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Story
May 11, 1903
Rock Island Argus
Rock Island, Rock Island County County, Illinois
What is this article about?
French inventor M. Zuchowiecki tests a kite-based life-saving device in La Rochelle to carry ropes from ships to shore in strong winds. The apparatus, with air bags and paddle, succeeds in gales from 500-1,500 yards, witnessed by M. Pelletan's secretary. Likely adoption by French navy and merchant ships.
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NEW LIFE SAVING DEVICE.
Kite Designed by Which Ropes Can
Be Carried Ashore From Ships.
M. Pelletan, the French minister of
marine, has placed a vessel at the disposal of M. Zuchowiecki of La Rochelle
for the continuance of his interesting
experiments with a life saving apparatus, says a Paris dispatch to the
Chicago Inter Ocean. This consists of
a large kite of oiled cloth with four
air bags in the head to maintain its
equilibrium. The kite's tail consists of
six cloth pockets in the form of fire
buckets, suspended one above the other. At the end of the tail rope a
strongly built paddle is fixed.
The great difficulty in shipwrecks
near shore always has been in getting
a rope aboard to establish communication with land. A strong wind invariably blows inshore. Zuchowiecki
suggests the carrying of a life saving
kite on every vessel, as an inshore
blowing wind would make it easier to
carry a rope from a vessel ashore than
vice versa. If rocks made it dangerous for the man with the rope and life
belt to travel to shore steering with
the paddle, a dummy could be substituted. Otherwise the man guiding
himself with the paddle can reach the
shore with great rapidity.
Zuchowiecki threw himself into the
water with the apparatus eight times
a few days ago during a gale of wind
and came safely ashore, pulled by the
kite from distances of 500, 1,000 and
1,500 yards. One of M. Pelletan's secretaries, who witnessed the experiments, said they were entirely successful. The tests with the dummy were
also successful. It is probable that the
kites will soon be adopted by the
French navy as well as by fishing and
merchant ships.
Kite Designed by Which Ropes Can
Be Carried Ashore From Ships.
M. Pelletan, the French minister of
marine, has placed a vessel at the disposal of M. Zuchowiecki of La Rochelle
for the continuance of his interesting
experiments with a life saving apparatus, says a Paris dispatch to the
Chicago Inter Ocean. This consists of
a large kite of oiled cloth with four
air bags in the head to maintain its
equilibrium. The kite's tail consists of
six cloth pockets in the form of fire
buckets, suspended one above the other. At the end of the tail rope a
strongly built paddle is fixed.
The great difficulty in shipwrecks
near shore always has been in getting
a rope aboard to establish communication with land. A strong wind invariably blows inshore. Zuchowiecki
suggests the carrying of a life saving
kite on every vessel, as an inshore
blowing wind would make it easier to
carry a rope from a vessel ashore than
vice versa. If rocks made it dangerous for the man with the rope and life
belt to travel to shore steering with
the paddle, a dummy could be substituted. Otherwise the man guiding
himself with the paddle can reach the
shore with great rapidity.
Zuchowiecki threw himself into the
water with the apparatus eight times
a few days ago during a gale of wind
and came safely ashore, pulled by the
kite from distances of 500, 1,000 and
1,500 yards. One of M. Pelletan's secretaries, who witnessed the experiments, said they were entirely successful. The tests with the dummy were
also successful. It is probable that the
kites will soon be adopted by the
French navy as well as by fishing and
merchant ships.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
Survival
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Survival
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Life Saving Kite
Shipwreck Rescue
Zuchowiecki Experiments
Gale Tests
French Navy Adoption
What entities or persons were involved?
M. Pelletan
M. Zuchowiecki
Where did it happen?
La Rochelle
Story Details
Key Persons
M. Pelletan
M. Zuchowiecki
Location
La Rochelle
Event Date
A Few Days Ago
Story Details
M. Zuchowiecki experiments with a kite apparatus to carry ropes from ships to shore in gales. He tests it eight times successfully from 500-1,500 yards, using a paddle for steering, and dummy tests also succeed, leading to probable adoption by French navy.