The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-06
OLDEST OF ALL ODD CRAFT.
Cigar-Shaped Boat in which Two
Men VIII Cross the Atlantic.
From the Detroit Journal.

From the Detroit Journal
Demose Benchere and Louis Louden
young Frenchmen, employed in one of the
flour mills of Superior, Wis, are making
preparations for a novel Journey to the
land of their birth They have long had
their minds set upon visiting Paris in time
for the opening of the great exposition
but how to get there without spending half
years wages was the question that sore
ly troubled them until a few days ago.
when the problem was solved to their en-
tire satisfaction.
They propose to brave the dangers of
the great Atlantic in a small boat Of their
own continuance, which they claim will be
SO designed and constructed as to carry
them safely over the vast stretch of wa
ter, regardless of storms and mountain
waves. They will build this themselves,
and haye already purchased part Of The
material for its construction. According
TO the drawings made by one of the young
adventures, the craft will be shaped like
cigar and will be propelled by means
of three small sails. From point to point
Ii will measure just fourteen feet its width
will be five feet in the middle, and grad
ually tapering to both ends 1t win be
constructed of ordinary pine wood, with
metal protection strips and braces, and
well tarred inside and out to prevent leak
Ing. The boat will be built in two, sections
the bottom, or boat itself infwhch the
Frenchmen VIII store themselves and their
supplies, and the top, or cover, to which
the sails will be fastened by means Of de-
tachable sockets. The sections will be
constructed exactly alike, half round and
of the same size and dimensions except
for small port window at either end Of
the top, which will be expected to furnish
ample light for all purposes.
When the venturesome Frenchmen are
all ready to embark on their journey they
will seat themselves In the lower section
of the boat and fasten on the upper section
securely by means of hooks and staples
Rubber strips placed between the rims are
to make the boat water-tght and a small
rubber tube through the sash of either
window will let in sufficient air for breath
ing. The boat will have no rudder, as the
projectors concluded that such apparatus
would be useless on a rolling sea. The
sails VIII be handled by ropes. running
through the roof, and by the exercise of
ordinary skill as sailors, the young men
expect to keep the craft on its course,
except in rough sea, when the sails VIII
be lowered and the boat allowed to drift
and roll at the mercy OF the elements.
Just how long 1t will take them TO cross
the Atlantic is a matter which young Ben
ckere and Louden have been
Unable to settle in their own
minds. They viii provision the boat
for a month and count upon replenshlng
the stock from ports or passing vessels,
should 1t become exhausted before the
journeys end. They realize that the I'M
dertaking is hazardous one, but express
no fear of being able TO successfully cope
with the dangers of the briny deep. 1.-THE
Cigar will sail out Of Superior harbor
about the middle of next June, and IL ev-
erything goes well on the trip to the sea-
board, Benchere and Louden will be on
their way across the Atlantic within a
month from that date