The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-16
9Dolne9t1c.
TORPEDO WAR.
(coNrINUED.)
(E.)
Extract from Com. Rodgers Journal.

oSPsS"hoct Il, lOlVs
At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Cap.
tain Chauncey of the navy, and myself, &C
companied by colonel Wharton, according
to appointment. met at the City Hotel,
Broadway, MIR. Fulton, and committee
appointed by the honorable Paul Hamil
ton, Secretary OF the Navy, consisting of
chancellor Livingston, governor Lewis, G..
L. Golden, Esq. Mr.. Garrett, doctor Kemp,
and col. J. Williams, (M, Oliver Wolcott,
late Sec OF the Treasury, member, being
absent.) TO investigate and report ,heir o.
pinions of The principles, as we'll as to- de.
monstra,e, by such experiments as Mr.. Full
ton might advise, the efficacy of (as engines
of national offensive and defensive war;
certain submarine projects published by
him, under title of " Torpedo War;" which
lie had proposed to Congress as being we'll
calculated to supercede the ecessi,y of a
navy. And to enable the protector to
prove, by actual experime mt. the effcien-
cy OF his scheme. law was passed III F
bruary. 1910, approprlating 5000 dollars to
the purpose.
The committee all being present, with the
exception o. Mr. Wocott, at noon Mr. Full
ton opened the subject by placing torpe
do lock on the table; and after some preli-
minary obsei vations relative 10 The pr gress
and improvements in the various arts and
sciences. he quoted lew paragraphs from
his book entitled e" Torpedo War; TO eua
bic him 20 explain more forc,by the affini-
ty of his preceding remarks to the subject
then before the committee. He expressed
desire hat would have the higate Presi-
dent transported from The North river,
(where she W as then ki"g) to the East ri
yer. contiguous to the navy yard. for the
puTp sc OF making an experiment.. / ask
ed MIR. Fulton IT The experiments could not
as well be made in the North river ard
observed that he Piesiden, was undergo
ing some repairs in her rigging. preparing
to paint, &c. consequently that she could not
conveniently be removed. He observed that
he preferred the East river on account of
Its Con Equity to he navy yard; as at The
yard he would (previous to the experiments)
be aftord ed he means of making the neces-
sary arrangements with his machinery, as
we'll as with his boats and men, which might
be required. The United States brig Ar
gus was at this time lying in the East river,
near the navy yard, which enabled me to
ofter her Tor his accommodated, which he
having accepted. the committee with the
exception of Mr.. Wolcott. an absent mem
Der. and with the concurrence of NJ, Full
toD) unanimously resolved, that the expert
ments should accordingly be commenced on
the 24th inst. with blank torpedoes on the
U. S. brig Argus; and that such defence
should be made by her as a vessel OF war
was capable of, without the use of her guns,
or any other active force of similar kind.
(Here an Engraving.)
The time and mode of experimenting be-
ing now determined on, MIR Fulton placed
a torpedo on the table and observed. that it
was the kind with which he should com
mence his essays on the Argus.
md rxf g.
is intended to be applied to a vessels bot
tom, from the bowsprit of torpedo boa, bv
the aid OF a long pole, suspended by swivel
on the end OF the bowsprt, so nearly on a
balance that man in the bow of the boat
Can elevate or depress Il torpedo " it'll
ms right hand, and at the same time fire
1t by pulling line which he holds in his
left.
Mr. Fulton having fully explained the
principles of the before described torpedo.
the committee adjourned to meet on the
24th instant, for The purpose of commencing
the experiments, as had been previously re-.
solved.
September 90, 1917
On this day Mr.. Fulton (haying pre vinus-
ly prepared torpedo boat) had various
torpedoes and apparatus transported to the
navy yard. for the purpose of essaying with
on the Argus. consisting of five different
kinds; as also a combination of various diff.
ierent machines, VIZ. hook, chisel and gun.
intended Tor the purpose of Cutting off ca
bles under water
September a.
On this day, with the advice of cantaio
Shauncey. l gave lieutenant Lawrence
Commander of the Argus) directions to
prepare his vessel in a Inanaer to prevent
the application of torpt does under her hot.
tom ; and which he accordingly did. with
nothing more than simply her own spare
studding sail booms, nine fire erauneis a
rev pigs OF kenuedge and the President's
splinter net
(Here an Engraving.
The splinter net having seven pigs Of
kentledge, of 200 pounds each, attached at
eqnai distancesto its lower part. was sus-
pended by its upper part, from the bow in
a transverse direction to the keel. by the as
SiStance OF light yard that was sUDnorted
oy the bob-stays about eighteen inches he.
low the hause-h0es, in such manner that
the net formed a curtain or barricade IA
front OF the vessel, with the weights attach.
Gu 70 tne lower part of 1t barely touching
Inc spare studding sail booms of the Ar
gus formed floating chevaux de frepze 10
prevent boats from coming in con,art ,.;,,.
the vessels hull (as described in The nrsce.
u,hB page ana were supported in that po-
sn'on with the ropes leading to the ends If
the lower yards. bowsprit and a snare ton
san yard across tie stern, tn which tb,
NAN topSal' braces led. These, with the