New-York tribune., 1884-01-24
,,rrStYyyc APPLIANCES At SEA.

| LJFE-SfVINC APPLIANCES At SEA.
The wreck of the steamer City OF Columbus
once more calls attention to the practical failure
of every accepted means of saving life in dis
asters at sea. The City of Columbus was sup
posed to be fully equipped with life-saving ap-
piances She had seven metallic boats, Ire
raft and several hundred life-preservers. Yet
only one of her boats reached shore, her lie
raft only insured the death of those who trusted
to it. and there is no evidence that single per-
son was saved BY the life-preservers. Year
after year the fertile resources OF inventors are
drawn upon for additions to the already vosuml-
nous list of life-saving apparatus. and at every
exhibition one of the most attractive depart
ments is that which contains models of these
ingenious contrivances. In the appliances for
rescung people from stranded vessels near
enough to the shore to establish communica-
tons, and also in the models of boats, and
in the projection Of signals and life-lines from
shore stations, there have been important prac-
teal improvements during the past twenty
years
But when We come 10 the problem of saving
life i'm disasters at sea or under any crcum-
stances where the wrecked ship must furnish
the appliances to be utilized, it does not seem
that much progress has been made. The boats
are always of doubtful availability. to begin
with. 1t is necessary, in carrying boats on
sea going vessel, so to place and secure them as
that they shall be at once accessible in case of
need and safe from the accidents arising from
stress of weather OF course this is very diff
cult, for if they are too accessible they are
liable to bn carried away i'll storm; aud II
they are secured too firmly they may not be
available ut a critical moment. As a rule the
davits are swung inboard, the boats secured by
canvas covers and bands, the plugs and oars re-
moved, and the fall-tachle rove. In theory
only few minutes are required to cut OF the
bands and cover (which is aced), put in plug.
oars and crew, swing the davits Outboard, ana
lower away. But nine times ont OF ten the plug
and oars have to be searched for, and then the
blocks Of the fall tackle are jammed, and then
the patent clip which ought to release the boat
when il touches the water fails to work. Some
times one end is released only, and then OF
course the boats crew are pitched overheard.
This accident has often occurred. And when
vessel has struck and has a heavy list as III the
case of the CITY of Columbus the boats on the
lower side become useless, while 1t Is d0uDly
hard TO launch those which are on the side out
of water Should a vessel founder III gale at
sea the chances are that it will be impossible to
launch any of the boats, even if they have not
been stove or carried away before the crisis
comes And even If one or two can be launched
the danger of their being dashed against the
vessel before they can get away Is so great as to
leave little prospect OF escape. AS to llie-ratts,
while many ingenious cOntrivances OF the kind
have been invented. We do not remember an
instance of the preservation of life through
their means at sea. The truth is that as rule
neither boats nor RATS will live in the seas in
which ocean steamers founder and even i'll the
case of life boats which cannot sink, they could
only keep their occupants above water long
enough to let them perish from exposure. As
TO hfe-preservers, they may help cool
swimmer, but it is doubtful whether in sea-
way they can ever preserve from drowning for
any length of time persons unable to swim and
delicate women For when the sea is high it is
difficult even for an expert swimmer to keep his
head above water. He must watch his chances
to take breath, and must constantly dodge the
heavy waves, or ne will have the life literally
beaten out of him. This is what happens to the
majority of those who trust 10 iifc-preSeUers in
a high sea-
What j. wanted Is some hle-saNlhE appDallce
which needs no preparation; which is always
in full working order; which will float its oc
cupants high out of water; which can be got
clear of stranded or laundering vessel without
swamping or staying. 1t is clear that none of
the life-savIng apparatus at present III Use on
sea-gong vessels fulfls these requirements and
equally clear that no apparatus which does not
fulfil these requirements can be of much prac-
tical service in emergencies. 1t is a difficult
problem to solve, no doubt. but there ought to
be enough inventive genius in this country to
solve it, and it ought to be taken in hand more
earnestly than ever, seeing what is at stake.