The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-08-21
The Balloon Life.BOat.

The life-boat which is to be suspended
from the Daily Graphic balloon on its
voyage across the Atlantic, and upon
which Professor Wise and his party will
depend for safety should any mishap over
take their more commodious air-ship, is
now in rapid course of construction at the
extensive workshops of Mr.. A. NJ. Inger-
soil, on South street in this city.
The boat is twenty-five feet and six
inches long. Her breadth of beam is five
feet ten inches, and she is two feet six
inches deep. The keel is of the best Ohio
white oak, and the timbers and slaves of
the same material. The "skin," or body,
is constructed of American white cedar,
chosen on account of its extreme light
ness, combined with great strength. All
the wood employed is of the very best
quality, and has been selected with such
care that not the slightest flaw can be dis
covered in any of the strips. The boat is
"clinker built;" each streak of planking
overlaps the other and all are fastened
with copper nails, riveted on each side.
No less than eight thousand rivets have
stantly employed for days past in "head-
in which great care is indispensable. In
board is to be placed. 1t is constructed
vanized sheet iron, and working automat-
ically. Air cylinders of thin galvanized
iron are fitted up in the bow, stern, and
sides, and, in connection with the Inger-
soil valves, are SO arranged that the boat
will not only right" but will free her
self of water in thirty seconds, even were
she full to the gunwale. This desirable
result is arrived at by process patented
by Mr.. Ingersoll, and may well be termed
the perfection of life-boat building.
The balloon boat is built after the mod
ell of the famous Red, White and Blue,
which crossed the Atlantic in 1866. She
has greater "shear," however, her lines
are more graceful, and her general appear
ance more in accordance with the am
phibious role she may be called upon to
perform. Fore and aft she is to be decked
over with light planking-the entrance to
the diminutive cabin being through q
small companion-way aft. Forward, in
the bows, lookout house is to be placed.
This will be provided with sliding "peep-
holes and with two dead lights. It is
expected that it can be so arranged as to
make it possible for full-sized man to
stand erect in it. At each end of the little
vessel ring bolts will be placed, as in ordi-
nary life-boats. In addition to these, she
is to be furnished with two eye-bolts, con.
structed of T-inch iron. These run
through to the keel, at equal distances
from the bow and stern. They are to be
secured with great care and riveted on the
under side. By these eye-bolts the boat is
to be suspended from the balloon. Elk
tending around the entire boat and above
the decking, a slight but strong bulwark
is to be placed. It will be three inches
high, of black walnut, and so arranged as
to prevent those on deck from sliding of
when the boat mounts sea. At the stern
posts and in the bows-indeed, at every
part which is particularly exposed-grea
care is being taken to exclude the posi-
bility of leak; many of the seams are
to be filled in with fine cotton, and nc
pains are being spared to make everything
as tight and snug a. the most exacting
seaman could desire. To the water-line
the boat will be painted fine light green
The body will be bright gloss white, and
under the gunwSle, extending all round
the boat, . broad gold band win BE- drawn