Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-13

The Naval Odicer Ia Charge of the
photographic Office Explains New
Invention
From the PAiiadeIphia Times.

photographic once explains New
Invention.
From the PAi,adeID1ia Times.
At desk behind the light oak railing
which bounds the by II feet of space
allotted to aud termed the Uni'el States
Branch photographic Office, in the
Maritime Exchange, sat Lieutenant
Henry II. Barroll. the officer in charge, on
Saturday.
"Come in and sit down." he ex-
claimed to an acquaintance who leaned
over the barrel, 81 have just been making
sketches of an invention in which l have
become very deeply interested. Here,
this will give you somewhat Of an idea of
it,"
On sketching pad, which lay on the
desk before him, was drawn the outlines
of boats hull, with the mast repre-
sented at various angles. "The yielding
mast is a recent invention, which prom
ises to accomplish much in saving life,
which has hitherto been sacrificed by the
attempts of inexperienced persons to
manage sail-boats," said Lieutenant Bar
roll. The pressure of the wind on the
sail of boat may be resolved into two
forces, one of which tends to move the
vessel forward and the other to careen or
heel her over. AS the vessels lee side
portion of the lee bow pressed under the
water being buffer than the sharp bow
thrown up on the weather side, the vessel
meets with an increased resistance, left
directly under the lee bow. This tends
to continually force the bow toward the
contrary or weather side. or tends to make
her run up into the wind'-a tendency
which must be met by a free use of wea-
Their helm.
"The yielding mast appears to be con-
structed especially to avoid the necessity
of lutfing in order to spill the wind out Of
the sail when struck by puff or by
heavy squall. The mast, instead of being
rigidly stepped in the keelson of the boat,
passes through metal collar, which,
swinging on trunni0ns, Is bolted to a
stout thwart or to the upper deck, accord
ing to. the size of the boat. The lower
part of the mNst,clutches railway laid
thwartships on theb0ttOm Of theVessel.
On each side OF the foot Of the mast are
stout spiral springs around a curved rod
secured just above the railway. These
are regulated as TO tension by pressure
nuts at the upper Or Out-b0ard end of each
spring. BY screwing these nuts down
the springs could be so compressed that
the mast would, at all inrents and pur-
poses, be rigidly stepped; or, by decpeas-
ing the tension on the springs, any re-
qulTed yielding could be provided Tor.
The shrouds, either of wire or rope, are
attached to another spiral spring work
ing in a small vertical tube placed on the
rail. ...eA r .true
when handled by an inexperienced
person and struck by squali the vessel
will not be suddenly capsized, but the
mast will be pressed over until the wea-
therspFing has been eompressea stthici-
entity to resist the winds pressure. By
this time a great portion orthe WIND win
have been spilled from the sails, and even
should the squat be of sufficient power
to heel the boat after the mast had yielded
to its utmost the boat would start TO heel
from almost an even keel. When expert
enced persons are In command the tension
can be regulated 30 suit those who love to
take green wafer over the bows while
for pleas the tension can be so
regulated thar it would be practically i'm
possible to capsize the boat"