Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/245

* LIFEBOAT. 223 LIFE ESTATE. craft in rough surf where the chief danger lies in being swamped by a boarding sea. The boat is rigged with righting lines, to be used in case of an upset, and is otherwise equipped for all emergencies. It can be carried on shipboard with little trouble. The United States life-saving service has re- cently made experiments in applying motive power to the 34-foot lifeboat bj' installing a 12-horse-power gas-engine, and the gears and attachments of two propeller shafts, in the after air-chamber of the boat, the only parts of the macliine on the outside of the bulkhead being the reversing levers, starting crank, and oil-cups. The gasoline and batteries are stored in the for- ward air-chamber. The construction of the boat is not disturbed in any particular, nor the self- righting qualities impaired. In the event of a capsize the engine stops automatically, and, owing to its inclosure in the water-tight compart- ment, suffers no damage or derangement. A luiiform speed of seven and one-half miles an hour has been attained by the introduction of These buoys are usually kept at convenient places on sliipboard, wharves, etc., where they may be readily detached and thrown to any one in dan- ger of drowning. More elaborate "buoys of tho circular type, used in the navy and merchant marine, are fitted with markers, so that they ma3' be easily seen when afloat, or with lights which ignite upon contact with the water or by an automatic device as they are released from their places. Life l)Uoys are also constructed of rubljer tubing, inllated, but these are liable to damage by being punctured or torn, or are apt to decay prematurely. A buoy, with an opening in the ring, shaped like a horseshoe, has been found to answer its purpose very well. See LiFE-S.wiNG Service. LIFE ESTATE. In the common-law sys- tem of Knghuul and the United States, an estate in land for the life of the tenant or of another. In quality the life estate is a freehold, and, therefore, of more importance than any lease- hold, however long; but in point of quantity, or duration, it is rated as inferior to the free- r-AA^ f.'. t^gigsJ^fetStiS?!' .:.< . if^ '^'^^_^^^^^^..^,,^^ rXITED STATES POWER LIFEBOAT. this power, which is meant to be auxiliary, and there is promise that it will prove of great value when generally adopted. For years efforts have been made to produce a successful steam life- boat, of a convenient size, but thus far without satisfactory results. There arc many other types of boats designed for saving life, the greater number being for use on merchant ships. The characteristics deemed most essential in these are lightness, buoyancy, and seaworthiness. What is loiown as the New England wlialeboat, long, rather narrow, sharp at both ends, and steered with an oar. is much favored by seamen. Collapsible boats of various patterns, which occupy little space when not in use, those invented by Berthon being among the best, are likewise employed, as well as ordinary metallic boats, the latter being less liable to injury when exposed to imdue heat and moisture. See Lxfe-Sa^ixg Service, and kin- dred articles. LIFE BUOY. A float intended to support persons who have fallen into the water until other assistance can reach them. Those in com- mon use are large rings of cork-stnfTed canvas, each about 30 inches in diameter with a life-line looped to the outer side. The wearer gets within the ring, with his arms thereon, and is sustained. holds of inheritance, viz. the fee simple and the fee tail. Historically considered, however, it is of more importance than any of these, being the original form of the fee, or feud, and the most characteristic form of feudal tenure of land. See Fee. The ordinary classification divides life estates into the 'conventional,' or such as arise by agree- ment {conveiilio}. and the 'legal,' or such as arise by operation of law. The ordinary life estate, created at common law by livery of seisin, and to-day by deed or will, belongs to the former class. The latter includes the matrimonial es- tates, curtesy, and dower (qq.v.), and a form of fee-tail estate which is no longer capable of inheritance, technically called 'fee tail after possibility of issue extinct.' But, however cre- ated, the qualities and incidents of life estates are the same. They come to an end abruptly on the termination of the life or lives by which they are measured, leaving no interest to descend to the heir of the life" tenant or to pass to his devisees under his will. Being in quantity, or duration, less than the fee out of which (as the expression is) thcv are 'carved.' the land does not L'o to the State by escheat, but returns to the holder of the fee simple as a reversion or re- mainder (qq.v.). Though a freeholder, the ten-