Evening star., 1942-09-11
Coast Guard Officials
,GarveI Over Craft,
Highly Efficient
Vessel Operated Like 1t
Was Demonstrated in
Washington in 1887
BY MALCOLM LAMBoRNE. Jr.

ny "AASoLNA LAMDohNE, Jr.
keenan, Hanley, a sandy-haired
1rishman from Prospect, Ohio, NAV
be no Andrew Higgins or Henry ],
Kaiser, but currently a strange little
s8foot boat he delivered at the
steps of Coast Guard Headquarters
has admirals, captains and COM
manders ogle-eyed with wonder
ment.
The boat. according to Designer
Hanley, who should know, is the
flrst water propelled craft to be
launched on Potomac River since
1877, when fellow named James
Runsey demonstrated to George
Washington boat operating on
the same principle.
Hanley's boat, which has been
performing all sorts of tricks for
high-ranking Government officials
In Washington Channel this week.
is the first of 101 he has contracted
to build for the Coast Guard as pro-
lection against water front fires.
The boat has gasoline engines
the number is restricted information
but no propeller, which is what
makes 1t so strange. Water centri-
fugally pumped from the river and
discharged again drives the boat
through the water. It's speed is a
secret, too, although the writer, who
was given a demonstration this week,
can attest to the fact it will be able
TO get to the scene of a fire in Just
about as fast time as larger fire.
boats now In operation here and
elsewhere.
Makes WhirIwind Arrival.
Hanley's arrival in town was al
most as whirlwind as the comings
and goings of Messers Higgins and
Kaiser. He drew up to Headquarters
with police escort, his boat perched
high on specially-built tractor
trailer. Obviously fireboat on E
street would attract attention, even
in this town. 1t did, and the crowd
included admirals and captains.
These same officers later were
taken for series of demonstrations
on the river. Great streams of water
were played high in the air, some
estimated 200 feet high, and it gave
the channel the appearance of being
lashed by tropical rain squall.
The day this writer went out, q
fireman from the local fireboat came
along. On questioning, he admitted
that the Districts big fireflghter
couldn't do better. And remember,
Hanley's boat could be placed on the
deck OF the city fireboat.
Hanley's craft will do other tricks.
too. like literally turning on a dime,
and backing and swinging in an arc
with all her nozzles pumping water
SO fast you wonder if the boat
wouldn't blow itself out of the water.
Prospect Loses It's Lethargy.
Coming East from Prospect, which
until three months-before Hanley
got the $1,060,000 contract-was a
sleepy Ohio town, the party hit a low
bridge leading up to the Pennsyl-
vania Turnpike. Some of the boats
superstructure had to be dismantled
before 1t could get through.
Prospects major industry before
last June was building fire pumps
and fire engine apparatus. This was
Hanley's business and he employed
IL men. Today his shops have been
converted to boat building, and he
employs $50 men.
Hanley said he has done lots of
research and is convinced that this
is the first propelled craft to
operate successfully since Rumsey's
The latter first experimental with
steam and gave Robert Fulton, the
inventor of the first successful
steamboat, valuable ideas on the
subject.
Hanley would like to do one thing
more here before heading back for
Prospect He would like to borrow
the Smithsonian Institutes model
of Rumsey's boat. take it down to
the water front and have it photo
eraphed beside his craft.
Also If he had time, Hanley said
ne would like to stop by Shepherds
town, w. Va. Rumsey's home town,
and give the Mayor a ride.