New-York tribune., 1886-07-22
INVENTOR OF THE LIFE CAR.
FACTS FOR REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT.
JOSEPH FRANCIS DEFENDED By ONE "FAMIIiAR
WITH EVERY pETAIL. OF Tile CONTROyERsY.D

JOSEPH FRANCIS DEFENDED By ONE "FAMIiAH
WITH EVERY DETAIL OF THE CONTROVERSY"
To the Edttor or Ths tribune.
SIR: dispatch from Washington. published IN
your issue of to-day refers to the old controversy be-
tween Mr. Joseph Francis, OF New-YOrk. ana captain
Douglas Ottnger to the invention of the liissayng
car" in which Representative Scott presents his views
of the merits Of the case. he understands it, Permit
me- as one who ia familiar with every detail of this
controversy to set Mr. Scott, and others who hold
similar opinions, the right track to the end tnat
tardy Justice may be done of the greatest bene-
factors of humanity that walks the earth to-day.
The life-car was invented by Joseph Francis in the
latter part of 1888 and first constructed of wood
10 1S41 The wooden car proved a failure. concus-
sion with a wreck or rocky beach would utterly de-
stroy its usefulness besides found impossible
to make the matches and airchambers imperyious to
water and the construction was cumberscn and un
wieldy So Mr. Francis broke II up. and turned his
attention toward the Of iron proper material OF
constr uctiou- much to the amusement Of the scoers
of that day. who almost UNANIMOUSLY agreed that an
iron construction must sink" He expermented IN q
bnlding owned by Myndert Van Schoick, Mayor OF
this city, at No. s3 Anthonyst. and in that buiidins
the first life-csr ever brought forth was D"li
And il was success scOilcrs notwithstanding
a success that Francis associated himself witt. still
man. Allen g. Co., who occupied portion OF Inc
Novelty Iron Works establishment and began their
in full blast and it at those works that the famous
life car was constructed and saved 2Ul lives from the
wreck of the Ayrshire in January, 1850.
So far nothing had been heard of Captain Ut
finger who then connected with the unltcu
States Revenue Marine Service and who, in the prose
cution of bis duties directed to superintend the
disbursement OF sum Of mOneythe first ever gran,ed
by Congress for the purpose toward erecing iie-
saving stations aud supplying thcm th boats. Aitsr
Captain Ottnger had completed his apecal service ne
was ordered to California. where he remained long
enough to claim the honor of having discovered Hum
boldt Bay which was really discovered and cnartea
before he was born Is old maps rr0ve Having tasted
OF the cup OF discovery and finding it good IT struck
him. on his return to New-York especially as MI
Francis was al sent in Russia that his connection with
the arranging of tie en- bryo life-savinS service
Afforded an excellent opportunity to lay claim TO- tie
invention OF the lfc-car the real invention OF which
was at that time causing Joseph Francis to marcn
triumI hantly through England Frauce Austra Sno
Russia Recoect that ocean cables were few ana ex-
pensIye in those days. and while Francis was beng
feted in the Old World he being robbed IN the
New without an iota of warning This clam WAS
made twent years after the INVENTION ana seven
years after the had been proved success A
"prio-ity of invention" pal er was secured, ana the
work complete.
This, in brief is the history OF ihe controversy,
begun nearly quarter of century after the inven-
ton that has made the OF Joseph Francis known
the world over Yours truly, W. CANNON.
.NesU- ! Ork, Jnly 49, 1886.