We have before called attention to the excellence of these stoppers, we can now speak of their application from practical results. It will be remembered that they consist of a cast iron ridge, secured to the deck, inside of the hawse holes, and over this ridge the chain is hove, when purchasing the anchor. Every link as, it is hove in, is canted flat, and a paul above falls upon each link and stoppers it. Thus, it not only supercedes the use of the "devil's claw," but is a never failing stopper against surging or slipping around the windlass. In New York many of the first class packets and clippers have them. When New York harbor was filled with floating ice, a large field of it drifted foul of the clipper ship Tornado, carried away the Norman in her windlass, and set the chain running. Capt. Mumford let down the paul upon the chain, and it brought the ship up at once, not another link ran out. Although this mode of stopping was not the design of the inventor, yet it stood this severe test without damage. Capt. Mumford writes in the highest terms of these stoppers. They have also been tested in the packet E.C. Scranton, the ship Gov. Morton, and many other fine vesels [sic], and in every case the captains write and speak of them most favorably. They can be applied to every class of vessel, are very cheap, considering their utility, and ought to be on board of every vessel, especially in vessels employed in the coasting trade. For particulars see advertisement of the first page.
Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius.
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Copyright © 1997 Lars Bruzelius.