Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-25
AUTOMATIC LIFE-BOAT.
A Remarkable InVentiOn-A Something.
that has Long been Needed on
the Mississippi.


From the Boston Globe.J
There is at present in process of con-
struction by Samuel Weber, at South
Boston Point, a life-0oat which presents
some new and ingenious adaptations.
and which, as pertaining to nautical af-
fairs, may properly be noticed in this
connection. The device has been pat
ented, and one or two boats have been
builtfor service in the Western rivers.
At the Washington navy-yard one Oh
more have been put TO various tests,
and have gained the full approval of the
inspecting board.
1t is called the automatic life-boat,' ;,
and the significance of the term is that
1t is se~lf-acting in respect to Fighting
itself when capsized, and in respect
also to bailing itself. If filed with wa
ter it will not sink, but will free itself
of water in thirty seconds or less, and
leave its crew, if they have rubber
boots, dry shod. If, in lowering it into
the water, it should strike on the side or
bottom up, it will right itself in an in.
slant. This statement might seem
doubtful TO q man of sea-faring expe-
rience, but an inspection of the boat
will remove all skepticism.
The specimen now building at South
Boston is twenty feet long, five feet ten
inches wide, and two feet deep at the
beam. The material used is No. IS gall
vanized sheet-iron, which is Iapped and
douEle-riveted with a strip of tape COW
cred with white lead laid between Joints
before riVeting. This makes tight work,
but the seams are scldered inside to
makeassurance doubly sure. Tha~fo6r
Fir har1 nf fha hAoF o. 80 -. - a.
as is consistent with proper Stiffness.
Inc sides I prevented from spreading
or collapsing by the thwarts, in Which
respect the hrmness Of the sheet1ron is
also of service. The bottom of the boat
Is nearly flat, the dead rise being three
fourths of an inch.
The explanation of the action of the
boat in instantly Fighting itself is in the
location OF its principal air-chambers.
bow and stern of the same shane,
n are higher above the water than the
waist OF the boat. A bulkhead of sheet
IRON Is inserted two and a half feet
rom n stern, and the stern and the
spaces are covered or decked
over Win the same material. In this
Two alr-chambers are obtained. each
OF h cubical capacity of about two or
ulnary hogsheads. Just below the gum
vale on the outside of the boat an air.
chanber Is constructed oneach side. ex-
tending fore and aft. These are techni-
caliy termed " bustles," and any one fa-
mlliar with thearticle Of female wearing
apparel known by the same name win
get an idea of their shape and appear
ance, They are of the same material as
rest I the bOat-sheet iron-and are
supported inside, to prevent collapsing.
oy furrlngs of oak. Beneath the AooT
the standing room is another air
chamber, extending from one bulkbead
o the other. As the center of gravity
II the boat is at or below the water line
he lifting power of these larger air
at the ends and sides Is ALWAYS
efficient to throw the boat right side IN
when in the water.
The bailing process is carried on
through apertures in the bottom of the
'oat. These apertures are four in num-
and are square openings, six by
light inches. They are furnished with
double-clack y valves. The valves or
lacks, open downward, and each is SO
constructed as TO be of itself a little air.
hamber. The valve box is fitted tight
nto the aperture through the boat, and
astened with screws, and the upper side
I b valve when shut is flush. or near
Z so with the floor of the standing