Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-04
THE SAVING OF LIFE
MANY NEW INVENTIONS SUBMIT
TED FOR EXAMINATION.
Will Be Considered by the Board That
Will Meet in Boston on the
18th Of This Month

The life-saving service of the Treasury
Department has received descriptions and
photographs of many new devices to be
laid before the board which will meet in
Boston the 14th of this month to consider
the various devices that may be available
for the improvement of the life-saving
service. Each year this board meets and
passes upon many appliances and new pat
ents. and IL any of them will improve the
life-saving service in any way the gov
eminent Is ready to take and pay for
them. At the last meeting some devices
received favorable mention from the board.
American genius has been hard at work
since that time getting new appliances and
devices ready to submit to the board,
while foreign genius has likewise some
things to offer.
Probably the concern that will prove Of
greatest interest to the board is what
the inventor calls the wireless telegraph
and marine fog signal system. The in
ventOr says that Marconi and others have
been experimenting and improving the
wireless system for ong-distance commu-
Eications, but he offers a system for short
distances, designed to protect vessels that,
from fog or other reasons, get out Of their
course and are running into danger. His
proposition Is to equip shore stations with
wireless apparatus constructed to send
ether yibf atfons to certain distances only
just far enough to give timely warning
to vessels that they are approaching
danger.
Vessels equipped with suitable apparatus
would receive warning Immediately on
entering the danger zone Of the station
equipped with shore apparatus. The in
struments on the vessel would register the
distance from shore and convey quick and
timely warning. There would be three
radial zones within which the system would
work. The first would be distance of ten
miles from shore, the second five miles and
the third less than that. When the vessel
out of it's course in a fog or at night en-
tered the ten-mile zone its instrument would
register once each minute: within the five
mile zone twice each minute The most ig
norant seamen. it is claimed, would be able
to recognize that he was running into dan
ger and change the course of the vessel
The claim is that the system will prevent
numerous wrecks.
A particularly interesting device is one
for the Illumination of the line carrying
projectiles discharged from nfe-saving sta
tons to ship-wrecked vessels. 1t is pro-
posed to attach to the shank of the pro-
These would be ignited by friction just be-
fore the hne-carrying projectile Is fired.
By this plan the people on vessel would
see the line all the way to the vessel and
located it's position when it falls. If the
device will do what Is claimed 1t stands a
good chance of adoption.
Another new proposition is a collapsible
life raft to be carried in the lifeboat and
converted into raft in case of necessity
Should the lfeboat itself be overturned or
wrecked the life raft could be 1mprovised.
A Norwegian has invented what he calls
life globe" He thinks it can replace the
lffeboatS of all vessels at sea. It has
sail and rudder attached, and there are two
little windows that look out from the bal
loon-shaped affair. 1t was recently given
trial in the English channel in a stiff
iS oln{r ra6 1ayp, cfr @>l
utility and reliability. The claim is that
it can and will withstand any gale, and
that it can be provisioned and carry many
people, protecting them from the weather
and insuring their safety.
An automatic life-belt has been put on
the market by Canadian and will be sub
mitted to the board. This belt is collaDs-
ible and may be worn at all times while at
sea. The claim is that the belt contains
chemical ingredients which Immediately in
hate 1T with gas when the person wearing
1T touches the water. The inventor says
that one great benefit Is that the heat from
the belt warns the person and prevents
cramps. Being located near the heart that
organ Is stimulated and the circulation in
creased.
A new system Of signaling between shore
stations and vessels has been arranged.
The system now in use is made up of
code of different colored lights. This sys-
tenn proposes to use one color only.
There are, as usual, many lifebOatS with
big claims, but the experience Of the life
saving service is that the present boat is
almost perfection. There are some new
devices, however, for mechanical propulsion
of these boats. The board has for long
time been considering mechanical propul-
sion for the boats. and good system would
have a chance for adoption.
A new hot-water bag, for the restoration
Of apparently drowned people. has been
patented and will be before the board. This
bag Is supposed to promote warmth and
restore circulation. or greatly aid those who
are trying to revive the suspended life.