Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/439

 Popular Science Monthly

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��buoys still on deck are sucked along in its wake. Soon, however, the life-buoys re- appear, and hatches fly open. Hands are put forth to gather in such floating bodies as come within reach. When quiet again reigns, the hatches are closed. Only a little colony of huge, bobbing, funnel-shaped buoys is to be seen where a short time before a great ship steamed along its course.

Inside the boats, the refugees are not wholly uncomfortable. The boats are roomy. People can be seated on several tiers of benches around the sides. A tank at the bottom provides drinking water and also serves as ballast. Storage- batteries and electric-lamps light up the interior. The periscope-like upper part of the craft acts as a ventilation flue. Here also the navigating officer may stand. It is impossible for water to enter as in an ordinary, open lifeboat. Even in rough weather, the refugees live in relative security. Electrically illuminated signal lights at the top, attract aid.

Thus Albert A. Unruh, of Portland, Oregon, would save life at sea. He has actually built one of his gigantic buoys, as our pictures show, and has demonstrated to his own satis- faction that the idea is sound.

Why do we cleave to the conventional type of lifeboat anyway? Is it part of the inertia that attends a craft of long

Here Elbert F. Unruh of Portland, Ore., is success- fully trying out his boat

�����Lowering the boat into the water by means of a crane in first experiments

��standing? Because the boats have al- ways been built in one way, do we keep on in the beaten track without stopping to think?

It is true that boats, as currently built, are the result of evolution, and for getting over the water are perhaps as good as can be devised. But it must be admitted that the ordi- nary boat is not without its dis- advantages when it comes to encountering a cold, winter sea, with no shield against the wind and no protection against any passing wave that wants to sweep over its sides and against the half-drowned, shivering occupants. Mr. Unruh's new lifeboat is a step in a desirable direction.

The interior of the lifeboat. Note the many conveniences

r'TACKLE GUARD

i-VENTILATINS CAP

��J,EN5 "ROD FOR RAISING CAP

���SEA LEVEL

��BUTTERFLY VALVE

��^DRINMNG WATER AND BALLAST

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