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Captain Urquhart experimenting with his Life-Preserving Raft on the Thames, 1858. Creator: Unknown
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Captain Urquhart experimenting with his Life-Preserving Raft on the Thames, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Captain Urquhart experimenting with his Life-Preserving Raft on the Thames, [in London] 1858. A craft, attracting attention by its singular appearance, has been lately experimented on by the inventor, Captain W. Urquhart, of New York, on the Thames. This new life-preserving apparatus is composed of [nineteen] mattresses connected in such a manner as to form a raft. These mattresses are intended at the same time as beds for the crew and passengers. Each of them is composed of an impervious envelope of gutta-percha, containing another, of common canvas, filled with cork shavings...A valve placed at one of the corners of the outer envelope allows it to be inflated with air...a rope...is used to strengthen the apparatus, and to lash the provisions and watercasks, giving at the same time a hold to the survivors...The apparatus, when constructed on a large scale, would be of great service in saving the crews and passengers of a ship...It might be made use of also to land and embark troops, artillery, and war materials...Wishing to test fully the efficiency of his raft, [Captain Urquhart] intended a fortnight ago to cross the Channel on it from Calais to Dover, but was prevented by the Mayor of Calais'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing photograph, Captain William Urquhart of New York is seen conducting experiments on the Thames River in London with his innovative Life-Preserving Raft. The unusual craft, drawing curiosity from onlookers, is composed of nineteen mattresses intricately connected to form a raft. Each mattress is made up of an impervious envelope of gutta-percha, enclosed by a common canvas layer filled with cork shavings. A valve located at one corner of the outer envelope enables the mattress to be inflated with air, while a rope is used to strengthen the apparatus and secure provisions and water casks, providing both buoyancy and stability. Captain Urquhart's invention, when constructed on a larger scale, holds great potential for saving the lives of shipwrecked crews and passengers. Moreover, it could also be employed for landing and embarking troops, artillery, and war materials. The inventor had planned a daring crossing of the English Channel from Calais to Dover with his raft just two weeks prior to this photograph, but was thwarted by the Mayor of Calais. This photograph, taken from the pages of the "Illustrated London News" in 1858, offers a glimpse into the groundbreaking work of Captain Urquhart and the potential impact of his Life-Preserving Raft on maritime safety and military logistics.
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