New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-10
oIIprINqs FRoM OUR ExoHANaEs.

the explosion 5a
CLIPPINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.
MEMPHIS, May 6.--The weather is becoming de.
cidedly warm in this latitude, too much so, indeed
for comfort and the green woods that fringe the
Arkansas shore look cool and inviting. Yesterday
was the dulest day we ever saw on the leVee, and
there were only three boats, including towboat,
arrived during the day The river is still rising
though slowly, and during the day it rose half an
inch I 4&t
The Baltic leaves st. Louis for New Orleans on
Tuesday. N&"ar
The NJ. S. Mepham left day before yesterday at
noon.
Vieksburg trade. a sN4A
The Princess and Gen. Sharkey are loading at
ST. Louis for New Orleans
The Magenta and Magnolia were to leave St.
Louis last evening for New Orleans, and the Com
monwealth leaves that city for the same destina-
ton to morrow evening.
ST.. LOUIS, May 5.--Business continues very
fair. Tonnage at present for the South is in
excess Of offerings. The Atlantic and Mississippi
Steamship Company have no less than four
steamers now in port.
RIVERS -Ihere seems to be quite an argument
as to what the river is doing AT this point. The
CITY engineer with his instruments says it has
risen ii inches in the "a hours ending at IL A. NJ,
while our contemporaries of the Evening News
and Democrat say that it is falling. AS tits, how
ever, there is more water than is necessary,
The Magenta, Welcome, Edward Walsh and
on the 18th, and the Commonwealth on the 9th.
There Is now on exhibition at Cincinnati new
life-saving RAFT, which is described thus:
The raft is composed of two or more air-tight
cylinders, of suitable dimensions, encased in
heavy duck cylinders of the strongest material,
and connected together by means of heavy duck
Ranches, which, being connected with the outside
cylinder, or casing OF air cylinder, forms a com
plete deck surface. On the top and across these
cylinders are placed series of thwarts or planks
which are dashed at each end and between each
cylinder by mems of ropes to outside duck
cylinders. These thWarts or planks answer the
double purpose of stretchers to keep the cylinders
apart and in shape when inflated and also as seats
for passengers. Across these, at each end and
lengthwise of the raft, are fastened, by means Of
rope lashings, stringer pieces of suitable TIMBER
which are bolted at either end to the end Of the
thwarts, and answer for the double purpose of
gunwale and for attaching row locks for pro
pelling the raft These stringer pieces spliced
In the center in such manner that they can
readily be unlashed and swung around on the fore
and after thwarts, when it becomes necessary to
take the raft on board ship OF pack it away.
In each Of the air cylinders is attached an air
valve which can be opened and shut at leisure
and when it becomes necessary toEuse the raft an
inflated bellows, which always attends the raft, is
attached to each valve, and the raft is put in
readiness to launch in the space Of ten minutes or
less.
In describing the manner of constructing this
raft, it would be well to state that our object in
covering the air cylinder with duck is to produce
d llfe-saving raft which has combination of
strength, durability and cheapness, and one that
can be repaired by auy person, either on board
ship OF in foreign country, il necessary.
We simply depend upon the air cylinder as an
air reservoir. The duck or outer cylinder being
of smaller dimensions than the inner or air cylin
der it becomes impossible to initiate the air cylin
der to its full extent consequently, the entire
wear and strain comes upon the outer duck or
cylinders,
When Inflated and ready for use, this raft has a
buoyant capacity Of 10000 pounds, and deck
surface for passengers OF 264 square feet. And
when rolled and packed for slowing away, it
takes up only space two feet in diameter by
eleven feet long, and weighs but about 600
pounds.
One Of the great difficulties now experienced by
our navy and merchant marine, in case of ship
wreck or disaster, is the difficulty Of launching
their boats without swamping them, and in getting
on shore and landing their passengers safely.
This il eonlpletelY overcome in the use of the
Nonparei Life Raft, as it is impossible to upset,
swamp or sink il under any circumstances, and
will land through tie surf with tile same degree
Of safety as at the dock. These RATS are also
provided with place for carrying provisions and
water in case OF shipwreek,
CAIRO, May 5,-RiYer ten feet seven inches
below mark OF 1862.
Rise in the last twenty-four hours fifteen inches
The weather yesterday was clear aud pleasant
Business continues about the same.
The Mississippi at St Louis is rising.
The Missouri and upper Mississippi are declining. 4
Tie Cumberland aud Tennessee are falling
The four sea-goiug monitors, Uneata, lippe-
,anoe, Mungtunk and Uatawbay anchored opposite
he city, are making preparations to leave for
Jew Orleans. They are now taking ON coal, and |
is designed to have them ready to take the |
heir departure on the Sth inst.
Fifty fremen, accustomed 10 serve on sea. going 4
teamera are on their way from New Orleans to
ct as tremen on these vessels. The light-draught I
lonitor Umpqua, il to remain here. a fnai sale
government properly here has taken place
hitch to 4 great extent, disposed of Cairo as q
Military post, though the government will still
stain j commissary department Mayor Wilson
urchased portion of the Soldiers Rest AZ a
aolera hospital in the city, ia case there may he
ecessity for such an Institution. The mayor has
so issued proclamation to have the city placed
a proper sanitary condition. Business Is
extremely dull. The riFer is falling rapidly;
Telegram, inst
CIxCISSATI, May THE weather was clear and
lid yesterday. At Pittsburg last night the river
as stationary with six feet ia the channel Here
has receded p feet during the "a hours md
Y last night, with "a feet hence 10 Louisville. /
ne falls are naYgahle for the largest steamers
ne lower Ohio is in fine navis&ble order. There
fs feet and falling IN the Cumberland
sue Louisiana will depart for New Orleans this
fs11ag. she will have the hest deRn stream trip
N ever carried including 5000 barrels Vi pork.
Hi 0iaaa' once a fine boat but during the war
e,lsa iilso one q the marine brigade boats, has
,S go y Portland and laid up. She has been
lerS J., 1911, ~ south, aud may have been brought
Tb N S5 taYe new boat built to the machinery.
J ~ s'1la wagner OF the peoplea line ,gent of
'y8 ~ 's4A yesterday with one OF the laggeSt
NJ So ~ SEASON, He cracked his WbiU over 4
ma Y passengers, aInang which was q cav
BeFlss4a 2Hi gs eilg, File happy groom was
2lty VINE Ind hosts Of tre48s ssS I'M ~ US
'gAs g sec hpa Oh Rai6 the bfilRl tTsif, ms s