SAVING LIEF AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9015, 30 March 1888, Page 6

SAVING LIEF AT SEA.

The helpless position of vessels after collision at sea has stimulated human ingenuity to devising means of escape for the hapless voyager, and rafts, life-belts, buoys, and various other means of floatage have been invented, to which shipwrecked people may betake themselves when the vessel in which they have been travelling hfis been engulphed in the sea. The incomparably more important duty of saving the ship itself from sinking has not received the same amount of attention, apparently in the belief that the attempt would be labour lost. This duty, however, is the one proposed in the invention of Mr. James Holmes of this port, whoso exceedingly simple but ingenious contrivance has recently elicited the very warm interest of our late distinguished visitor, Admiral Fairfax. With reference to this, the Admiral's secretary, before leaving, wrote to Mr. Holmes : " Sir,—With reference to your invention of a Collision Mat, of which you have shown the model and personally explained the manner of working, 1 am directed by the Rear-Admiral Commander-in-Chief to inform von that ho has forwarded the sketches of the Mat to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as you requested : and in the letter enclosing them he remarked : ' I saw the model, and was struck with the simplicity of the invention. which appeared to act admirably.' —I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, Charles Pawsey, secretary.'" As we are likely to hear more of this interesting contrivance, we have taken the opportunity of making a careful observation of it and of its modus operandi, and as the saving of life at sea is a subject of interest to every member of the community, we propose to describe the invention as simply as we can for the benefit of our readers. This " collision apron," a-< it is called by its inventor, or " collision mat," as it is called by the Admiral, consists simply of a double sheet of canvas, of some nine feet by six, with transverse battens of wood from six to nine inches apart, stitched in between the two webs of canvass. This apron is supposed to be kept in a convenient place on deck, and rolled up. On a collision occurring, and in the event of a rent being made in the side of the vessel below water-mark, the apron, which is of light weight and easily carried, is brought, in its rolled-up condition, to the portion of the deck in the vicinity of the leak, and being lowered to the surface of the water, and a little below it,—one end of the apron being attached to the bulwarks— eddy that is caused by the intlow of water seizes Oil the roll of the apron, which the rush of the water rapidly unrolls, the apron thus travelling downward with great. rapidity, until it. has reached and covered the lowest jwrtion of the rent, thus effectually stopping the flow of water into the ship. It is this automatic action of the apron in unrolling and travelling downward, propelled by the rush of water, that is the most remarkable part of the whole contrivance: and a more singular sight we have rarely wit nessed, than the rapidity with which the thing shoots like a snake round the bilge of the model, to which it adheres with a tenacity that apparently nothing would move, having the whole weight of the water from without pressing it into its position. It might be supposed that some leaden or iron weights might be requisite to make the unrolling apron descend in the water. But notning of the sort. With the force of he rushing water catching on the roll of the apron, it shoots downward like lightning. and the roll has hardly escaped from the hand till it has extended its full length over the lowest extremity of the cleft, instantly stopping the entire flow of water. It is needless to say that the inflow of water being thus stopped, it is competent for the ship's company to secure the position. This may be done by passing iron chains under the bows of the vessel, passing them backwards until they are brought over and around the apron, securing it in its place. But even this seems unnecessary, with such tenacity does the apron keep to its position, pressed to it by the force of water from without; while plenty of time being thus afforded, a sail or anything else may be drawn over the apron making assurance doubly sure. Subsequent details would suggest themselves to any mariner, for the inflow of water being stopped, of course the rent in the vessel's side can be approached from within, and by shoring up and otherwise strengthening the stoppage, the vessel may be made absolutely safe for continuing her voyage to the nearest port. Indeed, even this would seem to be almost unnecessary, for so firmly is the apron kept in its position by the pressure of water from without, that there seems every probability that without any assistance but the apron itself, the vessel could make for a port of safety. A difficulty that suggested itself to the Admiral, and which probably may suggest itself to others, is the possibility of the fracture being of such a ragged kind that a beam or a fragment of iron plate may be projecting from the side of the fracture, so as to impede the progress of the unrolling apron. But this difficulty has been combated in the action of the model, and it has been proved that even it a plate projected from the side of the fracture for three or four feet, so forcible is the rush of water acting on the roll of the apron that the apron rushes over the obstacle, and clinging to the ship instantly stops the in-flow of water apparently as effectually as if the edges of the fracture were smooth and unjagged. It will be interesting to know that the model and its operation have been examined by experts, ana that their uniform opinion is that the invention is a success. Mr. James Stewart, M. Inst. C.E., writes : " I have much pleasure in expressing my conviction of its great importance and simplicity. The experiment by which you show the fact that the apron is self-acting, equally in either a moderate or violent inrush of water, is most conclusive ; and I believe that you have made a great and important discovery. So much so that I think the carrying by every vessel of a certain number of these aprons of various sizes ought to be made compulsory, just as other and less important life-saving devices are now, by law."

Captain Clayton writes : "It is, in my opinion, when properly used after a collision, capable of saving many lives and much property." Mr. Duncan, chief engineer of the s.s. Macgregor, writes, " Having seen your patent collision apron practically .applied, I have much pleasure in testifying to its value for such a purpose. Being automatic in its action of uncoiling itself and so simple in its adjustment, it ought to commend itself at once to steamship owners. No vessel carrying passengers should bo without one or more, and it is only a matter of time, in my opinion, when it will be compulsory for vessels to carry such an article. Its adoption will no doubt lessen insurance premiums on stock and cargoes, and add much to the safety of sea voyaging." Besides another letter from Admiral Fairfax in his own hand, in which he expresses his satisfaction at the success of the experiments, proving that the apron would still act over " fractured edges turned ouo," a commendatory testimony from the commander of 11. M.s. Raven, and many others, there is a testimonial to its thorough efficiency from a long list of masters of vessels, marine engineers, shipbuilders, and others, in which they say that " the invention is a most valuable one, and calculated to materially lessen the risk to life and property at sea."