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48 adjusting the air pressure admitted to the several compartments, according to the resistance to be encountered. This may be effected in a variety of ways, but, conveniently, by the application of re- ducing valves to the pipes through which the air enters the compartments from the compressor. _ BOAT-RELEASING DEVICE. At the present time, when life-saving apparatus aboardship is occupying so much attention, the boat-releasing device of Harry G. Oliver, of New York, will be of interest. This invention relates to a _boat-re- leasirig device for use in lowering a life- boat, or other boat, from a vessel, the object being to provide improvements so that both ends of the boat are released simultaneously, and prevent the serious and oft times fatal accidents which fre- quently occur by reason of one end of the boat being 1eleased before the other. The accompanying illustration shows three views of this apparatus. Fig. 1. LZ. Lig. 3. is a sectional side view of a lifeboat pro- vided with the improved releasing device connected to the ordinary lifeboat tackle, Fig 2 an enlarged view of the releasing 'device, Fig, 3 is a sectional end view of the gear. The general principles of ' York. THE Marine REVIEW the device are as follows: Two rods, passing through the keel and transverse stays of the boat, have at the upper ends two flattened heads and below these heads enlarged and flattened portions through which bolts are passed. On these bolts hooks, semicircular in form, are mounted, the pivoted ends of the © hooks being much larger than the free tapered ends. The convex sides of the 'hooks are directed toward each other and are provided with weights which project' radially therefrom, The outer sides of the rods are provided with pivoted latches or locks adapted to rest in trans- verse notches in the projecting ends of the hooks, the heads being provided with keepers adapted to receive the free ends of said latches, as seen in Fig. 3. A series of grooved pulleys and chains connecting the hooks prevent the possi- bility of either hook acting separately and dropping one end of the boat inde- pendent of the other, the movement of one of the hooks will also operate both. 'The chain, which is connected to the pulleys by some suitable pin arrange- ment, is provided with a spiral spring the object of which is to prevent the breaking of said chain and permit it to yield if too great a strain is thrown on it at any particular time; a turnbuckle regulates the length of chain. In operating the device the boat is swung overboard with the hooks in posi- tion. Before lowering away the boat the latches are raised and turned backwardly so, that they will not engage the free ends of the hooks. When the strikes the water, the weight of the boat being released from the links will cause the weights to turn the hooks downward- ly, thereby freeing the boat. THE NEW WHITE STAR LINER ADRIATIC. The new White Star liner Adriatic sailed from Liverpool to New York on her maiden voyage on Wednes- day, May 6 During the. time she has been at Liverpool, since leaving the builders, she has attracted a great deal of attentron, and on the day she was open for public inspection, about 8,000 persons availed themselves of the opportunity of looking over the largest liner at present in the Atlan- tic service. She' was also generally inspected upon her arrival in New Ehe Adtiatic is.a vessel: of 25,000 tons, and is a remarkable con- trast to the first Adriatic. The new vessel was launched on Sept. 20 last, and her length overall is 725 ft. 9 in,; breadth, 7o ft. 6 in.; depth about 50. it.; gross tonnage, 25,000, with <a displacement of over 40,000 tons, and with her vast accommodation for 3,000 passengers and her ship's com- boat -- pany, she marks an enormous ad- vance upon the old Adriatic, which, built in 1872, was 449 ft. long, 40 ft. 9 in. beam, depth 30 ft. gross ton- nage 3,887 tons, and passenger and crew accommodation for 1,012 all told. The old Adriatic did excellent service, but the new ship based upon the lines of the Baltic represents the latest, achievement in the building of passenger vessels. The Adriatic is the largest of all British twin-screw liners, and represents, not only in material, construction and stability, but also in splendor, comfort and spa- ciouness of accommodation and adornment, the highest expression of the ship builders' art. In every es- sential respect the vessel is "well found" and she possesses all the com- forts of a home and most of the ad- vantages and luxuries and much of the spaciousness of a first-class mo- dern hotel. She is divided into twelve water-tight compartments, and has nine steel decks, while the double bottom extends through the whole length of the hull, thus adding a special element of safety. The wa- ter-tight doors are upon the latest and most approved principle. There has been a very careful consideration of the distribution of weights in the vessel, so that she may steam easily in any seaway, and it is confidently believed that the Adriatic will be dis- tinguished by unsurpassed sea-going qualities, and a complete absence of vibration, thereby adding very largely to the comfort of travelers. The en- gines ane of great power, and con- sist of two sets of quadruple-expan- sion type arranged on the "balaniced" principle which is so advantageous in preventing vibration. Generally, it may be said that the arrangements on board resemble those: which have "been so much appreciated in the great ships of the White Star line such as. the Baltic, Cedric, Celtic and Oceanic, with many, new features added. These may be cited at once. ' In order ta facilitate communication between the various decks, an electric lift runs from the first-class entranlce on the boat deck to the dining saloon three decks below, thus serving the boat deck.and the upper deck as well as the promenade deck and upper promenade deck. Another new feat- ure is a large gymnasium provided with an ample supply of apparatus, so that the passenger may keep him- self "fit" duting his sojourn on board. Other notable innovations are in the character of the bathing arrange- ments, and particularly in the provi- sion of Turkish baths. They consist of the usual hot, temperate and cool-