The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-02
V : : 81
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TIE LIFE BOAT.

the bolt is about mile in length, and
is so carefully rcelcd that u tanglc never
occurs. We first load the cannon with
heavy charge of powder, then place
the bolt in the mouth, and then sight
the cannon SO tho shot will fall some
fifty yards upon the other side of the
vessel with the line it carries falling
across the deck. This first line is then
tied securely to Il heavy hnwscr which
is drawn aboard the ship and fastened
to mast. We then fasten the land
end to some heavy object. Another
line somewhat smaller than the hawser
is then sent out, and this is passed
through pulley upon the mast and then
tied to the block of the pctticoat
brooches and sent back TO us to form
the endless line. When everything is
removed from the vessel hawser cut
ter, working in the ship. but worked
from the shore, is used to sever the
lines from the masts And they are
then drawn ashore"
Leaving the glistening rockets and
guns the old seaman went over to the
great white, rcd, and blue lifcboat and
his face broadencd into smile as he
said: But this is the child love the
best. have been in this pretty craft
when the seas were running noun
tains high and she has never caused me
to frown at her department. She can
always be depended upon The con-
struction of the lifeboat is truly
wonderful. There is not a supcrHuous
string about her. She looks over.
burdcncd with her life lines and pre-
servers, but everything is indispens-
able, and no lifcboat would be COM
plete without each one.
This diagram" producing that of
which n fac smile is given with this
article, will give you some idea of the
construction of the boat
"a A are the thwarts upon which
the rowers sit. b Il is the watcrtight
deck which is raised sufficiently above
the bottom of the boat to be above tho
level of the sea when the boat ia
loaded; G are alright chambers
running along each side and occupying
from three to four feet at each end.
The bonyancy afforded by these more
than sutiiccs to sustain the boat when
fully laden, even if filled with water.
To preserve the rigidity of the structure
amid the buffctings of storms the
space between the bottom and the
watcrtight deck is filed with blocks of
cork and light woods tightly wcdged
together. ID D. E f. is the keel which
is of heavy iron. weighing about six
hundred pounds alone. The reason the
keel is made so heavy Is to prevent the
boat from capsizing and remaining so.
Frequently upon loosing several oars
the boat gets in the trough of the sea
and is overturned. but the keel being of
such great weight very slight move
mcnt will cause it to right itself imme-
diatcly. The most slsillful contriyances
upon the lifcboat are the relieving
tubes, G.. These are six in number,
each one six inches in diameter, and
they pass through the deck. B, the bal
last, ID. and the bottom. The tubes are
near the center of the boat, three on
each side, leaving at the bottom q valve
opening outward The deck is always
above the level Of the water, and any
water which is in the boat necessarily
pours out through these tubes. So if
wave breaks over the sides and the boat
is filed, it is but for few moments, as
tho water flows out through these
valves. In summing up the advantages
of the lifeboat over the ordinary boat,
it will suffice to say that the air cham
bcrs and light ballast render sinking
impossible. The keel nearly prevents
capsizing, and if it does occur, it quick
~ rights her. The relieving tubes eff
fcctually clear her of any water that
comes overheard So. you sec, with
these precautions. the safety of those
aboard is almost assured"
word about the gallant captain and
then. "for something else" Capt.
Michael St Peter was born upon the
coast of Massachusetts IS years ago
AT the age of 10 he first went to sea in
vessel of which his father was the
master. Between the ages of 10 and IS
he visited every port of Importance in
the world. At lS he was made the first
mate of a lumber schooner plying be-
tween Newfoundland and Liverpool.
Two years later he was married and
subsequently was given berth with
life-saving crew near Cape Hatteras.
Since then, with the exception of
short time spent abroad, ne has been In
charge of the Chicago life saving sta
tion which was instituted in 1876. He
is one of the most efficient Of seamen
and is cherished friend Of every skip
per and sailor who ports in Chicago.