The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-27

ward, or II quiet the water would run
out through the holes because of the
buoyancy of the boat. 1t has large air
chambers in each end and all along the
sides, and it is made to use sails as
well as oars. There is another much
lighter boat which is a daisy" that is
used upon all occasions except the
very worst. Then there is a life-car
which is made of sheet copper and will
hold about six persons. 1t would float
alone if loaded but is intended tobe at
tached to rope that is fastened be-
tween the shore and stranded ship.
In the first place there is small brass
cannon from which is fired over the
wreck an iron slug that weighs ten
pounds. 1t is about six inches long
and to the end that sticks out of the
muzzle is attached a stout but very
small fax rope. By the time the shot
is twenty-five or fifty yards from the
gun it has turned end about and drags
the cord after it and drops it Oh the
ship. Those in distress pull the cord
and haul out stronger one until a
large rope called hawser is got aboard
and firmly fastened. Along with this
is another smaller rope which is doub-
lie length called the "hauling line "
1t is passed through a block on board
the wreck and to it is securely
fastened the life-car which runs
on the hawser by means of two
running pullies just above it. Those
on shore by hauling the line can run
the car out to the wreck and back af-
ter it is loaded. After the passengers
are put in through hole in the top it
is securely shut and the only breath
ing holes are a few small ones punch
ed in the top like those in tin safes.
If a sea should break over hawser, car
and all, no water worth while would
get in. Another devise is sort of
breeches for men and sort of bag for
women by which they are suspended
from the cable like the car and hauled
ashore, sometimes in the air and occa-
sionally on the water. Only one can
thus be hauled ashore at time but it
is easily done. The various distress
signal rockets and flags, hand lights
and pouches for carrying the same by
patrolmen are also seen. These last
are SO made that when wreck is seen
the Waterman only has to touch a
spring and the light is burning in his
hand. The next Waterman sees this
and gives warning to the next and su
the station is warned and all hands
go to the rescue. Alas! how many the
sea devours in spite of the best efforts
of man.
Last week the exposition manage
ment treated us to magnificent dis
play of fire works. There were ordi-
nary rockets in abundance and bomb
rockets that were far better than any
L ever saw before. They were shot
out of small mortar hundreds of feet
into the air and then exploded with a
loud report almost like that Of a cam
non. 1t was then their splendor ap-
peared as in a flash red, green and
blue stars shot out in every direction
and some of these again exploded with
like effect. Some cast into the air
great showers of golden rain that
dropped thousands of frey streams en-
tirely to the ground. There were a
great many fixed pieces that repre-
scented houses, fountains, etc. The
finest of these was representation of
Niagara Falls. 1t was about 100 feet
long and 40 feet above the surface of
one of the artificial lakes. The force
and constancy of the sheet of fire was
very effective, the reflection from the
water into which it fell added yet
more to the grandeur of the scene.
The night was warm and everything
seemed to conspire to make the even
ing enjoyable. II. E. VANDEMAN.
Feb. 10, 1885.