The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
LIFE-SAVING INVENTIONS
Many Devices to Aid Castaways
OnaAngry Seas.
Few of Multitude of Plans That
Are ReIiabIe-An Invention De-
signed by Abraham Lincoln
Tragic History of the Norton Bont.

] Few OF II muttttuuc OF runs hh.''
Are ReIiabIe-An Invention De-
signed by Abraham Lincoln
Tragic History of the Norton Bont.
The invention of some means of en-
surfing the safety of life at sea, in the
event of disaster. has engaged attention
for many years, and numerous, indeed
have been the suggestions offered. There
still remain, however, but three really
| practicable devices for the object in ques-
! tion-the lifeboat the lifecar, and the
! English buoy The lifeboat is the main
I reliance of a distressed crew at sea; the
lifecar and English buoy are employed
by the United States Life-Saving Service,
and the efficacy of the former may be
Judged from the fact that. on its first
trial. just fifty years ago last January, at
Squan Coast, New Jersey it was irstru-
mental in saving pol lives. This identical
car is doubtless familiar to persons VINO
have visited at the National Museum
The little gun used on that occasion In
carrying the lifeline to the distressed
vessel and the shot fired to the latter
have been sent. to the Buffalo Exposition.
A singular circumstance in this connec-
ton is that the wreck lay buried in the
sand for over twenty years when. after
| a peculiarly heavy storm, ii was FOUND
fully disclosed to view and the shot and
portions of the hawser and lifeline were
obtained.
The -bailing lifeboat is said to have
been invented by an English coachmaker
/ about lis years ago. 1t Is simple de-
vice. Its deck is placed above the water
line and is pierced with openings which
connect by tubes directly with the sur
face water beneath. When tbs, boat be-
comes swamped the tubes drain OFF the
superintendent liquid, which, of course,
Immediately seeks its level In addi-
ton, the boat is provided with alright
compartments, which keep it afioat and
protect it from the danger of being
crushed by the force of the waves. The
lifeboat is efficient in seas where it can
be launched. The English buoy is work
ed upon the same principle as the life
! car. being drawn on an overhead haw-
ser through the surf. 1t may be describ-
ed as a large bag, the upper portion of
| the occupants body being exposed.
In establishing a connection between
the shore and Il vessel in distress, the life
line, thin but strong rope is first at
tached to shot. which is then fired from
a mortar. The line, being thus received
on board the vessel, is passed through
pulley and its extremity returned to
shore in the same manner in which 1t
| was received A cable. or hawser, is then
fastened to the lifeline and drawn by
means of the latter, both ends of which
may be worked rom the station on shore,
to the ship, where 1t is securely fastened
| The life-car or buoy is then run along
the hawser, the LAND end of which is al
/
the passage of the apparatus to or from
the ship.
The great importance of an official rec
ognition and endorsement Of live-saving
j devices led to the establishment, by this
! Government, of q board of experts for
the examination of inventions designed
for use at United States life-saving sta
tons The necessity for such board
was admirably illustrated in the instance
of the Norton lifeboat, to which tragic
history is attached. more appalling than
/ hat Of he builder
first Eddystone lighthouse. who, cJnfi-
dent Of the efficacy OF his structure, per
ished therein upon the night of terri
BILE storm.
The Norton boat, after thorough and
careful investigation by the board OF the
e-Saving Service, was rejected as I'M
worthy. Hereupon Captain Norton, to
demonstrate the efficacy of his invention
and the fallibility of the Government eX-
perts. embarked. with his wife and niece,
Miss Annie Richerby. and seven other
persons upon his frail-lookinG craft for
a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. They
left New York on the 2ith of November.
1890. and were nevermore heard of. Cap
tain Norton was president Of the Norton
Naval and Shipbuilding Company OF New
York.
A great many devices have been in
vented by persons who. however praise
worthy their motives, would seem la
mentally deficient in a practical knQwl-
edge of the ocean and its terrors. Many
such appliances would answer admirably
upon the placid bosom Of a river or small
AXE and then only for brief period.
Thus there have been patented inflated
suits, life RATS. and the like. without
number, but their originatOrs seem to
have little idea of the power Of heavy
sea or the difficulty Of sustaining life for
any length of time in a cold element.
There have been safety sofas, chairs.
| and the like. upon which a shipwrecked
person could recline at ease in the water.
/ One thoughtful genius provided, in
safety suit, for the stowage in a con-
| venient pocket Of a bottle of alcoholic
stimuants, use of which in such stu
alton could scarcely be objected to by
ventors of such devices reside in inland
districts. and. in all probability, never
saw the ocean in their lives.
1t is only few days ago that captain
Pepper. of the Life-Saving Service, receiv-
ed a letter from young lady in the
country sta,+ag that she had been in
| formed that the Government was in need
| of a life-saving appliance and affirming
her intention to invent such a device
without delay. The difficulties of the un-
dertaking were represented to the fair
aspirant for inventive honors, together
with a warning to keep out OF the way
of speculative patent attorneys, and she
has not been heard from since.
Many odd kinds of lifeboats designed
to ride safely over the most furious
breakers have been devised, one of these.
model of which is to be seen at the
Patent Once. being the invention of
J ! Abraham LincCin. Unfortunately. it was
not considered practicable enough for a
trial. One of the most extraordinary in
| ventiol:s of this kind is that known as
Fox's ''Earuum Cum" which is designed
to prupel N a distant vessel in distress
a boat IN DO. sh-pe of light steel shell,
contain - n nan and methods for bring
ing the g to shore. The inventor,
Mr. Fox. b ~ describes his device and its
use:
The Inflated ship is nearing the coast
to which il was bound. but cannot on
account Of the fury Of the sudden gale
get safely to port. The breakers in the
e immediate vicinity of the life-saving sta
tiCn tell that dangerous rocks have been
. struck, and we witness the sinking of ..
noble ship and the drowning of her crew.
. An alarm is sounded. Immediately the
service men run out to the beach, taking
with them the Fox gun, which is always
5 ready at the station, like a fire eng!n
The horses are now unhitched and the
gun waiting for the landsman on shore
to make fast the line pin. He is driving
it into the sand with a hammer. II Is
called the shore spike and has a long
S fiat, trowel-like point similar TO that OF
an anchor. The forward part Of the gun
wagon has underneath ii a hollow drum
: which rolls around like the other wheels
at the rear of the wagon and serves 10
run the wagon TO the water This hollow
drum acts float and when the huge
: tidal waves come in the wagon bed is by
this means converted into floating bat
4 terry or stage.
, Now IL will be seen that so soon as al
hands are on the spot. and the relief boat