The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-20
BoYNToN BoUYANcY.

Captain Boynton left Quincy this morn
ing in small steamer named St. Jacob IS
Oil in which he is making the tour to ST.
Paul. He viii arrive in Rock Island the
latter part of the week, and viii give an
exhibition here of his rubber suit, its bene-
fits &c, provided the effort is made to
secure such aquatic display Monday
evening, he gave an exhibition at Quincy
which is described as follows by the Her
aid:
At the hour the performance be-
gan the levee was black
with people The crowd was variously
estimated at from five the eight thousand
Just before Capt. Boyton appeared the
Eight Regiment Band arrived and the
members were rowed over to the press boat
where they gave a concert while the Cap
tain was going through his programme.
About 7:15 Captain Boyton appeared on
the lower deck clad in his rubber suit, and
as the band struck up, he jumped in the
water. Assuming a horizontal position,
laying on his back, and using a paddle,
he gave an exhibition of the manner in
which he makes his long voyages. The
second feature was showing that he could
propel himself through the water without
a paddle, and also how he could assume an
erect position in the water. The use of
flags for attracting attention when on a
voyage was next shown. The tender,
Baby Mine, which was anchored in mid
stream, contained two pigeons which the
captain next let loose to show how carrier
pigeons may be utilized when on voyage.
The next feature Of the performance was
particularly good. Out of pieces of lum |
Der which were set af1oat above him the !
captain with hammer and nails taken from
Baby Mine, constructed raft capable
of floating him. This was done to show
that with his suit raft could be construct
ed from the debris of wreck capable of
saving human life. The next performance
was showing distress signals from the raft
TO attract attention from the coast or YES
sells within sight. A horn was blown, flags !
were foated and a rocket sent up. After
caving the raft the captain demon |
;trated how the suit could be |
Used for fishing purposes. The
first attempt was a failure but on
he second he caught fish |
which was carried to the raft. The next
exhibition was to cook dinner in the wa
,er From Baby Mine" he got small |
stove and fuel and started a fire. He then |
out table cloth, dishes, a napkin, |
/ bottle of beer, and proceeded to enjoy |
lis supper. After showing how he could |
smoke and read in the water, he gave an
exhibition of sailing, lateen and sloop- |
,igged Then he brought out double |
)arreled shot gun and demonstrated that
he suit was admirably adapted for shunt I
ng business. The feature of this per-
ornance was while in the water he could /
Keep the gun and the ammunition dry, His
lext attempt was to show what is
considered the most important use
20 which the suit he wears can be
put, the carrying of a line establishing
between vessel in dis
ress and the coast. The captain next gave
IN exhibition of night signals sending up
rockets and fireworks, the same as used in
he French and English life saving service,
md especially manufactured for the cap
ain. He then proceeded to show how in
he suit he could save man overheard"
An assistant fell into the water from raft
vas picked up by the captain and held
lbove water until picked up by skiff
The exhibition closed with the explosion
If miniature vessel to show how large
ressel by the aid of the invention could be
blown into atoms. A miniature ship full
igged which had been prepared was set
float The captain approached, put a tor
,edo in place and dropping down stream
lighted the fuse. There was loud report
nd the miniature vessel was blown into
fragments Not piece two inches square
ould be found after the blow up The
beet of this part of the exhibition was to
how that the rubber armor is destined to
CURE largely in the naval warfare of theI
lture,