New-York tribune., 1895-02-11
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
IJFEBCATS on STEAMERS.


SOME WANTED THAT CAN BE LAUNCHED O. lChLi
AND WILL NOT SINK.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: When man first wanted 10 hoat upo ~
bosom of the waters without getting wet ne iou'u
that nv following out a log he could accohp'S"
his nurnose and likewise that when the water was
rough the cavity OF his craft wouiu II" ~
would be dumped out. IT therefore "o -
urally be supposed that marine arch''eo'o'
these two facts before them, would ere tn' nav
designed a lifeboat TO be carried by ocean steam"
ors which could be readily launched. carry 'S
own motive power and which would not as l"'c
fill and sink upon touching the water. bu' S"oi 10
not the case: at least such boats are not car
although they have been made and are !" use III
the life -sa wing service along the Enghsh co"S'.
The boats which are carried are utterly unsuited
for the purpose for which they are intended anu,
further trey cannot be readily lauhcheu' anu
when launched usually fill and sink or turn turtle.
or when they manage to float can only De moVeu
bv means OF sails or oars, both OF which are quite
useless in a rough sea.
Boats are usually carried swung TO davits ana
turned inward or turned bottom UP and lashed
fast upon the funnel deck. In order to Keep thefn
drv they are covered with heavy canvas. ana 10
secure them against being washed away they are
firmly fastened by means OF ropes Further, IN or
der 10 present a neat appearance. tne boais COY
ers. lashngs and falls g., FoisH is,i ~ h ,,in,
boats cSseres seem an EFFORT M made
ia
,o launch a lfe5oat. and in each case, aithougn
everything wps cut away II required over 'iI -
Minutes TO get the boat into the wafer. IN potn
eases the ropes OF the falls would not run hu,
the blocks owing to their being stin win PAM,
and the boats fell bodily into the water as @ tne
falls were severed with an axe In NE nrs. n as
The sea being rough. the boat promptly heu anu
had 10 be baled out before IT could he useu. IN
the second case a man in the boat whsn II dIoppcI
had his leg broken. Further to get INTO an oPema ~
hoaf even from the lowest deck oi a stcaih'I ~ -
oute task as any who has seen the p'o'
leave the ship will admit. 49,, ,.o.sors
There is no doubt whatever that when FesseI
hui is SO damaged sink quickly 'say III on, on
hours time) with the present boat epuiI,iho.I.ma W
The chances for safety of the passengers ana '''"
are decidedly slim. T., o,.orod ron
AZ an engineer. | see reason why coNer'n l,oi'- p
snkabIc lifeboats provided with their own ~ ~hlo'ne
power should not he used. They c9ulh pe ~ al
ranged 10 be flied with people on deck ara mn ~
proiocted down an adjustable slide INTO me M Na..r
IN ibc manner OF a torpedo. Their mot.xe poWe.L
could be naphiha or compressed ar. .sn Smv No. -
boats could readily carry so people and thet mo r
live power would ordinarily be su'nclehi 10 u"rsS
Their, 10 land or into the path OF ocean ste"lls,
In my opinion the very large loss OF ne men
occurrcd by reason OF the sinking oi the
Elbe was caused by the impossbiity OF rTnumS Tbnr
launching the boats carried by the steamer ~
is every probability that. II the vessel had
eouipped with lfcboats such as ! nave "eS0''''''
,dt a single life would have been losi...,.,,,x
~ GEORGE H. BENJAMlN
Ncw-York Feb. :. 1886