Chapter 10

Sir:--I have to state, with deep regret, that the United States steamship _Monongahela_, under my command, is now lying on the beach in front of the town of Frederickstadt, St. Croix, where she was thrown by the most fearful earthquake ever known here. The shock occurred at 3 o'clock, P. M., of the 18th inst. Up to that moment the weather was serene, and no indication of a change showed by the barometer, which stood at 30 degrees 15 minutes. The first indication we had of the earthquake was a violent trembling of the ship, resembling the blowing off of steam. This lasted some 30 seconds, and immediately afterward the water was observed to be receding rapidly from the beach. In a moment the current was changed, and bore the ship toward the beach, carrying out the entire cable and drawing the bolts from the kelson, without the slightest effect in checking her terrific speed toward the beach. Another anchor was ordered to be let go, but in a few seconds she was in too shoal water for this to avail. When within a few yards of the beach, the reflux of the water checked her speed for a moment, and a light breeze from the land gave me a momentary hope that the jib and foretopmost staysail might pay her head off shore, so that in the reflux of the wave she might reach waters sufficiently deep to float her, and then be brought up by the other anchor. These sails were immediately set, and she payed off so as to bring her broadside to the beach. When the sea returned, in the form of a wall of water 25 or 30 feet high, it carried us over the warehouses into the first street of the town. This wave in receding took her back toward the beach, and left her nearly perpendicular on the edge of a coral reef, where she has now keeled over to an angle of 15 degrees.

All this was the work of a few moments only, and soon after the waters of the bay subsided into their naturally tranquil state, leaving us high and dry upon the beach. During her progress toward the beach she struck heavily two or three times; the first lurch carried the rifle gun on the forecastle overboard. Had the ship been carried 10 or 15 feet further out, she must inevitably have been forced over on her beam ends, resulting, I fear, in her total destruction, and in the loss of many lives. Providentially only four men were lost; these were in the boats at the time the shock commenced. The boats that were down were all swamped except my gig, which was crushed under the keel, killing my coxswain, a most valuable man. During this terrific scene the officers and men behaved with coolness and subordination. It affords me great pleasure to state, that, after a careful examination of the position and condition of the ship, I am enabled to report that she has sustained no irreparable damage to her hull. The sternpost is bent, and some 20 feet of her keel partially gone; propeller and shaft uninjured. The lower pintle of the rudder is gone, but no other damage is sustained by it. No damage is done to her hull more serious than the loss of several sheets of copper, torn from her starboard bilge and from her keel.

She now lies on the edge of a coral reef, which forms a solid foundation, on which ways may be laid. She can thus be launched in 10 feet of water at 100 feet from the beach. Gentlemen looking at the ship from shore declare that the bottom of the bay was visible where there was before, and is now, 40 fathoms of water.

To extricate the ship from her position I respectfully suggest that Mr. I. Hanscom be sent down with suitable material for ways, ready for laying down, and india-rubber camels to buoy her up. I think there is no insuperable obstacle to her being put afloat, providing a gang of ten or twelve good ship carpenters be sent down with the Naval Constructor, as her boilers and engines appear to have sustained no injury. A valuable ship may thus be saved to the navy, with all her stores and equipments.

S. B. BISSELL, Commodore Commanding. Rear-Admiral J. S. Palmer, commanding H. A. Squadron, St. Thomas.

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The survey of another trans-continental railway route, which shall follow mainly the 35th parallel of latitude, is nearly completed. Its projectors claim this as the most feasible one across the continent, and even if the northern and southern roads are constructed, this would still be the favorite popular thoroughfare, and the easiest and cheapest built.

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The Chilian gun now being built at Pittsburgh, is 22¼ feet in length, being two feet longer than the famous Rodman gun at Fort Hamilton, this harbor, but of exactly the same bore, twenty inches. Its greatest diameter is 5 feet 4 inches, its least diameter, 2 feet 9 inches. The gun is designed for garrison or naval service.

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From lack of economy, in reduction of ores, it is estimated that the aggregate loss on the production of bullion in this country for the present year will reach the sum of $25,000,000.

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Recent American and foreign Patents.

_Under this heading we shall publish weekly notes of some of the more prominent home and foreign patents._

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WARDROBE.--Nathan Turner, West Lynn, Mass.--This invention consists in a movable or swinging arrangement of the sides and top and bottom, whereby they are folded upon each other, with grooves or strips in or upon the sides to support shelves when used as a closet or book case, and which shelves may be removed when used as a wardrobe.

AXLE BOX.--Henry B. Pitner, La Porte, Ind.--This invention consists of an iron thimble or slieve provided on each end in the inside with a screw thread into which are fitted ends of brass or composition, or other metal softer than iron, in such a way that said metallic ends will not turn in the box, and so that the axle bears only upon the softer metal.

SPRING FORMER.--George S. Long, Bridgeport, Conn.--This invention consists of a vibrating anvil or former, upon which the steel to be worked is placed, said former vibrating under a roller, said roller being hollow, and provided with holes or orifices through which water received in the shaft of said roller is distributed upon the heated steel.

DOOR-FASTENER.--Francis C. Levalley, Warrenville, N. Y.--The present invention relates to a fastener for doors more particularly which, in the construction and arrangement of its parts, is simple, and most effective, and secure, when fastened.

ROOFING.--Orville Manly, Garrettsville, Ohio.--This invention consists of tiles saturated with raw coal tar, made in the same way as ordinary brick, having all the edges bevelled, being thicker at one end, and laid upon the roof with the thicker end towards the eaves, and the spaces between the tiles formed by the bevelled sides of the same filled with a cement made of raw coal and clay.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD OR CRIB.--R. S. Titcomb, Gloversville, N. Y.--This invention consists of the parts being attached to each other by pivots and hinges, whereby the same may be folded in upon the bed and clothing, and upon each other.

CAST METAL CASES FOR SPRING BALANCES.--John Chattillon, New York city.--This invention relates to a new manner of arranging the cast metal cases for spring balances, so that they can be made less expensive and simpler than they are now made, and consists in fitting the iron, to which the upper end of the spring is secured, directly through the upper head of the case, instead of using an additional head in the case for that purpose.

TWEERS.--John B. Himberg, Frederick City, Md.--This invention relates to a new tweers, which is so arranged that the center part or ring can be easily taken out, whenever desired, but not accidentally, by a hook or stirrer, and that it can be easily cleaned and taken apart whenever desired, and that it may conduct a strong blast of air to the fire.

PUNCH.--C. D. Flesche, New York city.--This invention consists in arranging a punch in such a manner that it consists of two parts, which are firmly connected together for cutting the metal, while for bending the same, an inner sliding punch will be moved out of the stationary cutting punch, thus making both operations by one instrument, and avoiding the removal of the article from the cutting to the bonding punch, which was heretofore necessary.

RAILROAD CHAIR.--Leander Pollock, Matteawan, N.Y.--This invention consists in making the chair of two pieces, each piece consisting of one cheek and of a portion of the case. When the two pieces are connected, the base of one rests upon the base of the other, the line of division between the two bases being inclined so that as the rail presses upon the upper base, it, will tend to force the same downward on the incline, whereby the two cheeks will be brought together.

FIRE LADDER.--Johan Blomgren, Galesburg, Ill.--The main feature in this invention is a telescopic tube, expanded or closed by a coil fitting within it, and worked by a toothed wheel.

HARVESTER.--Francis C. Coppage, Terre Haute, Ind.--The object of my invention is to render more simple and effective the machinery for operating and adjusting the cutter bar and the reel of harvesters.

BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.--David L. Cohen, Pensacola, Fla.--The object of this invention is to furnish a device by which a ship's boat can be readily shipped or launched at sea, without danger of capsizing or fouling.

DEVICE FOR HITHING HORSES.--Samuel Galbraith, New Orleans, La.--This invention is a neat, cheap, and durable device, designed to be attached to halters used in hitching horses, mules, etc., to prevent their being thrown, hung, or injured.

HYDROSTATIC MACHINE.--Dr. J. R. Cole, Kenton Station, Tenn.--The object of this invention is to construct a machine which, by the application of but little power, will raise a stream of water to any desired hight, to furnish motive power for machinery or for other purposes.

FENCE POST.--Robert Ramsay, New Wilmington, Pa.--In this invention the bottom of the post is supported between two parallel sills a short distance from the ground, the post being dovetailed and held by keys passing across the sills, and being adjusted high or low, or at any inclination, by making the keys larger or smaller, or of different sizes.

SELF-LOADING EXCAVATOR.--Benj. Slusser, Sidney, Ohio.--In this invention a pinion, attached to the forward axle is made to elevate the plow, when desired, and at the same instant to ungear and stop the endless apron carrier that conveys the dirt from the plow to the cart. A new method of instantly unloading the cart, and setting it again to receive another load, is shown.

WASHING MACHINE.--J. Q. Leffingwell, Nevada, Iowa.--This invention relates to an improvement in washing machines, and consists of a vibrating semi-cylindrical box operated by a means of a lever handle and gearing.

SCAFFOLD FOR BUILDERS, ETC.--John E. Bliss, Oxford, Ind.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved scaffold for the use of carpenters, masons, painters, etc., which shall be simple in construction, strong, durable and easily adjusted to any desired hight.

PLOW.--Harvey Briggs, Smithland, Ky.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved plow for breaking up sod or prairie land, which shall be strong and durable in construction and effective m operation.

CORN PLOW.--John Snyder, Williamsfield, Ohio.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved plow for plowing and hoeing corn, which shall be simple and strong in construction and will do its work well.

SELF-RAKING ATTACHMENT FOR REAPERS.--James H. Glass and Albert J Glass, McGregor, Iowa.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved attachment for reapers of that class in which the rakes act as beaters, in the place of a reel, and are made to descend occasionally to sweep the bundle from the platform, so that the third, fourth, sixth, or any other desired rake may sweep the platform and deliver the bundle.

SKY ROCKET.--John W. Hadfield, Newtown, N. Y.--This invention relates to a modification of an improvement in sky rockets for which letters patent were granted to this inventor bearing date Nov. 28, 1865. The original improvement consisted in a novel application of wings to the body or "carcass" of the rocket, whereby the use of the ordinary guide stick was rendered unnecessary and the rockets rendered capable of being packed for transportation much more compactly than when provided with sticks. The present invention also consists in a novel manner of attaching the wings to the body or "carcass" of the rocket, whereby the same advantage is obtained as hitherto, at a less cost of manufacture.

TAIL PIECE FOR VIOLINS.--James Thoms, South Boston, Mass.--This invention relates to a new and improved manner of attaching the E-string to the tail piece of a violin, whereby a comparatively small portion of said string is wasted in case of breakage.

HAME TUG.--James E. Covert, Townsendville, N. Y.--This hame tug, according to the present invention, is made of a strip of malleable iron or other suitable material, perforated or provided with V-Shaped holes or slots having a center tongue piece, for the reception of a V-Shaped block fixed at one end of the trace, by means of which block the trace is engaged with the hame tug, where through a suitably arranged spring slot that strikes against the end of the tongue to the said V-slots, the block is held firmly in place, and consequently the trace fastened to the hame tug.

CENTER BOARD.--F. J. McFarland, San Francisco, Cal.--This invention relates to the location of the center boards of boats and sailing craft of all kinds, but is designed more particularly for freight carrying vessels. It consists simply in employing two center boards and locating the same at the extreme ends of the hull.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.--George W. Van Dusen, Williamsburgh, N.Y.--This invention consists in a novel connection and arrangement of levers and valves between the plane of movement of the perforated surface or surfaces, and an airchest or chests, and the keys or levers for opening the valves to the reeds or for operating any other mechanism suitable for producing tones, whereby through such perforated surface or surfaces the mechanism forming the connection between it and the sounding mechanism will be operated through the perforations to produce the sound or note or notes desired, of whatever length such notes or sounds are to be.

COMBINED SEAT AND DESK.--Rev Allen H. Burn, May's Landing, N. J.--The present invention relates to the combination of a desk or lid with a seat or bench, such lid or desk being hinged to the back of the seat in such a manner as to be raised or lowered at pleasure, and when raised, supported in position by means of supporting bars properly applied thereto.

MACHINE FOR REFITTING CONICAL VALVES.--Charles F. Hall, Brooklyn. N. Y.--This invention relates to a device by which the conical stop valves of gas, steam, and water works may be refitted or repaired when from any cause they are rendered leaky and unfit for use.

GRAIN-BAND CUTTER AND FORK.--E. G. Bullis, Manchester, Iowa.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved instrument by means of which the bands of the grain bundles may be cut at the same time that the bundles are pitched to the person who feeds them to the threshing machine, and by the same operation.

PROPELLING VESSELS, ETC.--Robert R. Spedden and Daniel F. Stafford, Astoria, Oregon.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved means by which the motion of the waves may be used for propelling vessels or working pumps or other machinery.

MAILBAG FASTENER.--S. Denison, Portlandville, N.Y.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved mailbag fastening by the use of which the mouth of the bag will be closed securely, and which may be operated, in closing and opening the bag, in less time and with less labor, than the fastenings now in use.

KNIFE AND FORK CLEANER.--John Merritt, New York city.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved machine by means of which knives and forks may be quickly and thoroughly cleaned.

CHURN.--Thomas Bisbing, Buckstown, Penn.--This invention has for its object to furnish an improved churn conveniently and easily operated, and which will do its work quickly and thoroughly.

SAW BUCK.--Henry J. Dill, Cummington, Mass.--This invention relates to the manner in which a stick of fire wood, or cord wood, is held fast or secured in the saw buck for the purpose of sawing it into suitable lengths, and it consists in arranging adjustable toothed clamps for holding the stick, which clamps are brought in contact with it by bearing upon a treddle with the foot.

PLATFORM SCALES.--D. Hazzard, Milton, Del.--This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing scales of the platform kind, and it consists in attaching a spiral spring to a spindle, to the top end of which spindle the platform is secured, and to the bottom end of which a rod and index finger is attached so that when an article, to be weighed, is placed on the platform, the weight of the article will act upon the spring and be indicated by the finger.

WASHING MACHINE.--S. W. Curtiss, Sugar Grove, Pa.--This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing washing machines, and consists in the arrangement of three fluted revolving rollers in a suitable washing box or vessel.

COMBINED TRY SQUARE AND BEVEL.--Samuel N. Batchelder, Prairie du Chien, Wis.--This invention consists in attaching the blade of a try square to the stock in such a manner that it can be set and fastened at any desired angle by operating a hook slide and set screws.

STEAM ENGINE.--J. F. Troxel, Bloomsville, Ohio.--This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing steam engines, whereby the same are greatly increased in power and effectiveness, and consists in operating a number of pistons in one cylinder.

STOVE.--T. W. Wisner, Howell, Mich.--This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing those stoves which are used for drying purposes or for heating water, or steaming vegetables and for all other purposes of a similar nature, and the invention consists in rendering the stove portable by providing for supporting the same on truck wheels which allows of its being transported from place to place, as may be required.

FURNACE HOT AIR BLAST.--Richard Long, Chillicothe, Ohio.--This invention relates to a new and improved method of constructing and arranging the air pipes for heating the air blast for furnaces for smelting and reducing the ores in the manufacture of iron, having particular reference to the materials of which the air pipe is formed, the method of its construction, and also to the materials and method of construction of the supporting walls.

PRINTING POINTERS.--R. W. Macgowan, New York city.--This invention relates to a new and improved application of pointers to printing presses for registering the sheets of paper as they are fed to the press. Hitherto these pointers have been operated automatically, from the running parts of the press allowed to remain in an elevated or nearly upright position, and through the sheet until the fingers or nippers of the cylinder arrive in proper position to grasp the sheet, at which time the pointers are drawn down and the sheet released, so that it may be connected with the cylinder, and related with the same in order to receive the impression. This improvement consists in applying a spring or an equivalent weight to the pointers, the latter being pivoted at their lower ends, or attached to axes and all constructed and arranged in such a manner that the pointers will hold the sheets properly in position on the feed board, and the nippers of the cylinder allowed to draw the sheet off from the points on account of the latter yielding or being allowed to be drawn down under the slight pull of the sheet, the springs or weights throwing the points back to their original position as soon as the sheet is withdrawn.

CLEANER FOR LAMP CHIMNEYS, ETC.--R. B. Musson, Champaign, Ill.--This invention relates to an improved cleaner for lamp chimneys, bottles, and other hollow ware.

SAWYER'S RULE.--Thomas Carter, Louisville, Ky.--This invention relates to an improved sawyer's rule, and consists of a rule on which is a scale showing at a glance the number of boards or planks, of any desired thickness, which can be sawn from a log of any given diameter.

WINDOW SCREEN.--A. W. Griffith, Roxbury, Mass.--This invention relates to an improvement in window screens, and consists in a screen wound round a spring roller at foot of a window, and attached to the bottom of the lower sash so that on opening the window the screen opens with it, admitting the air but excluding insects, and on closing the sash the screen winds up itself.

SHOVEL PLOW, CULTIVATOR, ETC.--P. Atkinson Ross, Harveys, Pa.--This invention has for its object to improve the construction of single and double-shovel plows, cultivators, etc., to enable them to be readily adjusted for use upon sidehills or level ground, so that the handles may be secured in nearly a level position, while the plow is held in the best position for doing the work properly.

SKY ROCKETS.--John W. Hadfield, East Williamsburgh, N. Y.--This invention consists in dispensing with the long stick or guide which is now attached to sky rockets in order to insure a straight upward flight of the same in the air, and using instead a plurality of short guides, whereby several important advantages are obtained, to wit: the packing of the rockets in a small space, so as to economise in transportation, the forming of a stand or support for the rocket, so that no fixture of any kind will be required when they are to be fired or "set off," and lastly, the obtaining of an efficient guide to insure the straight flight of the rockets upward in the air.

CATCHING THE OXYDE OF ZINC.--G. C. Hall, Brooklyn, N. Y.--This invention relates to an improved means for catching the oxyde of zinc, as it escapes with the fumes and gases from roasting zinc, or zinc ore. Hitherto the oxyde of zinc has been caught and retained by forcing the fumes and gases from the roasting ore into a large bag or receptacle composed of cotton cloth or other porous material, which will admit of the gases and air passing it, but not the oxyde, the latter being retained within the bag, and, by its superior gravity, falling to the bottom thereof and settling in teats or pendent receptacles at the bottom of the bag, from which it is removed from time to time. This invention has for its object the dispensing with the large bag, which is very expensive--the gases from the ore affecting the same so that it rots in a very short time, and soon becomes ruptured under the blows which are given it to cause the oxyde which adheres to the sides of the bag to drop into the teats or receptacles made to receive it. The invention consists in having the fumes and gases from the roasting zinc or zinc ore forced into a close building, provided with openings or apertures, over which screens are placed, constructed in such a manner and of such materials as to admit of the air and gases passing through them, but not the oxyde.