The San Francisco call., 1896-11-01
New Motor for Life
Saving on the Deep
Shaped Like Torpedo and Run by Elec-
tricty or Spring, Braving Heavy Surf

The latest device for communication
between a shin in distress and shore is a
ciear-shaped electric boat. As the New
York Herald declares the great difficulty
which Iife-savers have had to contend
with has been that of getting line from
the shore to the ship. Often the only
means is the mortar, and when this fails
the life.savers are obliged to stand by and
see the crew perish without being able to
render them any aid.
It is to overcome this and afford the life
savers an opportunity TO work in any kind
Q of weather, and under any conditions that
this new lifecar is made
1t was at first proposed by the inventors
that this car should only carry the life
line, but as their experiments demon
strated the feasibility of theplan, the in
terror construction of the car was changed
so as to accommodate passengers. In
construction the car resembles the cigar
shaped Whitehead torpedo. 1t is pointed
at one end, while at the other there is a
propeller and rudder. On either side of
the graft, near the front. are two paddle
wheels, which are intended to aid the
propeller and also serve the purpose of
keeping the craft in a proper position
while in the water. The motive power is
supplied By motor which is placed in the
forward end OF the craft. When carried
by ships the lifeear is suspended from
= daYits, in the same manner as an ordinary
fifeboat.
Either electricity or spring motor can be
used as motive power. If electricity is
used, storage batteries are placed in the
hull of the craft and connection made
between them and the gearing which runs
the propeller and the paddle-wheel's mo-
ton is transmitted by bevel gears acting
upon the propeller shaft.
The direction of the craft is controlled
by means OF a stationary rudder formed
OF two blades set at right angles, so that
it can be steered even if by any possibility
the craft should turn on its side while in
the water.
Well aft IN the body Of the craft is a
large drum or reel, on which is wound a
long cable. one end of which passes out
through the top of the car and is made
fast TO the ship. AS the car travels
through the water the line pays out, and
so the car is in constant communication
with the ship.
Fixed to the bottom of the car or boat is
a clawlike anchor hung on half hinge,
which allows it to work backward against
the bottom of the boat, but prevents it
from turning forward. The idea of this
is that when the craft strikes shallow
water the anchor will dig into the sand
or catch on the rocks and prevent the
boat being washed back from the shore
by the action of wind or waves.
To still further prevent any possibility
OF the car being driven off shore the pad
dle-wheels are pointed and slightly
curved, SO that as they revolve in shallow
water they will catch the sand. wheel
or roller is placed beneath the car at the
stern, which allows the craft to be drawn
up on the shore. All of the machinery is
placed in the bow, thus leaving sufficient
roomsat the stern for the accomm cd alton
OF limited mum ber of persons.
In order that the position of the car may
be indicated at night large colored light
Is fixed near the bow. and when electricity
is the motive power it also serves to light
the lamp. 1t is tightly closed and can
pass safely through heavy seas.
If by any chance the car should turn on
its side while going through the water it
might be unpleasant for the occupants.
but it need not interfere with the progress
of the craft, nor would il injure those in it
beyond general shaking up. The pecu-
liar construction of the rudder and'side
wheels makes it possible to steer the craft
in any position, even if it should turn
upside down.
When used as means of transferring
persons from the stranded ship to the
shore this lifecar has many advantages
over the breeches buoy. Its occupants
are fully protected from any chance of a
wetting and the number carried on each
trip is limited only by the size of the car.
1t can be guided either by the occupants