New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-25
MEDAL FOR An OLD INVENTOR.
1osrpu FRANCIS, THE DESIGNER OF THE LIFE
BOAT AND MFE-OAR, TO BE HoNoi'ID
Ry THE GOVERNMENT.


joseph Francis, the inventor Of the metallic LIE,
boat and lfc-savng car, has occasio" - ~ ,,,tmts
20 a pcnrhucap Congress- and Republican ADMINS
traton for the recognition of his valuable services !"
shlDwrecked mariners and to the Government ior HIS
pontoon bridges Mr. Francis Is ABOUT e'sn's
years old and has lived for many years a' NV
stevens House. In lower Broadway. lie was cic''n
years old when be built and tried his frst EXPERIMENT.
of life saving boat car. which he developer ia'er'
and for which he has been h0nOred by other soNc'"
ments than his own.
Congress recently authorized the gold medal whch
IS to be presented to him in a few days. Ee was
knghted by Emperor Napoleon, who also gave MN
a gold snuf-box, which bears the imperial Initial
and crown set In blue enamel and formed by eighty
six diamonds. The Emperor Of Austria also crowned
him with honors after an exhibition of the boat at
Wanna and after a similar exhibition in Russia En-
ner,r Alexander II. conferred upon Mr. Francis tho
badge Of the KnghthOod Of saint stanislaus Medals
of honor and diplomas Of merit were presented TO
the Young inventor everywhere. Inc mccall now
f. be given him is four inches in diameter quarter
Of an inch thick, ana weighs dOou' '''0 PoD'''' 40
value i, about 500.
Mr. Francis is often seen ar his hotel pacing up and
down in the corridor, and apparently IN serene anu
pleasant reverie. lie wears oldiasnoneh oroa"-
cloth trousers OlI-fashoncd frock coat anu ai'
oldstylc standing collar encircles his throat no
has a square, ample brow, over which Is caieiessy
combed his gray hair and his pale blue eyes t"ihAie
boncath his shaggy eyebrows. HIS face IS ceah'
shaved excepting that he wears gray, short-trinca
uustachc and tiny goatee
Ill, first thought II lifc-boat was upon reading Oh
the terrible tales Of shlpwreck while at schOo1 III
BOSTON. and he concluded to build boat, which he
ricsed with compartment in tie bow ana ono !"
inc ,-.rn which he filed with big cakes OF CORK Tic
filled the boat with water day, and was as"lsn'u
that not only did float when full Of water ou' io"r
men got into it and padded around without sinNns
it, H. was the first real life boat built IN America
Mr. Francis continued his work, and he had a ilSh''
fast rowing li-c-ai the Massachusetts Mech'ii'S
Institute. still. he was looked upon by many -
/ imp,aet,able and Visionary. In l-25. however, Ae
secured ne confidence Of many Of The le"ilns snip
ung IA. rchants of this city, and exhibitor MS ouo9
am wooden boat n Wall Young Francis tosseu 'o
boa, overheard cndwi,e and botiom-up. and sho
r.hted instantly the water running ont through nc'
perforated bottom. Thea the boat was hoi''ea %
fine vardarn Of u ship and let fall into the water INC
,tr1,ck the water with awful thun.p. went DOWN
ont OF sight, and when She came UP fi-n'ed ana WIS
filed with men. They tried in varlon- ways u cap
siz, and sink her, but were unsuccessful
Young France, took his boat q other seaporis anu
exhibited it, and received several large 9fders men,
In las he constructed covered wooden liecaF 10
run on hawscr drawn from wrecked yeS,ei 10 ,9
shore. ~ the wooden car MaS to' S"'.is VIZ ~.
he few year. later constructed one or ron ana ids'
st patent on IT, II "a' the nl>t IA Oh IRON xsrp,
doubnal that IT would cgi9 up is S''s amu.e hlm
claimed FIR It ana sn-sesi,1 i Ina. o , mil a vl,,c K
shnuld give him the opportunity % use ~. when the
/ government would lie glad 70 Ano" tle leshI,., ,.-o
Flauc. had hi, opportunity on january L. %,
when the British ship Ayrshire. Win goo SOUS "I
board went ashore during furious sno" Storm =
hawser sent t. the sup ana me III, t.' ys,
and forth until all were saved, eA'epun- one Nno
,aulted on the top # the car Just A. X stafep t
the wreck and swept into the raging 81, ana w
lost The news Of thi, great success lie" Ing Win
fire all over the world and Joseph lrancis oe.s'ns
the greatest hero and inventor Of the day fTe,idcht
! Harrison wishes T. have The presentation OF, h,,
medal al the White House. bu il /, Thought douo'ui
that Mr. llincls will lie able to 70 t. Washington