The sun., 1897-05-09
A XovEL STEAM LIFEBoAE
The Royal Institution's New Craft E1ss Nclhe'
screw Nor Paddles.

At the annual meeting OF tho Royal National
Lifeboat Institution, held in London the other
day, Il was announced that q now steam life
boat would shortly be added TO the fleet Of this
famous institution. Tho new boat is being built
by Mossrs. Thornycroft at their shiDbulding
yard at Cheswick. and will be placed on the
New Brighton station-at tho mouth OF the
river Mcrsoy-and will be named The Queen.
The new lifeboat looks Just what she is-an
overgrown lifcboat, minus oars and plus a
funnel. Her great popularity is that shc hns
neither screw nor paddle wheels. Instead Of the
usual propeller she has pump. Experience
has shown that in lfcsaving a screw is dan.
Rerous thing; in the first place. nncty.nine
times out of hundred the boat must put out in
the widest weather. On such occasions tho
waves toss a boat Of tho size OF the Queen
so recklessly about that every few minutes
the screw, IL she had screw. would
be spinning madly in mir, TO the great
danger of the machinery. This is only one Of
the great dangers to which the ordinary propcl-
lers are subjoct;. another one almost as serious
ing ship, ana the danger OF the screw being. rem
dored useless by coming In contact with drift
N%S With ali s e Sndes S EeT SS
tory results, A centrifugal pump takes II, in
great force through q second ,orihce ex:
Se hhhps that besS orse, ss Jet Sbs
look very much like those from which
torpedoes are shot, are nine inches In diameter.
The propelling power obtainnble from the lets
new lifeboat is built of steel and divided longi-
tudinally as well as laterally into watcrtight
compartments. There are four big lateral divi.
sions: tho first the bow in which stores and
necessarics will he carried then the boiler room:
next the engine room. in which is also the pump;
and finally tho cockpit, the only open space In
In tho cockpit stands tho Captain, with the
steering gear and tho lever that regulates the
pumps within reach OF his hand. So artfully
man can exercise absolute control over the boat
without the need of communicating with the
engineer. For instance; by manipulating these
tionary. while all the time the engines are work.
ing at full speed. The sluice valves made of
gun metal, can divert the flow of water at pleas.
the handle in the cockpit the water in the cen
trfugal pump Ia shot astern; II the boat is to go
astern the water is elected forward II the boat is
policy. and divert half the volume OF water
astern and half forward. Should IL become
necessary to turn rapidly In small space of
astcrn, while the starboard valve directs 1t for
ward, or vice versa. The boat carries but one
mast. this being placed forward Of the funnel.
and is not intended for sailing purposes so
much as for the purpose Of steadying the boat.
Near to the mast is a sturdy and compact
capstan engine. and in the cockpit is
and length in case It should be necessary
to tow a ship in distress. No storm that
blows can thwart this solidy built. capable
head" and right herself again with no great
shaking up. However, the steam lifeboat is not
tion of circumstances required to capsiZe her is
quite beyond the realms OF probability.