No. 149.] 257 



and New-Jersey are lined with his life preserving cars, and 

 boats, under appropriations by Congress. The coast of Florida 

 and Texas are to be. I have recently read the following letters 

 respecting Francis' Metallic Surf-Boat, which have given me 

 great pleasure. 



Cape May Court House, 

 Lieut. John McGowan: 



Dear Friend — I am just off the beach, Ludlam's, immediately 

 opposite the boat house, where there is a large steamer ashore, 

 the Eudora, from New- York, bound to California. Knowing your 

 desire to know how the Metallic Surf-boats work, it affords me 

 great satisfaction to acquaint you, I landed all the passengers 

 this day and their baggage through a heavy north-east surf with- 

 out diificulty. My men remarked, " It was only fun to play in 

 the breakers with her." She is the finest thing I have ever 

 seen for the purpose for which she is intended, and does the In- 

 ventor great credit, I have acquainted Mr, W, R. Jones, of 

 New- York, with her performance. 



(Signed) R. C. HOLMES. 



Collector of the Customs. 



J^ew-Jersey^ March 13, 1850 



] 



Squam Beach, Monmouth Co,, 



Walter R, Jones, Esq., 



President of the Board of Underwriters of Jfew- York. 

 Sir — I was present, and superintended, and sent the line on 

 board the ship " Ayrshire," on the 12th of January, 1850, and 

 by means of the Metallic Life Car, we landed in safety her pas- 

 sengers, in all, two hundred and one, which, in my opinion, at 

 that time, could not have been otherwise saved, as the sea was 

 so bad that no open boat could have lived. We attached the 

 line to the shot and fired it from the mortar. It fell directly 

 across the wreck, and was caught by the crew on board, and the 

 hawser hauled off, to which we attached the Metallic Life 

 Car, and pulled her to and from the wreck through a ter- 

 rific foaming surf. Every soul, men, women, children, and 

 infants, came through the surf during that cold snow storm, dry 

 and comfortable. During the whole time of landing these per- 

 sons, one of the India rubber floats put around the cars outside, 

 [Assembly, No. 149. J E 



