THE MECHANICS' REGISTER,

OR

JOURNAL OF THE USEFUL ARTS, TRADES, MANUFACTURES, SCIENCE, &c.

Sir John Murray's Invention for Saving from Shipwreck. THE late frightful disasters on our sea-board, especially in the vicinity of the city of New York, by which nearly two hundred persons within the last few weeks have found a watery grave, have very justly directed the attention of the public mind to the method of effecting a safe communication between stranded ships and the shore. It has for years past engaged the attention of scientific gentlemen in this country, but more particularly in England. Various projects have been proposed. Mr. Trenghouse, suggested a rocket; Capt. Dansey, a kite; and Capt. Manby, a shell, for the purpose of carrying out a line to the ship in distress. The plan of Captain Manby, it was at first thought would answer the purpose, but it has been found attended with so much difficulty, even under the most advantageous circumstances, and in some cases favorable to its operation, it VOL. I.-A

has failed so decidedly, that it has beeti only very partially adopted in England. Indeed, from all we can learn it has not been instrumental in effecting any material diminution in the general loss of life by shipwreck. Another objection is, that from the weight of these safety mortars they are not quickly transportable. Reflections on the frequent and distressing cases of Shipwreck, led Sir John Murray, (the popular lecturer on chemistry and the author of many valuable scientific works,) to the invention of the appa ratus represented in the prefixed engraving. Mr. Murray first tried to project from a common musket an arrow with a line attached to the feather end, but the arrow became reversed in its transit through the air, and the following improved and very ingenious arrangement was therefore adopted :

"The highest figure represents the form