Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

QUERIES? NO QUIZZES!
The German Cork Jacket

To ship owners and others concerned with vessels in either a foreign or domestic trade, with those who keep ferry boats or other vessels employed for passengers, the following observations are addressed for the sake of humanity.

The subscriber has for half a century observed with no small degree of feeling and pain for his brother man, the many accidents that have, and are daily taking place, in the loss of the lives of many valuable and useful citizens, when a preventative may be had at a trifling expense which were it put in practice, would save many thousands and time, come into general use, in the world at large.

Some years ago the writer of this, published a pamphlet on a new mode for the defence of our seaports from any foreign enemy, (which in the opinion of many was worthy of trial, if need should be) in which the subject of this address was first noticed. And it is no other than a SHORT JACKET that will reach from the arm pits down to below the navel, well buttoned or tied on when danger was apparent. This jacket, if rightly made will not hinder or impede the seamen in their duty on board but will brace their minds with confidence in the hour of danger, prevent that sudden shock of fear that often unmans the soul, and is very often the cause of the loss of lives and property, which this will prevent, and sometimes save both, as they may stick to their vessel to the last. Were every thing to have as many of these jackets as she has crew and passengers, in case of a shipwreck or upset in our coast and in our bays, not one in twenty would be lost, that is, they can hardly be drowned if so near the shore, till hunger assails them. This, when mentioned some years ago in that production was, by some laughed at, with others then connected with it; but it seems that it was not slightly treated of in England; for it would appear, that some of those pamphlets had found their way to that country for we find that a certain Mr. Mallison had applied to Parliament, as being the inventor, and that able statesman Mr. Whitbread advocated his claim. His words on the subject of shipwreck on the 23d of May last, are that it was effectual to the end, for that no man who had it on could sink or drown, and a committee appointed. Was not this idea pointed out to the American nation four years ago? Why was it not taken up? Because it was only a domestic idea, and had sprung up spontaneously from the mind of a plain citizen, and it was a new thing, as well as that of fire ships, in a new form never before thought of. Was not every thing in its time new, since first armor was made for man? This should not be an objection.

If then those passenger vessels at N. York, or elsewhere, were to provide themselves with a sufficiency of these jackets, that if a storm unusually was apparent, or if the skipper had one in his baggage, which by a fool hardiness is as bad let every woman or others, who cannot swim put on one of these on their going on board, you would not bear so oft of those lamentable tales of woe, as has been the case. Let a trial be made by some humane owner or captain who has the interest of his own or welfare of his crew at heart.

J.P.

N.B. The writer of the above intends immediately to make application to the Government for a patent for the above invention.

Such Editors as are friendly to mankind, will please insert the above in their papers. Phil. Gaz.