The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-26
ANEW LIFB-SAVING DEVICE
The Navy Department Well Pleas
ed With the Carley Float.

Easily Accommodated on ships and
Capable of Rendering Great Ser
vice in the Event of Disaster Mt
Seattle Experiments Satisfactory.
The Navy Department has adopted u
novel live-saying apparatus for the equip
ment Of waTshiDs in the future. 1t is
what is known as the CarIey lffe-saving
float and the specifications for a number
Of the ships which are now being con
structed for the navy require that they
shall be provided with these Iife-savinE
devices The effort of the department has
been TO obtain an apparatus which would
fulfill a number Of specific requirements
Among these are capacity for holding a
large number of persons. and at the same
time be so small as to occupy the least
possible space upon the deck of the ship.
and also be very light; also that the de-
vice should be in constant readiness for
the moment when needed requiring no
preparation beyond the cutting of it's
lashinss, and that it should be capable of
being picked up by few hands and cast
overheard without the need OF tackle OF
davits- It is asserted that this apparatus
meets all of these required conditions.
It consists of a copper tube with many
alright compartments strengthened by
fins. its shape being an elIipse, somewhat
fatteHed. The tube is encased in a
sheathing of cork. finally wound with
canvas, and made absolutely water-tight.
Attached TO this fat is a rope netting,
three feet deep from which is suspended
wooden Slated bottom The netting is
suspended on the inner side OF the float
from rings which travel on lashings. thus
through and be in the right po-
sition no matter which side of the float
falls upon the water when it is thrown
overheard from the ship in a moment of
hurry and excitement 1t does not require
being righted, adjusted or turned about,
but is always in proper position and
ready for occupancy the moment it strikes
the water. Oars are attached TO the sides
of the float by which it is easily maaipu-
lated when it is occupied.
The floats are so constructed that sew
eral of them of different dimensions may
be nested together, and thus space greatly
economical on the vessel In this manner
support for many persons may be con-
densed into the space often occupied by a
single raft of the old style Three of these
fats nested together only fill a space four
teen - nine feet and two and One-half
>
and stretched out for use they will hold
and support from drowning eighty or
ninety persons, exclusive Of those who
may be supported by life lines.
The point is made IN favor Of this craft
that it cannot be sunk with all the per
sons who are able to get aboard ct, and,
unlike the lifeboat, it cannot capsize or
founder, nor, Ike 4 raft go to pieces
against the sides of a sinking ship from
which it Is cast The seas may toss. but
it cannot wash the occupants out Of the
float
The Navy Department has made a num-
Der Of experiments with devices for life
saving and various kinds Of apparatus for
preventing those aboard ship TO go down
10 watery graves in case of accident at
sea, and this float has proved the most
suitable A test. which proved highly
satisfactory, was made some time ago at
the Cbarlestown Navy Yard, Massachu-
sets, under the direction of the naval con
structor there, and a report was submit
ted by him 10 the department recommend
ing the adoption OF the CarIey float Not
long ago an order was placed for sixteen
floats of four different sizes. and they
have been put aboard some of the Shfus
now in commission a number Of other
ships, which are now being built, viii be
equipped with them.
The army transport service IS also con
si5ering the ACCESSIBILITY Of adopting the
same sort of float for use upon the trans
ports A trial, which proved quite salts
factory, was made some time ago aboard
the ira nspoTt Wright Two sets have been
oTGered for use on the ingalls,. which re-
Gently met with an accident while in GTv
dock in New York Il is thought that q
float built something on the order OF this
one, but with q more solid and less NOV
able bottom. may be utilized in lightering
vessels, especially ia getting horses
ashore