£gg SAVING LIVES IN CASE OF SlftPWR^CK. 



ready for firing at any time it might be judged necessan'j 

 The handspikes or poles the line is reeled upon preserve 

 it in a horizontal form ; and they are not to be drawn ctut 

 until the instant of tiring: in thia manner the line will deli- 

 ver itself freely. 

 Eift. The live rvater casks should also be prepared in readiness, 



by lashing them together, and a seaman's chest fixed upon 

 the top of them, having part of its ends or sides cut out, 

 in order to let out such water as may be thrown into it by 

 the surf. I dare undertake to land with such a float upon 

 a lee shore any where upon the coast, when it might be 

 deemed unsafe for a boat to make good its landing. 



7th. There is every reason to conclude, that this contriv* 

 ance would be very useful at all ports of difficult access 

 both at home and abroad, where ships are liable to strike 

 ground before they enter the harbour, as Shields Bar, and ' 

 other similar situations, when a line might be thrown over 

 the ship, which might probably be the means of saving both 

 lives and property ; and moreover, if a ship was dr'nen on 

 shoi^e near such a place, the apparatus might easily be re* 

 moved to afibrd assistance ; and the whole performance is 

 so exceedingly simple, that any person, once seeing it done, 

 would not want any further instructions, 



JOHN BELL. 



tVoolwich, Aug, 29, 1791- 



Some farther Observations mcds hy Lisutenant Bell, upon 

 ike Application of the Mortars intended for throwing a 

 Line on Shore, in case of a Ship being stranded. 



The mortar 1st. In trading ships, this piece would answer for making 



for siiiSs^" signals of distress, by filling the chamber with powder, and 

 well wadding it, as the report would be heard some miles 

 distance at sea. 



2d. Such a gv;n, being accompanied with a few rounds 

 of round and grape bhot, would defend a ship much better 

 than a longer gun, against any piratical or other hostile 

 intentions, as, from its shortness, it would be more readily 

 loaded and iired with a lar,ger charge each time. 



3d', Accidents from a g'ln bursting, which may arise 



from 



for signals, 



