DESCRIPTION OF CLIFF-CRANE FOR THE RESCUE OF PERSONS SHIPW (For the Mechanics' Magazine.) 当 bstbauska cable to such parts of our coasts as consist of abrupt and perpendicular cliffs, washed by the waves, which preclude the possibility of rescuing any ill-fated mariners that may be stranded at their feet, except by mechanical means from above. A most important consideration with respect to any machine contrived for such a purpose is the absence of all ihat is complicated; simplicity of construction being, doubtless, the surest guarantee for successful operation. This will appear the more evident, when it is borne in mind, that if ever called into action, it would probably be amidst scenes of confusion and distress-perhaps too in the darkness of the night. . In such cases it too frequently happens that more zeal is shown than discretion-all are eager to lend a helping hand, but few aware how assistance may best be rendered; and under such circumstances, complicated tackle of any description might not only render abortive the means of relief intended, bùt in all probability lead to fatal results. Against these fearful contingen, cies, the inventor of the present apparatus appears to have effectually provided. Simplicity and power are at once combined in this machine. There is nothing to adjust, which can lead to confusion or failure, while no less than four individuals at a time, may with ease be raised or lowered in the carefully.constructed cradle attached to the machine. Nor is it in saving life alone, that Mr. Johnston's apparatus may be rendered available. Property as well as human beings may be rescued from destruction by its simple, but effective machinery. The accompanying perspective view and plan (fig. I and 2,) which are copied from the Report of the Royal Humane Society for the present year, exhibit the construction of the apparatus and the mode of working it so clearly as to require but little explanatory description. A is a box or well for rocket or mortar apparatus, if required. B, pin-bolt for securing or adjusting the beam. C, sparshores or stays. D, catch-wheels aitached to roller. E, ballast-box; ff, hooks for attaching hand-ropes to assist in the Fig. 2. marterly and workmanlike manner, and only two cases where is braced with iron in every part where assenger engines have Let us ventore to hope that in a mari. istant, and saw engine set by the philanthropists of Brighton sd been cut through, for Dot be list sight of; and that wherever esgine dii get off, whe. similar beal circumstances exist, andet, or retain its vertical and influential individuals, Associations yself no doubt as to the may bappily kave been formed with aid at, yet bring aware rien to the preservation of the lives of all probability, base an Our brave mariners, the Chff Crane will. $25.1073 odst. 1 i tiltr: 1.3. Ani zn the poster all la Lluv MOTILATOVYOTEZ 485 draught if necessary. 00, roller over but of repair, with wbieh the erane- bean runs. G, presso hree-eighths of an was led, in consequence, to inspect the enlever. The wieker eradle, the dimen- likely, therefore, to gine very minutely. The engine No. 18 is mounted on four sions of thich are 3 feet 6 inebes, by considered to have wheels ; diameter of the driving wheels 5 feet 2 feet 8 inches at top, and the depth fact that the com 6 inches ; that of the others (or fore-wheels) fiet 4 inebes, is filled with light iron liable to fall down 4 feet; the framings and bearings are inside grating for the botton, as ofering less y possibility break. the wheels. I found the fore-axle cut through resistance to the upward current of wiod onnected with the about 3 inches inside the bearings of the in its descent . Canvas fenders, stuffed ly to occur in ordi near wheel; the longer section of the axle with cork sharings , pass round the sides lowing reasons : had dropped about half an inch below the A strong net-work protects the beads of ff the road. i a state to require shorter one. As I had expected that the the occupants . The seats are placed low ; below our standard bearing was sufficiently broad to retain the andare Doreable at pleasure. Ropes to pre axle in its truly horizontal position, even reat falling over the cliff are added. As o in the place most when cut through, I made particular inthe machine is adjusted in the engraving quiries as to the state of the brasses, and ine if a fracture were so the froat page, the rope will clear the was informed that they were much worn; in face of the cliff about 6 feet, but be run re it would probably fact, the engine had been sent into the shops for the express purpose of having them re. ning out the bram to the last boli-bole . to observe, that from newed, but that it had been determined to it would clear the clip 12 feet. On the line was opened, to try the experiment before the execution of cradle or basket being drawn to a level ere has not been a any repairs. with the surface, the machine is intended uccident to our fore. After satisfying myself on these points, I p be drawn back wards budily ; so as to jly been driven on its k axles have broken, went to Pinner Park gate, to inspect the poInd the rescued in safety; and then con for repair, and in sition of a proposed new station ; whilst aguig moved forward for further opera. en its train to a star there No. 18 came up, with a train of six loaded goods' waggons. I got on the enThe cost of the apparatus, waish, bv es two only have oc bat of the few cases of gine, and when we had proceeded about six order of the Committee of the Brighton gines. miles, we ran off the road ; the speed at the time was from 15 to 20 miles an hour. The Branch of the Royal Humane Socier , important facts may engine went about 200 yards before it was shed : brought to a stand, striking, in its passage, scarcely 492., including the engines in use on the against the chairs and sleepers with great iam Railway the fore. violence. It was evident from the motion that for some considerable portion of this experimentally broken distance, the engine was fairly forced for ward by the momentum of the train behind, none of the waggons of which, or the tender, having followed the engine off the road. On examining the engine after the acci. dent, there was no appearance of any de rangeinent of the machinery; the tires of the EDWARD BURY. wheels were deeply indented by coming in contact with the chairs. Bury, Esq. The engine maintained her vertical posi. d Birmingham Railway, tion, was replaced upon the rails in about 20 minutes, and proceeded to her destination. was at Wolverton on Whilst upon the journey, I did not notice any unusual motion; and had I not seen start on an experimental that the fore-axle wa4 evered, I should not have been aware of the fact. man of the shops, in. On the whole, I consider the experiment 'our directions the fore. as highly satisfactory, for although I did not expect that the enrine would have gone off aining, 1st, whether the the road, yet her basing dme u w 13 a much ut state, keep the road; mor" satisfactory test of its safety as a pres. og eozine, tian could otherwise have bern attaia:. Hai mer be anyt! 2 in the construc. tios we would reader it liable to pc, I fed pran11-i thatevigent antion of the train against the fort-bourd tu zat hye prs. has been established there, amounted to Cruk-rope, and the whole of the auxiliary a so mi broken. ges; bat this sum is exciusire of the shed prepared for its reception. The oarable circumstances, machine ist has been built in a noust jabled. And, greater strength is required; the mia les were not disabled. , or plate, Serched to its upper surface o the possiblity of its yželding in the event of any extra weight being imposed a Town, May 39, 1612. prevent apon it . titne euntry, such as the United King. dom, around the coast of which the in. mest appalling ships reeks are of such frequest securrence, the excellent example the erectiva of this uxfal apparz'u vill under the favoring auspices of benevolent ere long, be in universal use. Well-e arquited to notice a small + # of the castruction, I ner hure bren eternit-j anta at mine DESCRIPTION OF CLIFF-CRANE for the RESCUE OF PERSONS SHIPW (For the Mechanics' Magazine.) The accompanying perspective view and plan (fig. i and 2,) which are copied from the Report of the Royal Humane Society for the present year, exhibit the construction of the apparatus and the mode of working it so clearly as to require but little explanatory description. A is a box or well for rocket or mortar apparatus, if required. B, pin-bolt for securing or adjusting the beam. C, sparshores or stays. 1), catch-wheels attached to roller. E, ballast-box; ff, hooks for attaching hand-ropes to assist in the Fig. 2. PERIFICATION OF THE TX strewed on its upper surface to prevent Bury, Esq. time country, such as the United King. start on an experimental not be lost sight of; and that wherever engine did get off, whe. and influential individuals, Associations yself no doubt as to the Tiek to the preservation of the lives of ill probability, have an our brave mariners, the Clif Crane will tablishing or condemn. duced that result. And as this point could M. - Ivev 485 draaght if necessary. 00, roller over which the erane-bean runs. G, presso three-eighths of an y out of repair, with was led, in consequence, to inspect the en gine very minutely. lerer. The wicker cradle, the diren. re likely, therefore, to The engine No. 18 is mounted on four sions of which are 3 feet 6 inches, by se considered to have wheels; diameter of the driving wheels 5 feet 2 feet 8 inches at top, and the death nt fact that the com 6 inches ; that of the others (or fore-wheels) feet 4 inches, is fried with light iron t liable to fall down 4 feet; the framings and bearings are inside grating for the bottom, as offering less y by possibility break. the wheels. I found the fore-axle cut through resistance to the upsard current of wind connected with the about 3 inches inside the bearings of the in its descent. Canrass fenders, stufid kely to occur in ordi near wheel ; the longer section of the axle with cork shavings, pass round the sides. following reasons : had dropped about half an inch below the A strong net-work protects the heads of off the road. in a state to require shorter one. As I had expected that the the occupants. The seats are piaced low bearing was sufficiently broad to retain the andare moreable at pleasure. Ropes to pre vas below our standard axle in its truly horizontal position, even when cut through, I made particular in. rent falling over the cliff are added. As two in the place most quiries as to the state of the brasses, and the machine is adjusted in the engraving gine if a fracture were was informed that they were much worn; in on the front page, the rope will clear the iere it would probably fact, the engine had been sent into the shops free of the cliff about 6 feet , ba? by run for the express purpose of having them re. ning out the beam to the last bolt-hole , a to observe, that from newed, but that it had been determined to it would clear the elif 12 feet. On the line was opened, to try the experiment before the execution of tradle a basket being drawn to a level there has not been a any repairs. with the surface, the machine is intended ink axles have broken, accident to our fore. After satisfying myself on these points, I to be drawn backwards bodily; so as to ably been driven on its went to Pinner Park gate, to inspect the poland the rescued in safety; and then rton for repair, and in sition of a proposed new station ; whilst şdia moted forward for further epera- aken its train to a star there No. 18 came up, with a train of six loaded goods' waggons. I got on the enthat of the few cases of gine, and when we had proceeded about sir The cost of the apparatus , which , by sles two only have oc miles, we ran off the road ; the speed at the order of the Committee of the Brighean engines. time was from 15 to 20 miles an hour. The Branch of the Royal Humane Society , is important facts may engine went about 200 yards before it was ished : brought to a stand, striking, in its passage, e engines in use on the against the chairs and sleepers with great violence. It was evident from the motion lgs; but this sum is exclusive of that for some considerable portion of this the sled prepared for its reception. The vourable circumstances, nexperimentally broken distance, the engine was fairly forced for ward by the momentum of the train behind, masterls and workmanlike manner, and e only two cases where none of the waggons of which, or the tender, is braced with iron in every part vlere passenger engines have having followed the engine off the road. On examining the engine after the acci. greater strength is required the main ines were not disabled. dent, there was no appearance of any de faithfully, rangeinent of the machinery; the tires of the EDWARD BURY. wheels were deeply indented by coming in contact with the chairs. The engine maintained her vertical posiad Birmingham Railway, tion, was replaced upon the rails in about 20 on Town, May 30, 1842. minutes, and proceeded to her destination. was at Wolverton on Whilst upon the journey, I did not notice any unusual motion ; and had I not seen that the fore-axle was severed, I should not have been aware of the fact. On the whole, I consider the experiment four directions the fore. as highly satisfactory, for although I did not d been cut through, for expect that the engine would have gone off aining, 1st, whether the the road, yet her having done so was a much it state, keep the road; more satisfactory test of its safety as a pas. senger engine, than could otherwise have er, or retain its vertical been attained. Had there been anything in the construction which would render it liable to upset, I feel persuaded that the violent action of the train against the foot-board must have pro bus been established ibere, amounud to scarcely 40, including the erane- rope , bam Railway the foreand the whole of the auxiliary appro- a broken. machine itself has been built in a ta't isabled. And, urs, apon it. . bean especially being strengibered throoghout , by an iron band, or piale, the posibility of its yielding in the event of any extra weight being imposed Let us Feature to hope that in a marj- astant, and saw engine dom, around the coasts of which the on. most appalling shipwrecks are of such fire man of the shops, inquest decurrence, the excellent example set by the philanthropists of Brighton in the election of this useful apparatos vill similar local ercumstances exist, and onder the favoring auspices of tercevolent may happily i.ave been formed with a ment, yet being aware ere long, be in universal use. Sote-Vie ate quested to notice 3 emell S'i of this construction, I never have been determined until an engine |