New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-15
A LIFELINE GUN
Why Should Not All Ships Be Re
uuired to Garry One?
ifnr OF The Tribune.


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: / have read your account OF the
Volturno disaster with sense OF horror
and Indignation
The loss OF life on the Volturno was en-
tirely unnecessary and easily preventable.
Every soul could have been saved by the
breechloadng life guns used by the reve-
nue. cutters Snohomsh and Acushnet with
comparative safety 10 the passengers and
entire safety TO the rescuing vessels
am having some photographs made. at the
request Of the Department OF Commerce
and Labor, showing the gun in use.
II does not seem right that oceangoing
vessels should be allowed 10 navigate deep
seas or sounds so incompletely equipped
with means for mechanical communication
In seaway.
Any seafaring man OF intelligence knows
that IL is virtually impossible 10 launch
boat safely In real rough water from any
kind OF vessel. much less from high
sided ocean liner. II is dangerous and
foolhardy and is only attempted I'm the last
extremity by those trying TO leave
wreck. From my experience with the
United States navy and the United States
Revenue Cutter Service, dating back be-
fore the Spanish war. know that few Of
fcers, even with perfectly trained men
and most modern derrick launching davit
devices. would think Of risking a launch
ing in any very rough water. It is known
to be impracticable. II not impossible. TO
pass line from one vessel TO another by
launching a boat I'm n heavy sea
Yet It Is the simplest and surest thing
imaginable to get a line aboard by aid
OF the new breechoading line throwing
guns used on the United States Revenue
Cutter Service Tugs Snohomish and
Acushnet
The writer was prompted by reading
OF the Valencia disaster. where more than
a hundred lives were lost within stones
throw OF the shore Of Puget Sound. Here
they could get no line TO the land. which
was steep rock, without beach. or to a
rescung vessel, which had to stand of
several hundred feet.
/ wrote and convinced the United States
Treasury Department Revenue Cutter Ser
vice that could construct breechload-
ing gun which would mount right on the
rail OF any vessel. which could be fired
without recoil trouble In any seaway and
which would throw line accurately to
or from vessel far enough to save the
lives on her or take in tow any disabled
craft without launching a boat.
An appropriation was made. and the
Treasury Department had built in VIII
mington, Del. two revenue cutters, the
Acushnet and the Snohomish, especially
TO be equipped with my gun. These guns
have for several years been In commits
sion on the Acushnet ut Woods Hole,
Mass, and the Snohom!sh at Port Angeles.
Wash. They have used the gun, taken In
tow many wrecks and saved many lives.
The gun. known simply as the Hill i'm
proved patent lifeline gun. consists Of a
bronze gun so mounted upon peculiar
type carriage that It can be slipped into
the rail at any given point forward or
aft, OF any vessel 1t is loaded and fred
as easily as any sporting shotgun and by
comparatively inexperienced men.
The gun mechanism is quite simple and
durable and easily placed In a few mo-
ments ready to discharge the line. Ordi-
nary brass cartridges carry the charge.
which is slipped into the breech and
snapped shut then the twenty-pound shot
inserted to which is attached the line
The gun shifts TO any direction or angle
Of elevation required and Is instantly
secured and fred. The whole operation
takes about two minutes.
In the tests Of the guns for the Acush
net and Snohomish before the board OF
revenue cutter officers OF the Treasury
Department ten consecutive shots were
fired into a gale OF wind with wonderful
accuracy at distances up TO 1000 feet
500 feet further than necessary in actual
working conditions.
The writer's motive In this invention
was the saving Of life, and he would
gladly dedicate II and consider himself