MODKltN INVENTIONS. 551 



the short terminating chains attached to the upper limbs of the forceps 

 being of a length to allow of their sufficient extension, the stopper- 

 chain is then hauled tight enough to close the forceps, and is fastened to 

 the timber-head, in-board, in the usual manner. It will be apparent, 

 that whilst the forceps are suspended by the stopper-chain, the greater 

 the weight they have to support the more firmly will they be closed 

 together. From the pivot of the forceps a shackle is brought up, and 

 permitted to play between the upper limbs ; to this shackle another 

 chain is affixed, the upper end of which is permanently attached to the 

 cat-head, near the bow of the vessel. To let go the anchor, it is only 

 necessary to slacken the stopper-chain, by which, when the weight falls 

 upon the permanently fixed chain, the short chains at the termination of 

 the stopper-chain are permitted to expand ; there being then nothing to 

 prevent the opening of the forceps, their lower limbs are immediately 

 separated from each other by the pressure of the ring of the anchor, 

 and the anchor is safely and instantaneously dropped. 



It will naturally occur, that the great weight of the anchor will cause 

 it to descend with extreme rapidity, dragging the chain-cable along with 

 it ; and that if there were not some means of checking its force, and of 

 eventually stopping it, beyond those resorted to in the use of hempen 

 cables, accidents to the chain-cable, to whatever would lie in its way, 

 and to the seamen employed in its management, would frequently take 

 place. To obviate all these mischances, we have 



BATTEN'S PATENT CHAIN-CABLE STOPPER, an apparatus which is 

 under the easy guidance of a single seaman. Although the name of 

 compressor has been (improperly) given to this stopper, it does not at 

 all affect the cable by compression, which would, in fact, be causing an 

 injury to it, but simply acts as a check to its rapidity, and as a means of 

 confining it at any required point. The chain-cable stopper is fixed 

 under the coamings of the hatchway, and is formed of two levers, 

 which, by the operation of a pulley, confine the chain in its passage 

 out by jamming it against an iron plate upon which these levers tra- 

 verse. So complete is this great nautical improvement, that the utmost 

 certainty of action may be attained with perfect ease and security, with- 

 out the slightest risk to cable, stopper, or seaman. 



" Half speed, below there !" is the order from our commander to the 

 engineer. " Starboard !" to the steersman. " Half speed it is" " Star- 

 board it is," are the ready replies. " Stop her, below there !" Her 

 progress is retarded until the tide begins to give her stern- way. " Stand 

 by the cable-stopper !" " All's ready, sir." " Let go the anchor !" 

 Downward dashes the massive instrument, and every link of the swiftly- 

 gliding chain seems to rumble forth its objection to be drawn out of its 

 tranquility, and to be immersed in the splashing stream. " Stop her I" 

 the vessel surges a little, as if reluctant to be confined, the chain is 

 brought to, and again we are safely moored. 



