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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



trial, in a sea which made boat service impossible and which utterly 

 destroyed the vessel. Another mode of using the life-car is the follow- 

 ing : By means of the shot-line, a single hauling-line, something more 

 than the length of the distance of the wreck from the shore, is drawn 

 on board, the end of it being made fast to a ring at one extremity of 

 the life-car. To a ring at the other extremity a similar hauling-line is 

 attached, the end of which remains on shore. By the first hauling- 

 line the car is dragged out through the water, as a boat, by those on 

 board, and, having received its load, is dragged back again through 

 the water by the line handled by the men on land. This method of 

 working the life-car is resorted to under certain exigencies, but is less 

 desirable than the other, because, although the people it contains are 

 safe, the car is liable to be turned over and over in its passage through 

 the breakers, much to their discomfort. 



Fig. 11. Rescue by Breeches-Buoy. 



The large majority of the vessels now stranded upon our coasts 

 being coasters (schooners and barks), with crews of from six to ten 

 men, the breeches-buoy is more commonly used. This is a much 

 lighter contrivance, and therefore easier to transport and handle, 

 weighing only twenty-one pounds, and requiring for its use less heavy 



