258 [ASSEMBLT 



by order of the government officer wlio superintended, was full 

 of water, and the otlier full of air, showing the ability of the 

 Metallic Boat to do her work, even under such disadvantages as 

 having air on one side, and the weiglit of the water in the india 

 rubber float on the other, in a heavy surf. The ship came on 

 shore abreast of the station house, and they are ten miles apart ; 

 now, if she had struck between the two houses, or even four 

 miles from shelter, many of those we saved from drowning, 

 would have perished with the cold ; but, as it was, all were 

 landed dry and comfortable, and no one suffered, as we immedi- 

 ately put them in the house, and found the benefit of the fuel 

 there provided by government ; and this, in my opinion, shows 

 the necessity of having the stations nearer together. 



I have had much experience in wrecking, and was present at 

 the wreck of the ship " John Minturn," and now say decidedly, 

 (and many others who were present at both wrecks join with 

 me) that if we could have had the mortar and Metallic Life car, 

 we could have saved a great proportion, if not all of the souls 

 from the John Minturn, which was wrecked on this beach. 



The car is also very valuable far landing specie, jewels, silks, 

 and packages, of all kinds, that could not be saved by an open 

 boat. We can also communicate with the ship, by means of the 

 mortar and car, as soon as she strikes, without waiting as here- 

 tofore for the storm to cease, by which time she may go to pieces, 

 and all be lost. 



With the above arrangements well attended, there need be 

 few lives lost and much less property. 



(Signed.) JOHN MAXON. 



The very surf boat above mentioned, by means of which, two 

 hundred and one passengers were landed in safety, and perfectly 

 dry, was on exhibition at the Fair of the American Institute, 

 where it justly elicited universal interest. 



The Judges on Naval Architecture made the following report 

 at the 20th Annual Fair of the American Institute : 



