The Shasta courier., 1868-12-05
! New Life Saving Apparatus.

=
invented by an American, writes to that
paper an interesting account of the expert.
ments. He says:
Mr. Stonor is an American of independent
fortune, who served during the late war as
Captain of an infantry regiment. Having
had frequent opportunities of deploring the
loss of men under his command during the
fording of rivers, it occurred to him to study
the question of inyenting separate garment
which could be rapidly assumed and in which
they could cross a river, and beneath which
their uniforms would be perfectly dry, mean
while allowing their arms free liberty to car
ry their gun, ammunition, etc. The patent
life saving apparatus is the result of this
study. The experiments were to take place
in the deepest part Of the Seine, between
the Pont Royal and the ST. Cloud. @
= = Mr. Stonor showed us buoy
shaped case, the lower compartment of which
contained sufficient fresh water to SUPPLY a
man for eight days, and which the person in
the sea drinks through an india-rubber tube
closed by metal screw-top. In the upper
compartment of this case was flag of dis
tress, attached to jointed flagstaff. to be
screwed into the top Of the buoy shaped case; /;
provisions for week, newspapers, revolver,
Bengal lights, a supply of powder, brandy,
etc. The costume and buoy shaped case at
tached to the belt Of the costume, by line
measuring some fifteen or twenty feet, cost
about $50. MIR. Stonor is IN treaty with one
of the Transatlantic companies for the fol
lowing arrangement: Each ship to have
person on board, who, after the vessel had
quilted port would put on the apparatus in
presence of the passengers and jump into the
open sea, remaining in the waves some time
in order to demonstrate the practical utility
OF the apparatus, regaining the vessel with
out stopping to take him on board. Each
passenger who would secure for himself the
use, in case of accident. of an apparatus,
would insure his life blythe subscription of S.
the voyage. The person in charge of the for
costumes would instruct the subscribers in
the very simple act of putting them on
Mr.. Stonor aud his companion, Mr.. Grad
dock then proceeded to dress themselves and
Mrs. Craddock who was also to assist in the
experiment. They slipped their arms throu oh
the loops of the cork jacket, and then insert
ed their persons in a loose india-rul Der vest
ment, made in one piece, large and roomy,
tightly fitting at the wrists and round the
neck, covering the whole body with the ex-
ception of the hands and face. Shoe weights
of lead, each weighing seven pounds, they
then buckled on their ndia-rnbber-covered
feet this in order to keep their bodies erect
in the water, The operation of dressing
scarcely occupied three minutes.
Thus equipped, our three experimenters-
Mr. Stonor, Mr.. Craddock and his courageous
wife-jumped overheard between the Point
d'Jena and Passy to '.paddle their own ca
noe, IN freezing atmosphere. a sharp east
wind blowing, our steamer not having stop
nod Tn do bo fba tbr.n
electrified the two or three hundred guests.
kindly invited to witness this interesting
spectacle, would be impossible Mr.. Stonor
quietly unscrewed his buoy shaped receptacle
attached by cord to his belt, took out the
painted flagstaff and screwed it into its place
on the top of the case, and forthwith there
futtered in the breeze scarlet flag bearing
the word : Eureka" the appropriate excla-
nation of Archimedes, embroidered in white
on the bright banner. The receptacle was
SO under Mr.. Stonor's control that he expe-
rienced no Inconvenience in its management.
lie handed cigar which he took out of
it to Mr.. Craddock, who struck light and
smoked. Mrs. Craddock amused herslef by
padding away from her companions by
means of india-rubber paddles attached to her
hands. r~t..4 - trs
An excursion boat from ST. Cloud. going
to Paris, steamed past. The passengers, see
ing three curiously-shaped masses in the
middle of the river, uttered cries of surprise,
and on discovering that they were human be.
ings, instantly and humanely threw out a
safety buoy, and were about to stop and take
the drowning wretches on board. Great was
their amazement on nearing them to perceive
two of the party quietly smoking, whilst the
lady was emT loyed In reading the Figaro
The incident produced not a little merriment
on board our steamer.
Groups of workmen congregated on the
bank, puzzled beyond measure by the group
of experimenters in the deep water AS twi-
light came on they lighted Roman candles
and fred off rockets and other night signals.
We. meanwhile were excessively cold in
spite of the abundant supply Of champagne
SO Hospitality and literally distributed to the
large party on board. They, however, in
the water were not only comfortable, but
perfectly warm. For two hours we witness
ed their security and the free use they had of
their arms for all purposes. Mr.. Craddock
uncorked bottle of champagne, and with
remarkable steadiness handed glass to his
wife and to Mr.. Stonor, which they drank to
the health of US spectators.
The india. rubber garment was more diff
cult to take off than to put on. Tie warmth
of the body had made the wristbands adhere
closely to the wrists, and the collar to the
neck, not unpleasantly, for there was not
the slightest redness where these had touched
the skin. Mrs. Craddock was perfectly warm
lin fact, she said rather too warm ]" her
lace collar as dry as when she had put it on
her watch, chain and trinkets--and, in fact,
her whole dress, which was of silk-in the
same perfect state as before she assumed the
costume. Mr. Craddock had worn paper
collar on purpose to prove the imperyious
quality Of the covering. The experimenters,
although two hours and a half in the Seine,
showed neither fatigue nor any other un-
pleasant sensation. aaa
In conclusion, can only say the exhibition
was a perfect success, and the invention is
one to attract the attention of the world at
large. f4sq .ss
NICHOLAS, the late Emperor Of Russia. did
HE rovol and oxnaditfous r,or