The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-14

A New Inexsiaguishable Storm and Danger
Signal Light.
IL Is with pleasure We call public attention.
TO this important invention. The perfection Of
their signals has long been a study of civilized
nations. From earliest historic periods wa
know Of the use made by the rudest people Of
the fire signal, which is still employed bv our
Western Indians to give warning of an enemy's
approach. But the necessities of commerce
and science, as well as that Of war, REQUIRE
the most reliable and multiform signals.
The invention Of which we speak was an
nounced In this country short time ago, and
might be utilized on our coasts in the life
boat service, which has engaged SO much
the attention Of the maritime public. This
new signal is most remarkable DEVICE aud
was first exhibited in England last April, ct
the Presidents meeting of the Royal Society,
when it attracted great attention. The
peculiarities of the signal light are
that it is self-igniting when placed
In the water or thrown into tho
sea. Contact with water being the only
means of igniting the lamp, it is inextinguish-
able when once kindled, and is not at all
affected by wind or storm. The light Is visible
at great distances. and is said to be so bril-
liant that photographs may be taken in it, and
yet it is Of great duration. Experiments
made before number Of scientific gentlemen
to determine its brlliancy as signal show
that lamp plunged in bucket Of water on
the top of Primrose Hill emitted light so
intense that after the signal had been burning
twenty minutes "small newspaper print could
be distinctly read ct distance Of seventy feet,
though the night was thick and foggy." It
will burn over forty minutes, and can there
fore be used for great variety of purposes.
In case of shipwreck few of the lamps
(Which are very simple and inexpensive In
their manufacturer can be thrown upon the
sea, and their illumination of the entire scene,
it is claimed, would enable assistance to be
promptly and most efficiently rendered to
those in distress. For the rocket line apparatus
it is equally valuable, as bursting into
brilliant flame on touching the water, it
would indicate the exact position of the rocket
line. AS regards its attachment to life buoys,
1t would be mark to drowning sailor, and in
Hfeboat service it would greatly facilitate the
rescue. Last year we had the horrible lesson
of the Hudson River Railroad disaster to learn.
Such q signal as this is described to be, in the
hands of railroad men might prove available
and of great utility; and it is certainly worth
a trial by our marine, railway and storm-signal
service organizations.
The chemical preparation contained in the
lamp is hard solid, and non-explosve aud
not affected by heat, and the lamp is SO made
that when once used it can be entirely thrown
away. A London scientific journal says "the
difficulties of preparing the chemical COM
pound have been entirely overcome by the
contractors for the manufacture of the lamp
for the patentee." A little patient pursuit and
trial of such inventions on the part Of officials
responsible for the public safety might an
nually save hundreds Of lives.