The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-09-04
The Balloon Life-BOat.

take their more commodious air ship, is
now in rapid course of construction at the
extensive workshops of Mr.. \. NJ. Inger-
solI on South street in this city.
The boat is twenty two feet and six
inches long. Her breadth of beam is five
feet ten inches, aud 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 slig htest 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
been used, and two men have been con-
stautly employed for days past in "head
ing" them \ most difficult task, aud one
in which great care is Indispensable. 10
the bottom of the boat patent center
board is to be placed 1t is constructed
of Georgia yellow pine bound with gal.
vanized sheet iron, and working automat-
icaIIy. 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 gunwa!e. This desirable
result is arrived at by process patented
by Mr.. Ingersoll and may we'll 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 rate she may be called upon to
perform. Fore aDd ait she is to be deckcd
over with light plarking-the entrance to
the diminutiye cabin being through a
small companion way aft. Forward, in
the bows, look out house is to be placed
This will he provided with sliding peep
holes and with two dead lights. 1t is
expected that it can be 50 arranged as to
make it possible for a full sized man to
stand erect in it. y; each end of the little
vessel ring bolts will be placed. as i'll ordi
nary lie boats In addition to these, she
is to be furnished with two eye bolts, con
strurted of 5-inch IRON. These run
through to the keel, at equal distances
from the bow and stern They are to be
secured with great care aud Fiveted on the
under side. BY these eye bolts the boat is
to be suspended from the balloon. Ey-
tending around the entire boat and above
the decking, slight but strong bulwark
is TO be placed 1t will be three inches
high, of black walnut. and so arranged as
10 prevent those on deck from sliding of
when the boat mounts sea. At the stern
posts aud in the bows-indeed, at every
part which is particularly exposed-great
care is being taken 10 exclude the posi-
b,lity of leak many of the seams are
to be filled in with fine cotton, and no
pains are being spared to make everything
as eight and snug" as 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, aud
uUGSl NiC an
the beat, broad gold band will be drawn.
The bulwarks are to retain their natural
walnut color, but will be highly polished
and vanished. Inside, the prevailing
color will be dull white; the deck will
be painted soft delicate yellow.
The boats rig has been the subject of
much earnest thought on the part of her
builders At length, however, it has been
decided TO adopt the schooner model, aud
she is to be rigged after that pattern. The
lib will be six feet long on the "heel" or
lower part Each mast will have hoist
of eleven feet six inches, aud will be
eight feet six inches on the heel. They
are to be sixteen feet eight inches long,
well and GRACEFUL proportioncd. The
two SPIRITS will be fifteen and half feet
loug. -Oue boom will be placed on the
maipmast. and will have a length of uine
and a half feet The foresail is to be
lug rugged and will trim eighteen inches
alt of the manmast. The sails are being
made of fne cotton duck. they are double
bizhted or scanned, and every effort is
made to render them at once light aud
durable Al the masts. spars and sails OF
the Lilputian bark arc detached, and will
be stored away in the hold to await an
emergency.
The steering apparatus will be most
complete. The rudder is of oak, iron.
bound, and in addition to this, a steering
oar is to be added for use 10 heavy wealth
err The boat will also cary full sup
ply of canned provisions, and from six to
eight ten gallon kegs of fresh water, She
will be furnished with charts, compasses
and other instruments Of navigation, and
also with one Of the patent umbrella drags
which has been found so efficient in keep
ing ships head to the wind, and which is
now 10 use on many of the steamship lines.
The boat viii be fitted out with every ap-
pllance for rowing as well as sailing.
Three rowlocks of plated silver are to be
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