The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-27
no noRE sCIoro DISASTERS.

no MORE sCIoTO DISASTERS.
A Wonderful but simple Invention 10
Prevent River Collisions.
A dispatch from Boston dated tho 18th
gives tho following account Of a device 10
prevent collisions between steam vessels:
There have been series Of interesting ex.
perimenls going on here with the recently
invented ship break, which is likely 10
greatly decrease tho dangers Of sea travel,
and, with notifications, may probably be
made Of service in craft Of MI dimensions.
The purpose Of the brake Is to prevent
collisions and suddenly retard the passage
Of steamer toward any point Of peril. The
number OF disasters that have occurred In
the past few years and TINT haye been due to
such causes led tho inventor 10, spend d
considerable period IN devsng and per.
fectiny his apparatus. It's availability ior
the object II Is proposed to serve has now
been fairly tested, and gentlemen
who can speak authoritativelyabout marine
Affairs believe that Il will be most useful
and valuable acquisition TO tho equipment
Of sea'going vessels. The principle Of the
invention Is 50 simple that those who saw
It's workings were surprised that it had not
been thought Of and applied before the
present inventor and machinist brought it
to.public notice. Mr.. John Adams Is the
patentee, and for the past two years has
worked diligently day after day to bring It
to perfection. The idea was conveyed 10
him through hearing tho recounting OF the
Stonington and Narragansett collision on
the Sound, one Of his nieces having been b
passenger. To his mind It seemed as pmc.
tical 10 stop steamer suddenly going ut a
full rate OF speed rs 10 stop train OF cars
on u railway track with the air or hand
brake. lie took for his model fish, call.
ing the body Of the natatorial species his
vessel and its "fns' his brake. Why
could not vessel be guided by find simi.
larly placed on its body az the fish that
piled through the water? With this idea
In mind he worked and experimental first
with a rowboat, then with raft, and
finally with small steam launch, the
result ofwhich exceeded his expectations.
1t was no longer m experiment TO his
mind, but a success, and only needed an
opportunity to bring his invention before
the world Tor 4 public test. This. he did
yesterday, and the result was most gratify.
ing 10 this inventive genius who has toilc,l
80 increasingly to display his ideas 10 nd
vantage. For the purpose, medium.sized
side.whcel excursion steamer was used,
which makes daily trips between CITY
Point, South Boston md Long Island.
The vessel had been fitted with the 'ap-
paratus for some time, and everything rot
in readiness to display its workings YES
terday.. A number Of gentlemen interested
IN such matters were present, together
with several newspaper Representatives
from different parts OF tho country. At .
o'clock the signal to start was given, and
away went'the vessel past Fort Indepen.
dence and out into the middle OF the bar
Dor. Just then the pilot blew whistle OF
warning 10 notify those aboard tllat he WAS
about TO test the faith Of the invention,
md in another moment there was the
slightest perceptible lurch, and the vessel
stood almost still in the water BY actual
measurement the steamer had not driitetl
over len feet before the engineer was en-
abled to reverse his engine aud change the
direction OF the vessel. The engine On the
steamer was OF sixty-horse power and
the. vessel was going Mt the rate OF
twelve miles an hour at the time, which
is the limit Of her speed. She was
put about again and the experiment re-
peated with greater success, the steamer
not going over ten feet after the t'fins" were
let 80. Again and again was the test up.
Piled until it was fairly decided that the
introduction OF the brake in no way affect
ed the construction Of the vessel nor
damaged it in any manner. Mr.. McAdams,
who was on board the City Point, then or.
dered the engineer TO start his vessel, let
80 the fins, and keep up his steam to sec
il the vessel would 90 forward. But with
all the force applied the steamer refused to
bulge, and stuck like rock in the water.
The invention consists of pair ol iron
shutters, the area OF which is in direct ratio
with the size Of the ship, anu hinged one
on each side oil the stern post. They
shut close to the sides OF the vessel and
arc kept so by a simple apparu.
tusS on deck which is connected
with the pilot house. When the signal is
given ~ !et 20 Inc stays connected with
the fins allow them to open at right angles
aud cause the stoppage OF the vessel al
most instantly. The water, being yield
ing body, acts as spring or cushion and
none Of that iarring or shock is expert
enced such as. is felt to arailroad when the
breaks are applied. In the opinion OF the
inventor there is no excuse for collision
with such device. Many Of the COLI.
sions reported, on investigation, showed
that the pilot had over five minutes warn.
inf to allay the speed Of. his vessel and
avert disaster, but was unable to do SO in
that space OF time The present contri-
vance isguaranteed to stop my vessel, no
matter what size or rate Of speed, inside
OF her own length at least, and yesterdays
experiment certainly proved the truth Of
the inventors plan. a. .s.r lr-sr