Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-21
.NON.SINKABLE LIFEBOA7 TO
BE GIVEN TEST BY NAVY

NEW YORK.-Up on the Hudson
river at 149th street, hidden from
view under. the dressing rooms of
the Manhattan Swimming Baths at
that point, there is anchored at pres
emit as queer looking craft as has
been seen on the river since the Half
Moons granddaughter proceeded up
stream during the Hulson-Fulton cele-
bration. The odd looking vessel is a
non-sinkable lifeboat, the property and
invention of Harry Fisher, of New
Zealand, who has brought it here to
be tried out before representatives OF
the United States Navy early next
month. E.. H.
1t is the assertion of the inventor
that the boat cannot be sunk unless it
is cut in half, and he says that he
has reached this conclusion only after
having submitted models of his boat
to every possible mishap that might
occur in the use of craft of its kind.
He has had experimental models crash
into heavy ships in heavy seas; has
rammed holes in the outer protec-
ton of the boat and has placed his
models in every difficult position
possible, and the result is complete
confidence in its ability to Withstand
any sort of test.
In recent LAUGHING at Toronto,
Canada, the boat was put through all
of the contingencies that might &C.
company a bungling launching, even.
to the premature parting of the single
drop used to get the boat under way,
and although the model was allowed
to drop thirty feet to the deck of the
vessel used in the test, and bound at
random into the water, 1t was practic-
ally uninjured, and its floating pow.
ers were in no way disturbed.
To glance casually at the boat one
might suspect It of anything. It is.
the last word in floating mystery,
suggesting torpedoes, mines or any
other type of submarine engine. Con-
structed entirely Of steel, the boat is
twenty-four feet long to the points Of
| its cartridge shaped ends. The outer
cylinder, which is six and one-half
feet in diameter, surrounds another
cylindersin which the passengers are
quartered, and there is clearance
of five inches between the two CYL
inders. ~ ~
The inner cylinder is so weighted
and adjusted that it remains perpen-
dlcular at all times, despite the buff
feting about of the outer shell. The
outer protection may revolve COM
pletely without interfering with the
position of the passenger car 4.
The passengers enter the boat
through two horizontally sliding doors
on the top, inside the car proper seats
OF wire netting extend lengthwise
along the sides These seats accom-
modate forty passengers, and as many
more can be carried without incon-
.yenience-in the space of the central
portion of the car In the conical
ends of the boat, which are fitted up
as observation compartments and
signal quarters, there is room for two
seamen. On the opposite side of the
entrance there are two more emerg-
ency doors, which may be used in the
event of the boat Bleaching right
side up. - - tESE 81
Food and water may be stored in
quantities in lockers, which are con-
structed under the seating space. and
an air supply is provided at all times
by valves which surround the boat
and are SO arranged that they open
and shut automatically, being closed
under water and open above the
water line. as the boat changes po-
sition. Light is provided for with
heavy batteries and also an arrange
ment of thick glass windows, which
are out of point on contact and admit
the daylight.
In the almost impossible event Of
! The boat being sunk temporarily by
| some tremendous weight, provision
has been made for shutting off of all
air outlet, thus making the loaf an
[ alright compartment. 1t is the as
| sertion of its owner that forty pas
\ sengers could remain alive three
7; minutes with the air supply in the
| boat itself
An arrangement on the principle of
| the railroad handcar turns the pro.
| peller, the passengers furnishing the
power with a rail lever, and the craft
| makes the average speed of an ordin-
| airy rowboat
One of the principal advantages ex-
| planned by the inventor is the speed
| with which the boat may be launched.