Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-16

Most of our readers will remember,
probably, that some time last fall the seem
ingly sensational statement was made that
for the sake of testing a new life saving
dress, a young man was to sail from New
York on European steamer, and when
two hundred miles from land would be
dropped overheard and undertake TO make
his way back alone. The young man,
whose name was Paul Boynton, did actu-
ally embark, on the 18th of October, on n
steamer bound for Liverpool, fully dcicrm-
termined to attempt the feat; but the cap
tain had no faith in Its accomplishment,
and refused to allow the trial, and Boyn-
ton was compelled to remain on board, an
unwilling passenger. lie was, however,
allowed TO 90 ashore on the coast Of Ire
land, when seven miles off the point on
which he wished to land. The night was
stormy, fearful gale blowing at the time,
and the test of the armor must have been
severe. Boynton landed safely, after be-
ing six or seven hours in the water; and,
by reason of the gale and unexpected cur
rents, he had then Travelled nearly thirty
miles.
But, difficult as this feat would seem to
have been. a still more wonderful one was
accomplished last Saturday, when this
Same Mr.. Boynton, clad in the same india
rubber armor, virtually crossed the Eng
lish channel between Dover and Boulogne
in sixteen hours. His intention was to
have made the whole distance in twelve
hours, but the condition of the sea was not
altogether favorable, and darkness over
took him when he yet had eight miles to
| travel; and, much against his DESIRE Inc
was taken on board the plotting steamer
about o'clock in the evening. The actual
distance between the two points is twenty
seven miles, but, by the zig. gag course
which Boyntou was compelled TO take, the
distance which he navigated was estimated
at about fifty miles. His average speed
including stoppages for rest. was three
miles an hour.
| Mr.. Boynton's armOr consists OF buoy
ant, water-tight dress of india rubber, il
| which the person is envelOped. 1t is capa
BILE of initiation in separate compartments
and the navigator may assume at will {
great variety of positions while in the wa
ter lie may be equipped with the tools
and lines needed in wrecking expeditions
and also carry with him moderate sup
| ply of food. On one of his trips Boyntor
had about him, besides some small bag
gage, an AK, a knife, signal rockets, spy
glass, and three days ratons. The voyag
er, lying on his back, propels himself fee
foremost, using a double-bladed paddle
Even in the severe gale which Boynton en-
countered on his trip from the steamer Il
the Irish coast, he reported that he reached
| tho shore with his inner suit rs dry as whei
he left the ship.
That such an apparatus as this shoul(
have been invented and successfully used
is great novelty and great triumph o
human ingenuity, but the real interest il
the achievement centres in the practica
uses to which it may he put. An inven
ton like this adds intellectually TO the ia
cilities for saving life at sea, or in cases o
shipwreck off rocky coasts, for it would
seem to be evident that this simple armo
may be successfully used where no life
boat could live. Mr.. Boynton, its Invent
or, is native American and has done val
| liable service for several seasons as a mem
Der of the Coast Guard on the Jersey coast