The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-25
MARINE AFFAIRS


An exhibition of an improved life-boat tbe inror
tion of N. NJ. Camp, of New Haven Conn. took
place on Friday afternoon in the North River, off
the battery pelore Commission appointed by the
The boat is thirty feet long, eight feet beam, and
four feet hold, and decked over so that il can br
entire inclosed, and the occupants protected from
storm or heavy blow by means of a watnr.ticbt
hatch. 1t is propelled by means of a propciler
wheel worked with a crank bv the inmates of
the hold, and can be driven at a speed of six to
eight miles per hour with less effort tbap yrorid
De required to move it at the same rate with
oars. Its capacity is such that ftv nersons
can be seated in the hold, while thirty moro NAV
oe lasheu TO and sustained upon the deck-givino
1t greater capacity for saving life in cases 0f
ShlPwreck than any other improvement vet brourht
Deiore the pubic 1t is provided with water tanks
and bread lockers of sufficient size to ,ncat tho
wants OF tull load of persons under any ordinary
circumstances. The air-chambers in the stern and
stem would keep it buOyant, even if il were stoya
In and cause it to right itself in case it sboud be
overturned. Buoyancy is further promoted by a
bag OF cork attached to the sides below the gun
vale, which also serves as fender to preventinurv
to the boat should it be thrown against the side Of
a vessel in heavy sea.
The hold of the boat is divided into two COM
partments by bulkhead, through which an amer
ture is made for entrance to the rear comnartment
from the front, should it be necessary to keen the
main hatch closed during a heavy sea- Bv this
means the boat is prevented from being filed with
water, while loading in a storm
The boat may be lowered into the wafer from the
Vessel with perfect security even during the running
OF the heaviest sea, and instantly released from the
GaVit hooKs by means of a novel eye-bolt invented
by Mr.. Camp The popularity of this eve-bolt con-
SlSts IN having the upper part against which the
lall nook pears, made movable upon pivot and
sustained by catch which can be removed, even
under heavy load, so to allow the hook to be
treed oy slight effort the part of a person ope-
rating both bolts at the time, thus setting the
boat adrlt upon the water with perfect safety Such
contrvance would have saved the boats of the Aus
trla from swapping. The advantages of having a
boat enlrey lncQsed, so to protect its occupants
from the wash of the sea, and provided with
means OF propulsion to enable it to be navigated to
the shore from the wreck, are apparent. In heavy
weather it may be steered from below deck there
being small raised hatch, with a window in front
for observation, and pinnacle, compass and all
the requisites for navigating the craft in any direc
ton In addition to the propeller, mast and sails
are lashed to the deck, ready for use in favorable
weather.
We regard this boat as admirably calculated for
saving life in shpwreck and believe that it ought
to come into general use.
There will be another exhibition of it on Monday
afternoon, at the place. The novelty oI seeinS
a craft, with not person visible on board, moving
hither and thither at rapid pace ooealent 70 ner
helm is certainly well worth walk To the Da''ery-
new feature in duelling was introduced IN an
e.. az honor which came off few days since IN
ShioaTo between a bank clerk and a hotel clerk.
Tn ins1re n meeting 500 forfeit was put up, after
the fashion of horse-racers.
The New York police are making war on the for.
tune-tellers of that city.