Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-11-26


TRHRER INTEREST.-n
Tne PRusERvATIoN OF LIFE ON THE SEAs.-Is II
not high time that decided effort was ade to doN
wise some more efficient and ready means OF pre-
serving the lives of tho passengers and crew of
vessels unfortunately wrecked at seal We arc not
little surprised that attention has not been dirset-
ed by competent minds long ago to this subject and
that all the large packet and passenger shipS are
not furnished with the means, even on comparative
y short notice. Of floating their passengers and crew
until reasonable opportunity Is afforded of being
rescued and saved.
II not necessary In this connection to advert to
tho sad disasters which have occurred at within
the last few years. by collision, storms, fire. &C.,
and the multitudes of human lives that have been
lost under circumstances of the most painful char.
acter.
It seems to US that and facts have fully
developed the unsutablsuess and ineticensy of the
boats 81 heretofore sonstrusted and used The Vreat
uncertainty OF launching the boats safely from the
ship; their great liability to all and swamp in the
ssa;-or to be stove against the ships hull or to be
wrenohed from their fasteninss Ia storm, or to be
cspizsd and sunk byp rush Of affrigdted persons
seeking protection for fe hence by means OF boats
.
And again, owing to this bulk and weight of boats
ship is not able to carry a sufficient number, If
she We're fortunate enough to render them available
to carry all her passengers and orow;-aso boat
would accommodate only about 76 persons, and In
moat instances q ship badly leaking would 90 down
before a company of i've hundred persons could be
rescued by this process, especially II the receiving
ship were several miles distant 1t does to us
hnas ttafa In
such an exigoncy.
The small life preservers introduced come fifteen
years ago for the safety OF bathers at the ocean
watering places in judgment also arc not adapt.
ed to the occasion of wreck, far out on tho sea,
and arc mot sufficient to preserve life, especially Of
feeble and sffrighted persons and Of women aud
children They, no doubt would benefit strong
courageous swimmers and in some instances would
support such until relief would COME but even then
as they are for IA Individual person the sufferers
would soon separate and become lonely and desolats
an tho bosom Of the sen, and lose tho onsoation
and encouragement of each other. Life preseryers
were plenty on board the Inflated Central America
but they torn of by the rush of mighty waters
and failed to save their possessors Most of the
rescued tell us that they were saved by small
plank or board Therefore we think the public are
not satisned with tho common life pseservers, in
present use, us means OF preserving life Mt sea.
Recently new boat has been constructed md
announced to the public, possessing the desirable
capacity and facility for this use its efficiency re
mains to be tested by experience.
The building Of ships for the ocean 10 separate
water. tight sections apartments by of close
bulk-headS has been resor.ei to, but SO far as we
have heard, case Of disaster has occurred at
which has demonstrated their efficiency in preaerv-
ing the ship the lives of the crew. This arrange
ment may answer in case of leak 10 n storm, or
by collisions, but would be Of avail In case Of Dire
unless tho apartments could be separated from each
other.
Since the late sad and fatal ealamties at sea Ie,
peated appeals have been made TO ship building,
mariners, and 10 Of genius and science in the
country to devise plan for saving the lives OF the
people, in OF the destruction Of the ship. II
ought TO BIO done at oncs, without any delay, the
object ia momentous the invention would be merl-
torious and valuable This is an ago Of projects and
improvement who will work out this problem CT
-tTn5vsisnce and hrmsnity =
Although We possess neither experience nor science
on this important inquiry, we have an idea clear
and strong that in building ship, certain parts OF
her structure aRd portions s her material IN iron,
copper and wool, furniture, So, &c., might BIO CON
structed With special reference to their use in max
ing raft or RATS, at q moments warning, OF the
proper lengths size and shapes, and without materi
ally affecting the working or management OF the
ship by such II this were DONE oil that wsuld
be necessary in a sIiss would be to put the rattH
together; the material and work for tue purpose
all being ready at hand. We should thea hear nc
sad outory for something to make raft, and fol
tools, and for time to make it.
1t seems to US, although our idea may be visionary
that eight iron or copper rods OF equal proper siz
ard ler gth or wooden rails with screw copperet
ends and four buoys 20 each corner, of substan
tial canvass, lined with gum elastic and OF prope
Size and shape slightly diminishing at bottom will
metallic nuts secured in the cords ut top and boltsu
to receive the rods rails, then lot the sides be
tween the rods, top and bottom, be filed with cor
interviewer around tho rod and kept 10 place b.
pins, and the bottom also closely woven with fop
like bed cord, aud two ropes across tho centre eac
way ut the top to hold on to The bunys could b
inflated with air BY common bellows in TO-
minutes and sealed, and an apartment the dime
Fions Of good boat would carry fifty Of them pac
ed awDy The rods OF rails might be as above il
timated portion Of the material of the ships. Th
rope Is always at hand on shipb0ard. dozen
them could be READY In less than thirty minute
Each Of thess rats would hold thirty or forty pei
sons they might Sink three feet under watt
at bottom, leaving the upper rail foot or two abo'
the wator, the persons would be partly In the watt
of sourse, but not to endanger life, or perhaps nj
terially to infect comfort in tho circumstances. Th
raft could not hll or sink caLsze; could be safe
launched to leeWard, or indeed need not DO lauRc
ed at all, except in case Of hre, clear the deek
place them properly, let the passengers in each &
fixed and secured. Let her 60 down and tho II
will DO instantly on the wave. Wemake tho abO
as suggestion for experience ind kuowl edge
correct and improve upon.