The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-24
A E.IFE.sAVER.
Description OF n New Life-Saving Boat
Air, Cork, Wood aud Hr0n-A Marine
er's Model and seamen's Enterprise.

Yesterday a representative Of the PRESS ac-
cepted an invitation from Capt Charles Deering,
the efficient and popular commander of the
steamer Lewiston to examine a new life saving
boat which has just been built GA his premises
in Cape Elizabeth In barn on the Captains
farm was found what experienced seamen in
their admiration have declared perfect
boat" There We also found Capt. Deering
and Capt j. NJ. Richardson of Auburn, Super
intendent of District No. 1 of the United
States Life Saving Service-a gentleman now
in the prime of life, but who has followed the
sea since he was small boy. When Capt.
Richardson received his present appointment,
he found that the boats in use were poorly
adapted to the rough service for which they
were intended. After looking in vain for
better ones, he set himself to the task of per-
fecting model for boat which should at
once be light, safe, strong and manageable.
To obtain all these requisites, he struck upon
the idea Of boat which should have confined
air at the top, cork next, then wood, and iron
at the bottom. He then proceeded to put his
idea into the shape of model upon which he
obtained patent. Having obtained patent.
AiC uiu uOG lcc1 llho bu6 eDtlTe rtSpOuSI'
blity of building boat at his own expense
Accordingly he exhibited his plan and system
to several men of means, but was not success.
full in finding man who would undertake an
interest in the enterprise until he met Capt
Deering, WHO, as a thorough son of the sea, at
once saw its worth and promptly took hold
with Capt. Richardson to build a boat after his
model and specifications. Securing the SER
vices of Benjamin W. Adams of Lubec, one
of the most skllful boat builders in New Eng
land, the work was begun and completed in
the barn where it now lies. Mr.. Adams did all
of the work except a little assistance in plank
ing, the iron work and the painting. The iron
work was done by Laughln & Son, and the
painting by Mr.. William Gray, all of this city,
The length of the boat is % it, over ALL keel
% it.; beam, #. in. depth, 8 #. in.; Sheer
of an inch to the foot. The boat has five
thwarts and pulls ten oars. The frame is of
New Hampshire white oak, as is the keelson,
and the planking is of cedar. The timbers are
9 inches from centre to centre, and the fasten-
ings throughout are Of the best galvanized
Swedish iron. The deck frames are of white
oak, 16 inches from centre to centre, bolted
and kneed to timbers with fore and aft knees.
At either end of the boat there is an air cham
Der, 81 it. long, 81 #. across the bulkheads, q
fl. high. The chamber is made of galvanized
iron, is air tight, and is encased in wood.
There are air chambers on both sides of the
craft under the thwarts, which run the whole
length of the vessel. Next comes the cork.
This is placed under the deck in five water
tight compartments, which are made by divi-
sions running crosswise. She is provided with |
four copper pumps to empty the compartments
in case the boat is stove in. The air apart.
ments have valves for a similar emergency.
AT midships on either side, on a level with the
deck, are scuppers three feet long and five
inches wide, covered by washboard on loose
hinges, which open to let out any water that
may come in, and which shut as soon as it is
out. These are SO arranged that an entire deck
load of water will run out in quarter of min.
ute. She has iron shoe ON the Leel to strength
en- and help right her. There is an oak spar
bolted to the thwarts, to which those inside can
hold to in case she plunges about, and to which
anything can be fastened to prevent washing
overheard The boat is steered by tiller and
rudder for smooth water and a long oar for
sea-way. The rudder is so arranged as to slide
up and down, which is new thing. Running
all around the boat on the outside are lines
securely fastened, to which persons in the water
may cling. The boat has apparatus for anchor
ing and hosting her ON board ship like any
ships boat
Such is brief description of Richardson's
lfesaving boat City of Portland. Her princi-
pal points outside of her adaptation for life
saving service are that she is self-righting and
self-baling. Before she was painted she was
taken to pond and tested She was turned
upside down in the water, and 1igkted herself
IN less than half minute and freed her deck
OF water in less than a quarter of minute.
Her draft is eleven inches, and twenty men
averaging 100 lbs. each only settled her three
inches in the water. Her weight is about a
ton. She will carry from fifty to seventy-fve
persons, or as many as can cling to her. In
short, the City of Portland is sor; of NAM
moth life preserver
She will be brought to this city before the
"Fourth," and at o'clock that morning will
be launched from the wharf of the Portland,
Bangor & Machias Steamboat Company. She
will participate in the regatta that day, being
manned by crew from the life-saying station
at Biddeford pool. July 18th officials con-
nected with the Government life saving service
will test her qualities. All experienced seamen
who have examined the model or seen the boat
speak in the highest terms of her fitness for
life saving purposes.