352 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



It will carry but one person at a time, but it is easily and rapidly 

 handled, and this fact renders it invaluable. It is made of stout 

 canvas, something like a pair of breeches for the legs, from which 

 it takes its name. From a circular float which comes just under 

 the armpits ropes are attached, which suspend the buoy from a 

 pulley block running upon the large line. It takes but a minute 

 for a man to fix himself in the " breeches," and then he is hauled 

 through the air perhaps part of the way through the water to 

 the shore. Whenever practicable, the line at the vessel is fastened 



Fig. 4. Life Cak. United States Life-saving Service. 



tight upon a mast, so that the passage may be made without im- 

 mersion. Many thousands of lives in all parts of the world have 

 been saved by this simple but efiiective device. 



The " life car " is brought into requisition when the number 

 of persons to be saved is large and circumstances require that the 

 work be done quickly, as when a vessel shows signs of breaking 

 up. It is a covered boat, perfectly tight with the exception of a 

 few small holes for the admission of the air. It may be hauled 

 upon the water by means of lines, or suspended from the hawser 

 and passed to and from the wreck. It will contain six or seven 

 persons, and is a comparatively safe and speedy means of rescue. 

 The life car was designed by Joseph Francis, who but a short 

 time ago received, at the hands of the President, a superb gold 

 medal, voted by Congress in recognition of its value. Upon the 

 first occasion of its use more than two hundred persons were safely 

 landed from a wreck. 



