ROSE'S LIFE-SAYING RAFT.

Evening Star, Issue 7480, 26 March 1888, Page 2

ROSE'S LIFE-SAYING RAFT.

Mr John Rose, mariner, has thought out something novel in the way of rafts, and a model was this morning inspected at the Harbor Board's oflice by Captaiu Macfarlane. Captain Sinclair, Captain Duncan, Mr K. Ramsay, and Mr J. B. Thomson; Mr Rose being in attendance to explain the method of construction, and to point out the various purposes for which the raft can bo utilised. The raft is oval-shaped, with sharp ends, its form somewhat resembling that of tlve gunwale of a boat. The framework consists of cylinders made of canvas or any other suitable fabric, and stuffed with cork—any floating or non-absorbent material being serviceable in case of oork not being procurable. One of these cylinders forms what may be called the keel of the raft, while two others are stretched in the centre and fastened at the ends to the keel—thus forming tho oval. Qu top of these cylinders three others are placed crosswise at equal distances, the spaces between these thwart-ship cylinders being filled with cushions made of the same materials as the cylinders. Three more cylinders corresponding to tho underneath ones are placed on top, and the concern is complete, unless a netting is required, provision for this being made so that wo.iicn and children could not be washed overboard. The cylinders are fitted with a ring at each end, and the whole affair is held together by lashings and wooden stanchions fitting through the rings. Excepting these rings and the stanchions, there is nothing but life-buoy material used in making the raft. A raft 14ft long and Bft wide—this is the size Mr Rose recommends—would carry twelve men. If room were available, the raft could be kept ready for use in some place on the deck, but the lack of a spare corner b< ing a common experience on board ship, Mr Rose supposes that moat shipmasters would carry these rafts in pieces. If so, they would take up very little room. It is reckoned that two men could put a raft together in four or five minutes, and shove it overboard without mechanical aid; but in case of a sudden disaster the cylinders might be thrown overboard separately, and each one would be capable of iloating three men, and this with little danger of their being washed away. It is further pointed out that no harm would be done by this raft striking the ship; it would simply rebound, and could not possibly sink under any circumstances. Mr Rose claims that a somewhat similar contrivance was the means of saving the whole crew of the vessel wrecked in the Adriatic some years ago, all other means of rescue having proved ineffectual. Everything in connection with this raft can be used single-handed, and another point in its favor is that it is made of materials which are always ready to hand on board ship—all, that is, excepting the cork, and even this is not indispensable. If time permitted—say in a case where there was no imminent danger—the raft could easily be converted into a boat, simply by sewing canvas over tho framework, and wooden grating 3 might be placed over the floor if such were handily obtained. Paddles are supplied instead of oars, and there would be thus no difficulty in making a little headway in a : ' smooth sea. Mr Rose is no amateur; he speaks with tho authority of a man who has had practical experience of the dangers of the sea; and his remarks were attentively listened to as he detailed the methods uf construction, and pointed out tho variefl-nscs to which the raft might be put] One advantage about his raft is that it is not a costly affair ; and when we add that it is evidently. light, handy, serviceable in the worst weather, and practically indestructible, we have surely said enough to justify the mercantile conimunfty in giving the affair a trial. To the'inexpert understanding the raft &eema aa nearly perfect as anything can be. * "