TUCKER’S STEAM PUMP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2394, 8 January 1909, Page 11 (Supplement)

TUCKER’S STEAM PUMP.

(By MAN ADELER.)'

Some years ago a man named Tucker invented a steam pump for use on shipboard. He claimed for it that it would pump about three times as many gallons in a minute as any other pump, and he got sonic of hi® political friends in Congress to use their influence with the Navy Department to have it tried on one of tlie navy vessels. Finally ho succeeded in having it introduced upon a small steamer, Avliich avc aaull call tlie Water Witch, and Avhen everything Avas ready the ship started upon a voyage. Seen after she got out to sea, Tucker, av ho was aboard, said lie would .like to try the pump upon the bilge Avater to sec how she worked.

The captain ordered the engineer to turn it on, and the machine operated, apparently, in the most beautiful manner. In about an hour one of the officers reported that the Avater ivas gaining rapidly in the hold, and the captain sent some men down" •to discover where the leak was. They came back and reported that they couldn’t find the hole, but 'that the Avater Avas pouring in somewhere in frightful quantities. Thf n some of the officers.' avc lit doirn, and spent half an hour in Avater up to their Avaists feeling around after that awful hole; but they couldn’t ascertain Avhere it avus. The only thing they Avere certain of was that the Avater Avas steadily gaining on them, and that the ship Avas cervtain to sink unless something aims done. All this time Mr. Tinker’s pump Avas working away, and the captain continually enjoined the engineer to giA-e it greater speed. Then tlie captain himself ivont cloavii

and made an examination, and although he failed to find the leak, he was alarmed to discoA'er a quantity of codfish and porpoises swimming about iu the hold, because he kneiv that the hole in the hull must be very large indeed to admit the fish. And still the Avater rose steadily all the time, although Tucker’s pump aims jerking aAvay at it in a terrific manner, and all the other pumps were running at full speed. At last the captain made up his mind that he should haA-e to desert the ship, as sho was certain to sink ; and so the boats Avere made ready and packed Avitli provisions and Avater, anil a few little comforts, and by this time the av liter in the bilge aims nearly up to the furnace fires. Just then Tucker’s pump suddenly stopped ; and then the captain turned as pale as death., and demanded to know AA-ho stopped that pump, Avliile Tucker buckled a life-preserver around him, coi J ked up a note to Ji is wife in a bottle," and said tiia.t now thatvthe pump had ceased lie Avould give that steamer just four minutes to reach bottom.

While he was speaking the engineer came up and said : “Mr. Tucker, Avhat did you say was the capacity of your pump? ' “Ninety gallons a minute.” “Ninety. Well, Mr. Tucker, how many gallons do you estimate that there arc in the Atlantic Ocean?” “Blessed if I know. Moav’h the mischief can 1 tell that?”

• Oh. it don’t make any particular difference, only I thought you might have some kind of an indistinct idea how long it AA-ould tako you to run that ocean through your pump.” T dunno, I’m sure,” said Tucker. “Well, I merely Avantcd to say that whatever your calculations respecting the number of gallons in the Atlantic. it is perfectly useless for you to try to load up that ocean in this vessel. She AA-on’t hold more’ll half of it.”

“Wliat do you mean, sir?” demanded Tucker. “Why, I moan that that diabolical pump of yours, instead of taking out the bilge, has been spurting water into this vessel for the past four hours, and that if you had a theory that you can strike dry land by that process it is ingenious, but it won’t work;, for it’s going to. sink this ship.” Then the captain swore till the air was blue. Then be put Tucker in irons, and ripped out his pump, and unpacked the boats, and pumped out the water and picked up the codfish and porpoises, and set sail for home for the purpose of making a report on the subject of the new invention. The Tucker Improved Marine Steam Pump wont right out.of use at the end of that voyage, and Tucker abandoned mechanics and went into the insurance business.