Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-26
A CURIOUS DEVICE.
stopping Vessels Gs Sea with an Ap-
paraIus Termed a shIp-Rrake.
BOSTON Dispatch to Ne,o York HeraI

Boston Dispatch to Nei0 York Herald
There has been a series of interesting
experiments going on here with the re-
Gently invented ship brake, which is
likely to greatly decrease the dangers OF
sea travel, and, with notifications. may
probably be made of service in crafts Of
all dimensions. The purpose of the
brake is to prevent collisions and sud
denly retard the passage of a steamer
toward any point of peril. The number
of disasters that have occurred in the
past few years, and have been due to
such causes, led the inventor to spend a
considerable period in devising and per-
fecting his apparatus. Its availability
for the object it is proposed to
serve has now been fairly tested,
and gentlemen who can speak
authoritatively about marine affairs be-
lieve that it will be a most useful and
valuable acquisition to the equipment of
sea going vessels. The principle of the
invention is so simple that those who
saw It's workings yesterday were sur
prlsed that it had not been thought Of
and applied before the present inventor
and maohinist brought it to public
notice. MIR. John Adams Is the pat
entee, and for the past two years has
worked diligently day after day TO bring
1t to perfection. The idea was conveyed
to him through hearing the recounting Of
the Stonington and Narragansett collision
on the Sound, one of his nieces having
been q passenger To his mind it seemed
as practical to stop a steamer suddenly
going Eat a full rate of speed as 10
stop train of cars on q railway track
with the air or hand brake. He took
for his model a fish, calling the body OF
the natatorial species his vessel, and its
fins" his brake. Why could not a yes
sci be guided by fins similarly placed on
its body as the fish that piled through
the waters? With this mind he worked
and experimental, first with a rowboat,
then with a raft, and finally with a
small steam launch, the result of which
exceeded his expectations. 1t was no
longer an experiment in his mind,
but a success, and only needed
an opportunity to bring his in
vention before the world for q
public test THIS he did yesterday, and
the result was most gratifying to this in
ventive genius, who has toiled so unceas-
ingly to display his ideas to advantage
For the purpose a medium sized side
wheel excursion steamer was used, which
makes daily trips between City Point
South Boston, and Long Island. The
vessel had been fitted with the apparatus
for some time and everything got in
readiness to display its workings yester-
day. A number of gentlemen interested
IN such matters were present, together
with several newspaper representatives
from different parts of the country.
AT 8 o'clock the signal to start was
given. and away went the vessel past
Fort Independence and out into the mid
die of the harbor just then the pilot
blew a whistle of warning to notify those
aboard that he was about to test the faith
of the invention, and in another moment
there was the slightest perceptible lurch
and the vessel stood almost still in the
water. BY actual measurement the yes
sci had not drifted over ten feet before
the engineer was enabled to reverse his
engine and change the direction of the
vessel The engine on the steamer was
of sixty-horse power, and the vessel was
going at 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 was repeated with greater
success, the steamer not going over ten
feet after the "tins" were let go. Again
and again was the test applied until II
was fairly decided that the Introduction
of the brake in no way affected the con
structiOn 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
go the fins, and keep up his steam to see
if the vessel would 90 forward. But
with all the force applied the steamer re-
fused to bulge, and stuck like rock in
the water. The invention consists
of pair of iron shutters or fins, the
area Of which is in direct ratio with
the size of the ship, and hinged one on
each side Of the stern post. They shut
close to the sides of the vessel,
and are kept so by simple
apparatus on deck which is connected
with the pilot house. When the signal
is given to ''let go, the stays connect
ed with the fins allow them to open at
right angles, and cause the stoppage Of
the vessel almost instantly. The water,
being a yielding body, acts as a spring
or cushion, and more of that jarring or
shock is experienced such as is felt on a
railroad when the brakes are applied
In the opinion of the inventor there is
no excuse for collision with such a de.
vice. Many of the collisions reported,
on investigation, showed that the pilot
had over five minutes warning to allay
the speed of his vessel and avert disas.
ter, but was unable TO do so in that
space of time. The present contrivance
is guaranteed to stop any vessel, no mat
ter what size or rate Of speed, inside of
her own length at least. and yesterdays
experiments certainly proved the truth
of tba in nvantor,c ,,Iao