The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-20
SAFE In THE LIFE-BOAT,
Description of the New Life-Boat-1t 10
Taken to Old Point, Where Experi-
ments VIII DO Made.


turned out to be entirely too heavy for
practical purposes. During the great
storm in April. 1891. II broke away from
its moorings and went TO sea ION It's own
hook" and established the fact beyond
dispute. that 1t could not be capsized Lor
swamred even in the surf. Those who
were at the Princess Anne Hotel az the
time said they never witnessed anything
like II.
The surf Yves fifteen feet high, and the
tide higher than II had been for twenty
years. and yet this boat was hammered
against the shore for hours. and finally
drifted down the beach and landed high
ana dry without taking in a gallon or
water. The wind blew at the rate OF
sixty-two miles an hour. But for practi-
cal USE either on ship or at life-saving
station. weighing about 1900 pounds the
boat would be entirely useless. There
never was boat built before that would
not have swamped in such sea surf In
ten minutes.
Last summer DR.. Parker visited Balti-
more to see what boat OF lightweight
could be built for. but the figure was too
steep" 1t so happened that Mr., Mar
! tin a Councilman. who is genius III
wood work, became patient or Dr.
Parker soon after. This gentleman had
built n pleasure boat for himself during
his leisure time, and had also invented
n propeller. which, however, did not an
swer the purpose desired 1t also hap
| pened that at the same shop O.. j. Mon
| tagus & Co.'s) where Councilman worked,
| a young man named A r. Burns was
employed, who had served his time as
ship carpenter In Canada, but had given
up that trade and was now a draughts-
man.
| Messrs Councilman and Burns were seen
| by Dr. Parker, and they readily con-
! scented to built another vessel by their
| combined efforts a beautiful new boat mas
been built weighing little more than
| 200 hounds The new boat, which has
been built at nighttime cannot be sur
| passed in strength and finish. In ire
great storm which the first boat encoun-
| tered the wind had split the canvas top
in three places. and would have finally
swamIed the boat Dr. Parker therefore,
determined to cover the boat with gal
| vanized iron This new vessel Is covered
| top and bottom with this material, when
is lighter than wood. Mr.. n. Burton,
| Of this city covered the bottom or null
! OF the boat, and Messrs Snyder q Co.
the top.
The boat has a hatch in the top Two by
three feet. eight windows and slidlng
door leading from the front deck into he
| n.
might be called a pilot house that pro
iects about n foot above the 'op OF the
| hoot Two Of the eight windows are IN
this projection, by which the helmsman
can see both before and behind him. The
body is painted green. the top white, and
the iron gas-pipe which surrounds IL on
the outside black.
II was demonstrated that the first boat
was perfectly safe at sea; that had she
been turned loose from a sinking ship.
every man and woman in her would have
heen perfectly safe from drowning, even
II she had been driven ashore In storm.
or course. had she been picked up AT
sea. no one would have been hurt. The
Doctor however, wishes to prove that
this boat can be made to succeed as me
saving boat for the stations; that she can
90 ont to vessels when no other boat
would dare 20 attempt il. To do this some
nractice Will have TO be done at the sta
tions. and he is anxious TO nave TINS
carried out AS the oars go through can
yass sleeves fourteen inches long, and
have to be handled under cover, not htted
from their oar-locks but drawn fore ana
aft. when taken in. a little practice OF
this sort will be necessary to success III
a bad surf.
In his practice with his crew two years
ago DR. Parker found by the last
method the oar can be handed quicker
in reality. Just in front OF each man
seat is a glass window. IA by inches,
enabling the oarsman TO see the water
clearly while rowing The boat is o feet
long feet beam and feet high in the
clear. She has six oars besides the stern
oar. Should this boat be a success, both
&C boat for passenger ships and also
for lfe-saving stations. hundreds OF
valuable lives would be saved annually
and in fact. there would be little need OF
Ufe-saving stations. II every sailing YES
sci and steamer were compelled 10 carry
! their complement OF boats OF thls khu
they would be able TO save their OWL
messengers and crews also without lHe
aid of the stations.
The following are some Of the PECULIAR
ties and advantages of DR.. Parker's life
boat:
The gas-pipe running around the boat
three inches from and four inches below
. the gunwale. This serves five purposes
II shields the boat; It enables the mer
2 10 lift and carry her; when about 10 lana
= the sailors stand on It, holding by the
life-lines: IL all the passengers canno
be taken In the boat they can be brough
ashore by holding on to this gas-plpe
II necessary. the gas-pipe can be per
forated on the under side. and the watel
around the boat covered with oil from
tank in the bow.
The fore hatcn is Tot lOWtIHS 'hc p"1
sengers into the boat; the deck hatch Il
for entrance end exit TO the boat. Th'
[ pilot-house is for the man VINO steers
with a long oar. It has two windows II
IT, front and rear. the rear one hinged fol
ventilation. If need be AS a fact. ever
4. the front hatch may be left open for this
reason. except In the bad weather
There are also six other windows on th'
sides of the boat. just in front OF thu
rover. enabling them TO see the waves
? they are six by twelve inches, and o.
thick French plate glass, riveted TO th'
iron. One Of the greatest advantages o
= this boat is that she cannot swamp, tina
is. take in water in front or on her sides
nor can she be capsized. and II by
0 possibility she should be. she would RICH
herself instantly, and not take In drol
I Of water.
2 The first boat was anchored I'm thu
surf for ten days, and took in no water
4 She leaked in her bottom. and was take'
in on this account. DR.. Parker is WILLING
TO have the new boat anchored In tn
surf during the toughest month OF tn
year.
The boat was taken from the estab
lishment of Messrs. Snyder & Co, an
carried to the Ariel wharf. from where !
was lowed TO Old Point last evening b.
ono of the tugs OF the Goodman Manu-
, featuring Company. where it will b
found near the railroad station. DR.
Z parker will leave for Old Point to-mor
row TO superintend the experiments. II
, has written to Mr.. Herbert, le Secretar
of the Navy. and will tomorrow shoS