The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-07
TIE AMERICAN LIFE SAFER Or SURF
CAB.

Nothing of consequence was accomplished
TO lessen the loss of life occasioned by
shipwreck until the year IS4s. when Cap
tain Douglas Ottinger, of the Uuited States
Revenue Marine, presented to the world
his "life car" No sooner was the invention
introduced than the American Government
acknowledged it's fitness for the purpose
intended, and ordered the life saving sta
tlons along the Atlantic. coast each to be
provided with orc of these cars.
Although SO useful, the car is simplicity
itself, and its construction such that it NAV
easily be understood. 1t is made of gal.
vanized sheet iron. In length it is about
nine feet aud in breadth three and o half.
Outwardly it looks much as we would
imagine one of our common clinker- built
boats To appear if it had slightly curved
cover placed upon it. Instead of having q
stern and etem, the ends are alike, both
terminating in point. Nearly in the
centre of the top is an air cham Der, designed
for the purpose of rightiDg the car should
it turn over. In shape this resembles q
hemispheroid, and it ia about two and a
half feet in length, and ten inches in
breadth. Between its end and the further
extremity of the car js the entrance. Water
is prevented from coming through this bv
means of q lid securely fastened. Arc und
the circumference of the Car q thick ubber
band is placed to protect it from damage
in CAGE of contact "ith hard substances.
Above aud parallel to this is rope. 1t is
intended for drowning persons to grasp in
order that they may be drawn ashore.
The inside of this curious life-preserver
is divided into three separate apartments.
These at the ends are merely air chambers,
and are both about one and half feet ia
length. Between these is located that per
ton of tbs air Designed for occupants.
this space may seem small, in
order to prove It's capacity it is only neces- |
sary TO state that 1t has accommodated a |
woman and six children, and that three men
can get into it without any difficulty. Chow |
can the car be sent to q vessel during q |
storm, and especially if it be two thirds of
D mile away J" is the question which nata- !
rally arises at this point. It has been done |
and in the following manner: The smallest |
cord capable of sustaining the force brought |
TO bear upon it is fastened to q copper wire |
which ia bent in the form of a spring Ito |
lessen the momentum), and attached to a |
twenty pound cannon ball. By firing this
over q sinking vessel, those on board can
drawn in and 80 on until fDally the car
itself reaches the vessel. In the meantime.
hose sending the assistance keep their hold
If the car by means of another rope. In
This way they can pull it back. If once
successful, all further trouble is at an end,
because the main difficulty lies in getting
he rope to the distressed ship. When this
8 accomplished both parties can retain
heir own rope, and thus the car may be
lrawn back and forth without delay. By
working continually, fifty lives can be saved
n an hour.
Thus does the usefulness and simplicity
# the car combine to make it one of the
most perfect life savers yet invented.
Although recently introduced it still has
ecord, and glorious one, as it has already
escued over four Thousand persons from
Inevitable death. Its celebrity, however,
) not bound by two oceans. France, ever
n the alert for improvements, soon seized
his, and her accounts of it's PROJECTIONS
re exceedingly flattering, andare sufficient
D cause America to be justly proud that
ne of her coma invented the life car.
The human body expands immensely with
ye. When eleven Yonng men are aeAted on |