57 
required, it was decided to make it upon the premises; the gas in the iron bottles already procured being 
kept in reserve in case of need. I may mention here that the gas in these bottles is guaranteed to last 
intact for years. A disused smithy served as a gas house, and the gas was evolved from potassic chlorate 
and manganese in the well-known way. The gas was received into bags, from which it was pumped by 
hand into the breather and lamp as required. The men were then sent into a room tilled with the fumes of 
burning brimstone, and were able to judge for themselves how easily the apparatus would enable them to 
defy a stifling or deadly atmosphere. The shaft, which is 580 yards deep, was free of foul air, so that the 
explorers had no need to use the apparatus until after quitting the cage, which carried them to the bottom, but 
each had his knapsack on his hack and mask ready for instant use should occasion require. The lamps had 
been lit before they left the bank. The explorers were three in number, including Mr. Fleuss himself, who, 
though totally unused to life underground, unhesitatingly led the way in this difficult and dangerous enter¬ 
prise, and that lie was willing to risk his life in the dilapidated Working of a mine filled with explosive gas 
is a valuable testimony to the efficiency of both the breather .and the lamp, and that such efficiency is real 
may bo judged from the work accomplished as detailed in Mr. Corbett’s letter, and removes these life¬ 
saving appliances from the category of ingenious contrivances, and recommends them as efficient and practical 
appliances of immense importance to the mining interest. There are also other fields where the noxious gas 
apparatus might ho beneficially employed, viz., the salvage corps, it enabling the firemen to traverse the 
densest smoke and save property and life. On board ship, whore fire may have broken out in the hold, and 
often where a bucket of water would quench the incipient flame, if the smoke would allow its seat to be 
discovered, the breather would be of immense service; also in saving the life of any unfortunate who may 
have been overcome by carbon dioxide in sowers, gasometers, ship-holds, tunnels, &c. The apparatus, 
which can remain charged and ready for instant use, for any period without deterioration, will fulfil all 
these and many other purposes. 
Tli© Melbourne Harbour Trust have also imported one of these diving dresses? 
and, through the courtesy of the Secretary of the Trust (Mr. Mouritz), I am enabled to 
give the opinion of the diver (Mr. C. Erickson) who tried the apparatus. It is to the 
effect that he has been down with the Fleuss apparatus three times, twice in Hobson’s 
Bay, and once in the Ri ver Yarra. He considers the apparatus is suitable for exploring 
purposes for short distances, if no work has to he done; but if the diver gets jammed, or 
if any heavy obstacle presents itself which he has to remove, the air in the vessel with 
him is not sufficient for him to rely on, as any extra exertion involves a much larger 
consumption of air than when merely walking about. Therefore, he (Diver Erickson) 
lias not the same confidence he would have with the pump and pipe of the ordinary 
diving apparatus, by means of which the supply of air can be regulated by signal. 
He considers the apparatus is not suitable for Harbour Trust work where heavy 
lifts have to be made , as the same freedom of movement cannot be obtained as with 
the ordinary dress, the straps binding on the knapsack apparatus confining the 
muscles of the arms and chest, and preventing their full play. 
Recently the Creswick Eire Brigade tested the apparatus supplied to them, with 
very satisfactory results. The lamp, which is a part of the outfit, was left under water 
for over half-an-liour, and was found to hum brilliantly all the time. 
The following directions for making oxygen gas for the apparatus are supplied 
by the patentees :— 
Unscrew the curved pipe of the retort, and put into it about one pint and a half of chlorate of 
potash, mixed with about one-tenth its weight of black oxide of manganese, then screw on the curved pipe 
and connect the retort to the wash tanks by the indiarubber tubes, having previously filled the wash tanks 
with water to the level of the water-cocks; a piece of caustic soda about the size of a walnut put into each 
tank will help to purify the gas. The small indiarubber tube is to be slipped over the outlet pipe of the 
wash tank, and the gas bag placed in readiness to connect up the other end of the small pipe. 
The retort should now be put on the fire, and when the gas begins to come over (which will bo 
shown by the bubbling in the wash tanks) the hag should be connected to receive it. A small quantity of 
gas should always bo allowed to pass over before connecting tlio bag, so as to drive the air out of the 
apparatus and get the gas as pure as possible. None of the indiarubber tubes should be tied, for, if the firo 
be too fierce, the gas will coino too fast, and the tubes would slip off before anything could burst. 
The retort must be taken ofi’tho fire, and the tubes disconnected, as soon as all the gas is over; the residue 
must be washed out of the retort with water, and the retort thoroughly dried on the fire before putting in a 
fresh charge; the water in the wash tanks should be changed about once a week. The oxygen should not 
bo kept in the bags longer than one week before using. 
To fill the knapsack. — Fit the pump up in a convenient place, and connect the pipe and pressure 
gauge to the outlet valve ; the knapsack should bo placed so that the pipe can be bent and shaped (which 
is easily done by the hand) until it can be screwed to the centre pipe of the knapsack. The bag of oxygen 
must be connected to the inlet valve of the pump, and the pump should be worked a stroke or two to drive 
out the air before connecting the knapsack. The valve on the end of the knapsack cylinder is to be opened 
by unscrewing it a couple of turns, arid the pump can then he worked until the pressure gauge shows a 
pressure of 240 lbs. per square inch, when the machine will be fully charged, and the knapsack valvo must 
be screwed up before disconnecting. 
The pump must be kept well oiled, and plenty of water allowed to run through the jacket to keep it 
cool. 
Attention should bo given to the following:—Before using the apparatus it should be always 
thoroughly cleaned out and recharged with tow and soda. 
ii 
