The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-08-31
MISCELL ANY.
REMARKES ON TORPEDOES AND
SUBMARINE NAVIGATION.
NO. v.

In our last number we stated Mr. Full
TONS method Of annoying ships with Torpe-
does while lying at anchor; we shall now ex-
plain his mode OF attack when under sail,
" and making progress through the water"
For this purpose, the Torpedo, properly pre-
pared, is to be made fast to a rope of conven-
lent length, say sixty or eighty feet, (" at the
other end OF the rope is gun harpoon the
barpoon being fred into the bow of an enc
my's yesseb" from waIl-piece or blunder-
buss, I" the Torpedo is thrown ovcrboard,and
the action OF The vessel through the water,
draws i, under her bottom, when the clock
work running out its time, explosion takes
place, and the vessel is torn asunder, OF so
shattered as 10 render it impossible for pumps
TO save her"
Upon this prinsiple Mr.. FUI.ToN designs
"to make the attack with good and well man
ned row boats, each boat to have its harpoon
and Torpedo complete. Thirty such boats 10
make the attack on one ship of war, part to
attack on her hrboard, and part on her star
board bow. This will divide the enemy fire,
and on, OF the number Of harpoons some will
take effect, in which case the vessel must,
from necessity, be destroyed"
That harpoon Can be tired into timber by
being fired from blundcrbuss has been pro-
vcd by experiment. {" Such gun, loaded
with one OF these instruments, about iour
feet in length, ragged at the sharpened end,
and attached 10 strong cord, was discharged
with force enough to penetrate through thick
plank, and to require cutting out in order to
IT'S removal. The possibility of shooting one
OF these barbcd darts into the bows or sides OF
an cnemy's ship, seems 10 be demonstrated"
Upon this subject a certain writer makes
the following pertinent observations; Ii is
easy TO conceive that by practice the modes
ef attack will be improved, like all other in
veniions, and, in time, arrive at perfection,
To make the attack with such engines much
has been said Of the risk which boats would
run, and The danger Of the men. But when
boats attack ship with the view TO boardagc,
and which has succeeded in hundreds OF ca
ses, the men ron AIN infinitely greater risk
than in placing the Torpedoes in the right
position over the bow OF the vessel to be as.
sailed; for boardagc is a work which must
be fought arm to arm the vessels sides
must be mounted, and the contest IL some
times Of an hours duration; whereas, to place
the Torpedoes within the range Of musket
shot is not the work of two minutes. In snch
an attack, the boats risk few men the vcs-
sci attacked risks her complete humiliation,
disparity in chance strikes terror into the as
sailed, and gives courage 10 the persons com.
manding the boats for what are all the cour-
age and enthusiasm of war, but calculations
Of superior advantages 20
But besides the use of these machines on
board Of row boats, they might be successful
ly employed on board OF every armed vessel.
The contest would then be much shorter, and
LII a. Il. l
part. One of these on board Of tn, Chesa.
pcakc, would undoubtedly have decided the
engagement before broadsde had been ex
changed, and the capture been the reverse OF
what II was. Could our government be in.
duced TO give more substantial encourage
mcnt to this new invented engine of annoy
ance, new turn would meda,cly bs given
60 naval warfare, highly favorable to our in
tcres,s. Ii is hoped, however, that Congress
will, ere long, perceive the expSdicncy oi
" calculations Of superior advantages and
by giving particular support to inventions OF
this kind, render the bravery OF our little band
OF sesioen still more dreaded by The hosti,
Briton."
No. VI
A third method of rendcrirr Torpedoes
formidable to an enemy, is TO anchor them in
a state Of equilibrium between the surface and
the 5o,tom, in strait or channel through
which the enemy intends TO pass. The wa
fer-tighs apparatus may remain in such situs-
tions for weeks or even months and the
number OF them may be increased to any ex.
tent for dozens, scores, or hundreds OF these
engines may lurk under water, and be ready
TO give terrible shock Ii touched. When
employed in this manoer, the chamber con-
tains no cock-vork within II but there is a
lever on the uppcr aud outer side, which on
being moderately pressed, acts like trigger,
and strikes out the fire of explosion. The
consequence Ia, that Il tho boitom OF ship
should be brough, into contact with this fatal
lever or trigger, she will instantly be blown
fa shi aers In saiIinrr Ihronrh a strait. Liz