present we noticed several
members of the select committee, among whom
were Col. A. Tulloh, Royal Artillery, director
Il the Royal Carriage Department Of Wool.
uieh Arsenal; Col. Sandman, Royal Engi-
neers, Commandant at Chatham; Capt. Clerk.
Royal Artillery; and Major Vincest Eyre
2. r. s., Bengal Artillery, together with
many American gentlemen Of known skill.
1t Is hardly necessary for as TO enter into de-
tails of any great length, as il must be M atter
generally known TO the scientific world after
the successful trial which his inventions were
submitted TO in the presence Of the Emperor
q the French on the waters Of the Seine On
those occasions the Emperor was 90 satisfied
With the superiority Of these boats over those
10 use in the Imperial navy, that be has d.
rected an establishment to be set in operation
Immediately for the manufacture of them for
the French navy, as well as for supplying the
wants of the mercantile marine.
The occasion also gave an opportunity Of
Mr. Francis receiving token Of the high es
TEEN and appreciation of his Imperial Majesty
of the practical utility Of his inventions. The
gift was a massive gold snuff-box
The peculiarities of these boats are their
being much lighter, much stronger, more last.
ing, more easily managed, requires less re-
pairs, are fire proof, worm proof, waterproof.
wlli not corrode or rot, are always tight and
ready for service in any climate thew never
become saturated with water, and With ali
these advantages, must DC decidedly far su-
perior to wooden boats. 1t has been statod
that while the wooden boat or wagon de-
teriorates by disuse or age, the metallic BODY
actually improves, because the paint upon II
becomes harder by exposure to the weather.
and thus contributes more perfectly for its
protection.
These qualities were, on Thursday morning.
submitted to the test, which commenced bY
parties of men being selected to fill the boats
according to the directions of Mr.. Francis
The boats being full. the depth in water was
ascertalned, and the men afterwards weighed
In order to try the burthen she could carry.
An ordinary service boat, new for the coca.
sion, was also tried in the same manner TO test
the difference in regard of superiority Seve-
raj trials of this description having been made.
a number of men stood on the gunwaIe 10 try
to capsize them, but without effect. These
experiments were all pronounced 70 be perfect
ly successful. The boats were then rowed
round to the opposite side of the basin, and
another series of experiments commenced. A
lO-oared whaleboat was manned with full
crew of ten men and a coxswain who at a
given signal, iowed the boat with all the uni-
ted force they could muster against the stone
work of the basin wall. which had the effect
of causing a slight indentation in her bows
but not causing the slightest leakage, and the
boat kept on the water as steadily as though
nothing had occurred. This was again re-
peated by the same crew without the slightest
injury further than the mere indentation A
ID feet gig was next submitted to a most violent
trial by being lifted up and tossed over and
over on the stone pavement of the basin wharf
by about thirty-six men, who kept her In mo-
ton until Mr.. Rice expressed himself perfectly
satisfied that IL the boat would stand that.
there was no question but she would stand all
the ordinary usages. The same boat was next
taken under the crane, and there flied with
large blocks Of stones-placed amidships-
then hoisted up by tackles, head and stern 10
try if there was any possibility Of causing her
to double; but this produced not the slightest
effect on her, except one or two slight indenta-
tions. She was then launched into the water
and five men got in ard rowed her several
times against the stone pier; but no damage
could be done 70 her, nor cause her TO leak
A boat of much smaller dimensions was pert
submitted to rough experiment On the stone
wharf. Two men were put in her, and order
ed to keep her humping from side to side on
the rough stones, with such violence that an
ordinary boat would have gone TO pieces from
ii. Mr.. Francis, to further demonstrate the
superiority of his metallic boats, stood on one
end, and threw it down on the stone many
times without injury. The same boat was
then thrown into the water, and four men got
in her and rowed round the basin-the boat
remaining perfectly water-tight.
The last experiment was with one Of Mr..
Francis's military floating metallic wagons,
which is a wagon fthe ordinary shape; its run
ming gear being made of wood, and Of the same
construction as these already in use but the
body is made pefectly water tight, and OF the b
material as the boats are m ade of-corrugated
galvanised iron. The body is secured to the
running gear be means Of two pins. Previous
to the wagon being lowered Mr. Francis pro-
cured a very large hammer, and commenced
striking the metal with all his force, but couid
make no defective appearance. The resisting
power astonished all present. The complete
wagon was hoisted from the wharf, and then
Seven laborers and Mr.. Francis got into the
wagon, and were lowered into the water.
Attempts were made TO upset the wagon, but
without effect The upper edge Of the wag-
on could not be brought under water. The
next trial was with the body alone, the run
ming gear having been previously detached on
the wharf, and the same got into IL, and cvm.
nenced rolling il, but could not bring II un-
der water Two oars were next put into the
wagon boat, and the men rowed her back
wards and forwards from one side Of tte basin
IN the other. This completed this series o. ex-
periments, which were decidedly successful.
The unfavorable state Of the weather preven-
ted the Lords Of the Admiralty from being
present at the trials, but the dockyard officials
we're there to represen: their lOrdships.
1