AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 501 



put in the boat when required. The cabin windows, commenced above the 

 gunwale of the boat, would be in the sides of the raft, which, from its 

 nature, would not require water-tight sides. Around the boat, seats could 

 be fitted as in our ferry boats, the arms of which would serve as so many 

 braces to the boat, adding to its strength. Under those seats could be tight 

 compartments for provisions, water, and all sorts of stores, including water- 

 proof clothing, and a cover to form an awning, if required. 



A compass, and everything requisite to supply a boat isolated on the 

 great deep, could be stowed away in the many suitable places, not only for 

 the occupants of the boat, but the raft and other boats might find a short 

 supply. Yet, these arrangements would, in no wise, detract from its uses 

 as a cabin, a sitting or smoking-room, such as steamers especially require. 

 The brackets that might serve as ornaments to the upper part of the 

 cabin would add to the strength of the raft, and the cornice work of it 

 could be hollow, for useful purposes. Thus could be had a boat, constructed 

 partially as a life-boat, well provisioned, and a raft, also made ^jxceedingly 

 buoyant by filling the spaces between the outer and inner covering with 

 scraps of cork well packed ; such a cabin constructed of sheet-iron and 

 lined with the same, or zinc, or even thin strong wood, would not be much 

 heavier tha,n any ordinary cabin ; and though it would have le^s interior 

 space, yet, if we consi<Jer its usefulness, and, also, that many ordinary 

 cabins have a deal of space occupied with pillars and ornaments, it could 

 be of no disadvantage on that account, 



" It may appear as if such a boat would be difficult to launch ; yet such 

 would not be the case, though it might be so with the raft. But it must be 

 censidored that it would only be launched from the utmost necessity. In 

 some instances, such as the North Star might have afforded, it would 

 merely have to be detached, and then floated off. We cannot imagine, 

 without horror, what would have been the fate of that steamer and all on 

 board, were it not for the fortunate circumstance of the "Saranae" being 

 within reach ; even as it was, it was a singular piece of luck that she was 

 gotten off at all. 



" In nearly all instances of great disaster, it has been owing to the 

 •opportune proximity of some passing vessel, that the passengers and crew 

 were saved. In how many instances, within the last few years, have crews 

 and passengers been lost, their boats being unable to save them ? Possibly, 

 in many cases, unknown to us, they have held them above water with sails, 

 resting t'.iere helpless for days and weeks, merely to linger on in fearful 

 misery, to die of more fearful starvation and thirst. The numerous instances 

 where such have been picked up, attenuated skeletons, just on the verge of 

 death, some to die of fever after being rescued from starvation, only prove 

 that the passengers and crews of many missing vessels have passed through 

 the same horrors, unable to survive them, one tale for most ; no food — no 

 drink — no compass — no sails — no shelter — hurriedly crowded into small 

 boats, mingled hope and despair their only companions on the waterj'- desert. 

 ** Jiut the launching of the cabin-boat is not to be attended with trouble ; 



