The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-21
T II E N A v Y .

Success OF Important Experlmon ts-New
Lifeboat Adopted for Our Navy.
Yesterday was marked by most important proceedings
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They consisted Of Two
periments which destined to have great influence
naval warfare in future and or the departure from this
city OF large draft OF seamen TO open tho Mississippi
At half past twelve O'Clock in the afternoon Rear
Admiral Pauding OF this station Captain Rowan, Of the
iron-cad Roanoke Captain Rodgers Of the iron clad Cats
KILL and Captain Ronckendorf Of tho steam rgato San
Jacnto conveyed TO the latter vessel with num-
Of respectable citizens Of New York and Brooklyn to
witness the exhibition treat Of lifo raft which has
been introduced into the navy. Admiral Gregory, the
supern, Of roc,ads for this vicinity having been
perfectly satisfied with ITS great merits has ordered one
10 be sen. each of the following vesses:-the
Wcehawsen, Nahant, pata9sco, Iehgh and Sanga mon
When the officers and others assembled 10 wress the
experiment had taken their position the raft anched
II is composed Of gutta percha cylinders pointed at the
ouds surrounded by lange with eyeet holes TO lace
them together The cylinders are made OF canvass,
coated with gutta percha doubled and united the sides
the anges which doubled and Tapped each way
,e am. r The raft can he pronee yery Fast
with oars sail Commander Wako reports that one u
them would MAKE an exceiont despatch boat AZ sea;
Three light boards for thwarts stretches required
Tor rowing.
alongside the steam frgate San Jacnto oil hands were
called that vessel and many OF them could no
piled the raft were sent down They kept close 70
other. Captain Rodgers then packed on,
and nterstce discovered man was picked out
to fill it up At first the sailors we're nervous but they
gradually became confident and finally dan cod and shout
I'D. The then hauled into the river and kent
| alloat though only Tom Thumb was on buard Ihs
enthusiasm or the spectators grs4 that cheers
rang out on every side There was not room FOR chs
stsud any part OF the little raft during the export
mont. Officers then insisted on crowding on, and even
ladies' tried 10 get over. but kept the wharf.
Captain Rodgers aud Admiral Fauldng after ryag the
boat in variety Of Ways ordered the men Oh sDa
mira raulding seemed delighted with IT,
The boat which is inflated while on the water was then
ft0fosr nd rl tha
Catskh.
The what IL TT
This submarine battery which has been reported
failure, towed up 10 the yard yesterday, having
achieved astonishing The rumor OF It's varo
printed for the purpose Of keeping curious
foreigners from trying 70 witness the experiments, which
were made in New York harbor When we state that
shot, discharged a considerable distance under water,
was seut SONS one hundred ny yards the air tho
nature Of the results reached by Captain Hunt may
be imagined. An order has been received from tho
authorities TO commence At once on large scale vessel
built on the principle that tried and the present
one Is to day to be hauled into the dry dock
The "What is IL" which has just been 50 severely
tested, nothing than huge square box, almost
twelve feet high and six feet wide with an Internal d.
ameter twenty feet. portfolio Is side,
covered by sort OF arch. Within, Of ndescritabs
make and strange appearance Is mounted on the oor IN
such manner that the muzzle protrudes through tho
port The singular aspect Of the cannon however,
ecpsed by the queer construction Of the ammunition,
which consists Of suqare iron log or ball. about foot
wide and feet long. Fgrcss and Dgres 10 the bat
terry effected over the top, by mes OF ladder and
| in through the before mentioned port The mode Of
working the vessel and will be kept secret Tie pre-
merely box u test the principle before in
curing the expense Of building iargor craft Tho in
venor OF this machine Captain Hunt, Of the Engineers.
is confident OF making submarine battery that VIII bo
universally adopted as the best Of Its kind
Departure or Sailors for the Mississippi.
AZ three O'Clock yesterday afternoon nearly four hun
dred sailors mustered board the receiving ship
Carolina and told OIL for the Mississippi fotia tho
Navy Department having recently determined to largely
Admiral Porter. tug came alongside the re-
ceiy wing ship and took the board Yards were
manned aud the band ordered on the poop. All hands
were piped to checr comrades the band struck up
"Going down to Dixie" and the tug showed OF Tho