The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-06
Miscellany.
New Life-saving Apparatus

INTERESTING EXPERIMENT IN PARIS.
A correspondent of the London Star, who
went to see some experiments on the Seine
at Paris, with new life saving machine in
vented by an American, writes to that paper
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
tording ofrivers, it occurred to him to study
the question of inventing separate garment,
which could be rapidly assumed, and in
which they could cross river, and beneath
which their uniforms would be perfectly dry,
meanwhile allowing their arms free liberty to
carry their gun, ammunition, &c. The pat
ent life-savmg apparatus is the result of this
study. The experiments were to take place
in the deepest part of the Seine, between the
Point Royal and st. Cloud.
Mr.. Stonor showed us buoy shaped case,
the lower compartment of which conta ined
sufficient fresh water to supply 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 conpart-
ment of this case was flag of distress, at
tached to joint flagstaff, to be screwed into
the top of the buoy. shaped case; provisions
for week, newspapers. a revolver, Bengal
lights, supply of powder, brandy, &c. The
costume and buoy-shaped case attached to
the belt of the costume, by line measuring
some fifteen or twenty feet, cost about thirty
dollars.
Mr.. Stonor and his companion Mr.. Grad
dock then proceeded to dress themselves and
Mrs. Draddock, who was also to assist in the
experiment. They slipped their arms
through the loops of the cork jacket, land then
inserted their persons in loose india-rubber
vestment, made i'll one piece, large and
roomy, tightly fitting at the wrists and round
the reck, covering the whole body with the
exception of the hands and face. Shoe
weights of lead, each of seven pounds they
then buckled on their india-rubber 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 Pont
d'Siena and Passy to'paddle their own canoe, u
in freezing atmosphere, sharp east wind
blowing, our steamer not having stopped To
describe the thrill of surprise which ell
certified the two or three hundred guests
kindly invited to witness this interest
ing spectacle would be utterly impossible.
Mr.. Stonor quietly unscrewed his buoy
shaped receptacle attached by sword to his
belt, took out the painted flagstaff, and screw
ed it into its place on the top of the case, and
forthwith there fiuttered in the breeze a scar
let flag bearing the word Eureka" the appro-
pirate exclamation of Archmides, embroider-
ed in white on the bright banner. The recep-
tacle was so under Mr.. Stonors control that
he experienced no inconvenience in its man
agement. He ha.ided cigar which he took
out of it to Mr.. Craddock, who struck light
and smoked. Mrs. Craddock amused herself
by padding away from her companions by
means of indiarubber paddles attached to
her hands.
An excursion boat from st. Cloud, going to
Paris, steamed past. The passengers, seeing
three curiously shaped masses in the middle
OF the river, uttered cries of surprise, and on
discovering that they were human beings, in
stantly 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 employed in reading the Figaro
This incident produced not a little merriment
on board our steamer.
Groups of workmen coneregated on the
bank, were puzzled beyond measure by the
group of experimenters in the deep water.
As twilight came on they lighted Roman can
dies and fired of rockets and other night sig
mails. We, meanwhile, were excessively cold
in spite of the abundant supply of champaign
so Hospitality and literally distributed to the
large party on board. They, however, in the
water were not only comfortable, but perfect
ly warm. For two hours we witnessed their
security and the free use they had of their
arms for all purposes. Mr.. Chaddock uncork-
ed bottle of champagne, and with remark
able 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. The warmth
of the body had made the wristbands adhere
closely to the wrists, and the collar to the
neck, not unpleasantly, however, for there
was not even the slightest redness where
these had touched the skin. Mrs. Craddock
was perfectly warmth 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 size
assumed the costume. Mr.. Craddock had
worn paper collar on purpose to prove the
impervious quality of the covering. The ex-
perlmenters, although two hours and half
i'll the Seine, showed neither fatigue nor any
other unpleasant sensation.
In conclusion, can only say the exhibit
ton was perfect success, and the invention
IS one to attract the attention of the world at
large"