The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-04-20
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TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1876.
Life Preserving Apparatus.

Aile-l reserVlnS apparatus
The invention 10y Paul Boyton of a
life-saving dress has called the atten-
ton of the public anew to this import
ant subject. The danger of ocean travel
has been the bugbeur of travellers from
time immemorial. Inventions Tor keep
ing persons afoat in water, long since
used with some success, have proved
inefficient, or, ut least, inadequate.
Perhaps the great difficulty in rescuing
persons from vessels on fire, or about to
founder at sea, or driven ashore on a
dangerous coast, is the fright and conse-
quent lack of self-control of those who
are thus suddenly brought into danger.
And while such clustering excitements
prevent the eflectual use of RATS, life
boats and other life-saving apparatus
under circumstances favorable TO sue
cess, there are, more frequently per-
haps circumstances rendering it impos
sible to make successful use of these
means. Rats are poor craft, mt best,
in mid-ocean and ife-boats are of little
value in storms at sea. Whether the
Boyton life-saving dress will so reas-
sure the landsman as TO enable him to
act coolly and nationally under the try,
ing circumstances of disaster at sea is
yet to be tested. 1t is certain that life
belts are far from assuring or justi-
flying confidence. 1.-THE invention pre-
vents panics it will accomplish much.
What may lie the public verdict as to
its value when a practical trial has
been had, does not yet appear, of
course But from the experiments with
it thus far, the public expectation is
on tip-toe. Its success is of immense
importance to those "who 60 down to
THE sea in ships" and those who do
business on the mighty waters. Every
one of the passengers and crew can be
provided with che of these dresses and
there will be no opportunity for the
hustling TO secure the means afforded n
portion only of the passengers, of pos
sible salvation from the flood. The in
vention is very simple, as it would
have to be TO be valuable. 1t is made
of double sheets of india-rubber cover
ing the whole body except the face. 1t
can be so inflated with air and weight
ed that the wearcr may stand bolt up
right in the water, rccline ON the top
of the waves, make a sail of himself
and paddle his own canoe. Boyton has
exhibited in tie harlois of England
and nearly crossed the English Chan
mel and done such wonders with ii and
himself in it that almost an excitement
has been created among the phlcgmatic
Englishman over this obscure Ameri-
can inventor. 1t is said the wrecked
mariner putting on this dress may
strap upon his back Il knapsack con-
tanning kit of tools, Il stock of provi-
sions, rockets for the signal service,
and if he is particular, a lady's toilet
set. Paddles can be attached to the
hands to expedite progress through the
water, or an oar may he used instead of
the adjustable fins.
1t is claimed, also, that the body of
the wearer is efIectually protected from
wet and cold This, if Il fact, is most
important. 1t is often the case that the
cold resulting from immersion in the
water soon proves fatal to persons of
weak constitutions. even when support
ed by life-belts, and if taken in o boats,
far out at sea, cold and exposure are
nearly equally certain to cause death.
1t is not improbable that an unwar-
rantable enthusiasm has been aroused,
but if this invention docs for the world
one half of what ii is claimed will he ac-
complished by it, it is certainly one of
the most notable triumphs of human
ingenuity. This much seems TO he full
~ settled by the experiments already
made that the wearer "can modify as
he pleases the extent he wishes TO pio-
ject from the water and the position he
desires to occupy in it, that there is lit
tie danger of serious damage to so tough
II dress and tina. food sufficient TO sus-
tain life for many hours may he carried
dry and safe in convenient recepta-
Gle" This will allow its use for the
repair of boat in the water, for amuse-
ment on lakes and on the sea coast, and
for many other useful and convenient
purposes other than the saving Of
wreck ed DersOns This invention
should be brought within the reach of
all and the inventor remunerated at
once by the maritime governments of
the world