CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.
CONTENTS
CAPTAIN COPPIN.
HELENA, LADY HARROGATE.
NEW EXPLOSIVES.
MR ASLATT’S WARD.
LUNDY ISLAND.
BY-LAW No. 7.
THE LITTLE DOG MATCH.
PHONOGRAPH ODDITIES.
No. 747.
Price 1½d.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1878.
CAPTAIN COPPIN.
Among the many marvels of art in the presentday is the art of lifting sunk vessels from thebottom of the sea, or of rescuing them in a sadlyinjured condition from dangerous ledges of rock,where in former times they must have inevitablybeen lost. Of course, this marvel is primarily dueto the agency of steam acting on pumps, diving-bells,huge chains, and other apparatus; butit is clear that without the audacity of resourcepossessed by men skilled in maritime affairs, allmechanical agency whatsoever would be valueless.
It is pleasant to know that while science hasbeen doing so much for people who live on dryland, seamen who peril their lives on the greatocean that wraps round the world have not beenneglected; and to maritime invention are addedcivil laws and arrangements distinctly intendedto preserve life and property at sea. In touchingon this interesting subject, we may first speakof Salvage as a means for stimulating the effortsof humanity. Salvage is the payment due topersons who save a vessel that has been abandonedby its crew, or which is placed in some peculiarjeopardy. On the owners of ships so rescued,rests the obligation of paying a reasonable sumas salvage; and in the case of any dispute regardingthe amount, the matter is settled by a decisionof the Court of Admiralty. When the vessel hasbeen insured against sea-risks by the underwritersat Lloyd’s, or others, these, for their owninterests, make compensation for the recovery ofthe jeopardised property. Seafaring populationson the English coast are ordinarily prompt inhelping to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners,as well as in recovering and taking charge of goodswashed ashore. At one time the wreckage ofvessels driven ashore became a prey to depredators,known as wreckers; but scandals of this kinddo not now occur, partly owing to the vigilanceof magistrates, police, and coastguard, and partlyto that of the numerous agents of Lloyd’s, whoseduty it is to take charge of any species of propertydriven ashore. Like an invisible army, theseagents of Lloyd’s are established all round thecoasts of the British Islands, ready to pounceupon and secure every article which the wavesbring to