New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-11
Naval.
ENGINEER wHITTAKER's

ENGINEER wHITTAKER'S GRAND DISCOVERY.
| The Navy Department Of the United States has
/ BEN very cautious about believing in the great
" discoveries that inventors make daily. The most
astounding OF all, however, IL now IN course OF de-
yeopment, by authority q Secretary Welles. IL Is
/ no lees than apparatus which will, II ls said,
destroy iron clsds, the most inpregnable OF .Aei
being as unprotected against it as d wooden vessel
against 5J0-pound ball. The inventor Is no out
Bder." lie 10 engineer In the pay OF the Govern
ment has been in the Naval Engineer Corps for
years, and while attached 10 the nan-oi-war kear
sarge, in the Mediterranean conceived the idea
which, If practicable, will revolulionize even the
latest modes Of naval warfare. The gentleman al
luded 10 was recalled frou the Medtcuahean, and
arrived here some weeks ago. He visited the Navy
Department, aud iad before somewhat ncredulous
Board the nature of tis extraordinary plan. " nat
pros and cons trsuspired during the interview il is
IMPOSSIBLE 10 say, but the reeuit VI the investigation
" thickens the plot" and puts scientific and in
ventiye curiosity the tip.toe Of excitement. So FAR
from beng secuted at, az was currently prophesied,
the Inventor scheme Is 10 let TAR AMI Impartial
trial. and AN ronc.ad maL-ot-war, now III course OF
construction, has been turned over TO him that lie
may have bis machine fixed 20 bis satisfaction.
The inventor is Frat Assistant Engineer James
W. Whitaker Of New ,Jersey. lie entered the
Navy in 1851, aud made his fret cruise in tue steam
corvette Brooklyn ia 1889. lie il considered clever
professional man by his comIeers, some of whom
oOu6t the geuulnene6s OF bis weapon.
enttc circles as - the result Of the experiments.
TIE irou-clad war-steamer Osark, building III Peo-
ria, H., ID 20 be provided with the apparatus,
and il r. said that the Warrior Gloire would hot
stand an hour before her when her novel battery is
arranged. No one knows what the invention Is Ike
wheeler 1t II ~ be gun, or proIecte, or a raln;
let even tue wisest men in the service 90 not doubt
that its effect naval matters will be OF the most
revolutionary character. letter from the Aleoi,er-
raueun fleet, to which Sir. Whitaker was attached,
states that not an individual board the Kearsarge
believes that MS experiment will prove visionary.
IL VIII probably be tested in few months.
TIE MONTAuK AT THE NAylYARD.
The iron-ciad Montsuk steamed yesterday from
the Delameter lion Works to the Brooklyn Navy
Ynrd. Her enrines worked well. She will DO
ready 10 rail M about Il hours Several ladies
on board duriug the trip.
THE rAssAiC.
The report OF the Passaics trial trip was not writ
ten by Chef Engineer Sinners, as stated In PAM
phl,i Yesterday. 10 was peaned by our reporter,
aud no one tie printers, saw 1t before pubhca
tiOl.
LAUNCH OF A STEAM CORVETTE.
The new regular nayy-built steam corvette
Shenandoah was launched successfully on Mon.
day, at the Philadelphia Navy.fard. Miss Pascoe,
Gau htcr Of the yard plumber, christeued her. The
Shenandoah belongs 10 a olass OF steam menOi-war,
whIeh had been called " hafcoryettes and half
frigntcs." Iuey have been cOntouude6 with another
Gidtr, ltltft rlAeiicT, Dub very lac tueM. ~ lle
Three Sitter ships" Of tho Shenandoah arc alo,t
and thus situated:
Jcicl' Condition. Vk,re.
and fang out Portsmouth y. IL
Mouou 0at aud Ltiilg out Philadelphia
tanauca. sus....,...Ai sea............. blooAGte.
The Juniate ranks with the Housatonic and il
about ~ much smaller Than the above .hree ~ the
Lackawannna and llcouderog. are larger. The
Shenandoah 10 ,7S tuns burden, the Juniatais $40
and the l.ackawanna is 1858. There is just barely
difference enough 10 justify distinction between
the three classes. There IS another, the kearsage
aud luscarora class very Ike he Juniaia.
The dimensions Of the Shenandoah are Us follows:
Length, between perpentcalars, rs feet-the ex
llemlty OF tho beam is 80 feet, inches; depth Of
hold, Il! feet extreme length over all, 2i3 feet, q
inches the diameter OF tho screw propeller is ID
ieet, and il will have blades.
The SHENANDOAH will carry no bowsprit. She is
almost fac smile OF the gunboat Monongahea,
only somewhat sharper. She will draw about IA
feet at the extremity OF the lead line. She wi. also
be able 20 travel at at The rate Of IA Knots an
hour, and presents all The clements OF fast and
thorough fea-6olng vessel.
The DRAFT IN NEw.lIAMPsHiRr.--Th Governor
has ordered draft, to commence Dec. "a, in towns
which have not then 6lled their quotas