Saving Life From Shipwreck

SAVING LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK

IT may he travelling a littlo from tho beaten track to refer to the subject implied in the above title , bnfc inasmuch as the active work of the Craft has just at this season of the year lapsed into its wonted qnietndo , and moreover , as the saving of life aud fche amelioration of human sorrow in any of its varied forms are so nearly

akin to the principles inculcated in Freemasonry , no apology is needed for a few words of comment on fcho matter . On fcho contrary , ifc deserves as much prominence as journalism representative of the Craft can give it , seeing that onrs is tho hand ever extended to the relief of suffering , and tho redaction to a minimum the snm of

nu man woes . Happening the other day to be in conversation with a few brethren , " across tho walnuts and the wine , " our remarks veered round from a great variety of topics to tho valuable aid extended by Freemasonry to many a hamane aud merciful object , and the support rendered by the Craft to the Koyal National

Lifeboat , and other institutions whose tendency lead-: in a similar direction . One respected brother grew eloquent on fche " storm warriors " who breast the tempestuous waves , and grapplo with tho seething snrf whenever the call of duty is heard , to succour a shipwrecked crew ; and many a thrilling incident was related by our seafaring

friend aa he spoke of gallant deeds performed in rescuing precious life from the angry jaws of the insatiable sea . Ifc was evidently a pet theme with our Brother who had " ploughed tho watery main " in all conditions of wind and weather , and who had himself been saved from almost inevitable death on the iron bound shores of out

western coast . Probably here was the well-spring of his enthusiasm on the subject , which enabled him to keep up a running fire of conversation which interested us all on that congenial evening . There was no lifeboat , however , in his particular escape , which was effected by means of a hawser shot from a " rocket apparatus ; " and

this gave rise to a dissertation on the many improvements and inventions which have been matured of recent years , or aro still in embryo in the ingenious minds of those who make tho subject a life study . " By the way , " continued our versatile companion , "there is an invention for rendering aid to vessels in distress which supersedes

anything of the kind that has yefc received popular approval and adoption . Ifc was conceived in the mind of an old and respected brother Mason many years ago ; but strangely enough , though pronounced by the highest maritime authorities at home and abroad as unique in its efficacy and simplicity of working , has for some reason

or other been retarded and stifled out of official recognition . This invention , which is intended as an auxiliary to the lifeboat service , and to take the place of the present apparatus , consists of a series of projectiles . One is a tri-fluke , or folding anchor j another a cone , so constrncted thafc it can be fired from a mortar or by a rocket , or any

piece of ordnance . In pi * actice , however , a mortar is mosfc advisable . Attached to the anchor is a block , so made as to prevent its becoming choked in beds of seaweed . It will also allow knots or wind kinks to pass freely . By tho aid of this block a rove rope or double whip can be fired from the shore over a wreck , and the two

ends of fche rope being in hand , a hawser or larger rope can be immediately made fast , and passed onfc to the vessel . The whole apparatus for land service , including mortar , ropes , windlass , anchors , blocks , & c , is arranged for conveyance in a carriage 6 feet long , and 4 feet 9 in . wide . For service on board ship it requires much less

space , the carriage , & c , being dispensed with . The cone , which is similar in principle , but much lighter in weight is intended for throwing a rove rope over a ship , when wrecked near the shore , thus saving time , when time is life itself . By the mode at present in aso a single line only is fired , and the sufferers on board have to

haul upon this line to get a rove rope , whereas our Brother ' s invention gives the rove rope at once ; with far more accurate aim . A ship having . this appliance on board could communicate with tho shore , in case of disaster ; even though no help were near . The great feature of this invention is one that cannot be ovei ' -esfcimated ,

namely , the carrying of a double , instead of a single , line , thus rendering practicable immediate communication between a ship and the shore , or the shore and a wreck . " At that mom . ent—whether by accident or design I trow not—the inventor joined our company , and we were all pleased to receive an

introduction to Bro . John Banting Eogers . He , of course , was equally enthusiastic in the theme , and produced with pardonable pride , plans and photographs of the invention , which were inspected with agreeable interest and curiosity . I cannot enter into further technical details except to explain that it consists of two forms of

projectiles , each carrying a double rope by means of the block propelled from the projectile , one of which is in the form of a cone shot from a mortar over the ship in distress , and the other a tri-flnked anchor , by which a lifeboat can be launched with shore aid without "" eqairing the exertions of the crew . The chief advantages claimed

] ov the invention are unerring accuracy of aim , whereas the rocket 13 Known to be erratic in its flight , and greater rapidity of commanication between the shore and the wreck by means of fche double rope , where the rocket only carries a single line , to which the hawser has * ° be made fast by the crew on board the foundering shipalready

, exhausted , and perhaps clinging to the rigging . Supposing a vessel Was driven on to a lee shore , and the ordinary apparatus is called for ; they have to lay the rocket tube , aud try to hit her . Bufc tho r ockefc is nothing more than a big squib , and unreliable in its flight , whereas this invention cannot err , being a shot direct , subject to J CT J J — - " -- ' l

_ ne ordinary rules of gunnery . Bro . Eogers , in the course of the conversation , observed that , on seeing the rocket apparatus several times used , he was struck wifch e nQ certainty of its aim , ancl the consequent unreliability of fche r ° ckot as a missile . He accordingly studied the principles of gunnery ,

au . f ° two years worked his models in secret ; , ponding a true and satisfactory test of their efficacy . Sometime afterwards the Ship-Wrecked Mariners' Society threw out a challenge for the besfc mode ,, ^ ing life afc sea , and , amongst over a hundred competitors for * 50 prize offered , Bro . Eogers came out victoriously after an

Saving Life From Shipwreck

interesting trial of experiments afc the Crystal Palace . Since then the apparatus has been tried , under tho auspices of the Admiralty , at Portsmouth , Sherness , and elsewhere , and was favourably rocorn . mended by the Board of Trade . Ifc was tested before the Royal Yacht Squadron oil' tho Isle of Wight j before the Mersey Dock and

Harbour Board ; the Pilots of South Shields , & c , winning for itself the most cordial testimony as to its unquestionable superiority over the system favoured by the Board of Trade , and to which that department clings with a perversity which is not only wilful , but , considering the momentous issue involved , absolutely criminal .

I could quite endorse the opinion expressed that ' * why one official of the Stato should exercise his veto unchallenged iu a question of life and death—why he should hold the lives of British sailors so cheap that ho will not even grant the poor boon the inventor asks for , namely , a fair trial of his apparatus , is a matter which concerns

not merely Bro . Eogers , but the country at largo . " It is high time that Parliament intervened , and that the Board of Trade should be called to account through its President . Without entering into political questions , perhaps with the new Government about to take over the reins of office , Bro . Eogers may be ablo to appeal to them

with a greater chance of success than has attended his efforts with Liberal Presidents of the Board of Trade . At any rato I hope so , for like many other inventors our worthy brother , though in possession of a whole budget of flattering testimonials , nofc only from our own Navy and Mercantile Marine , but from foreign and colonial

governments , is prevented from reaping the deserved fruits of a labour whioh has absorbed a great portion of hia useful life . Unfortunately , he is not possessed of a superabundance of this world's goods , and the maxim of some in authority seems to be " when a man is down , keep him thero . " That is not in accordance with the spirit of

Masonry , and I sincerely trust Bro . Eogers may yet gather in a substantial harvest for his toils in the humane direction of saving life afc sea . If this notice conduces oven in the slighest degree to that end , nono will feel more highly gratified than the writer of this article .

Amidst the " feast of reason and tho flow of soul , " our evening party passed off with the utmost harmony and good feeling , and amidst the toasts proposed , none was more heartily welcomed than

thafc of prosperity to Bro . Soger ' s Life Saving Apparatus , coupled with the hope that it may soon receive the recognition it deserves afc the hands of the powers that be , aud who are alone able to bring ifc into general use for the benefit of the British sailor . So mote ifc be .

" Illustrations" for Augusfcwill—in a supplement—contain , by special permission of the Queen , an engraving by the Mersenback Company of the excellent full face portrait of Her Majesty , recently taken for her by Monsieur Walery .

The weekly meetings of the Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction , No . 780 , held afc the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , are adjourned until the first Friday in October , at 8 o'clock p . m .

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