Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-05-12
CAPT. ERICSoN'S NEW INVENTION
The Propeller TorpedO-Immense Cruis-
ing Iron-Clads Unnecessary.

The fact that Capt Ericsson, of moni-
tor fame, has invented new engine OF
naval warfare, has been announced. The
invention is described as comfortable
submarine travelling torpedo. This tor
pedo consists o. a great shell of iron,
charged with five hundred pounds of
dynamite, equal in its destructive power
to five thousand pounds of powder.
The shell has, ut its stern, two prOpeil-
ers, turning in opposite directions.
When loaded, the shell weighs exactly
as much as an equal bulk of sea watec.
Its propellers are to be driven by com
pressed air, which air runs through a
hollow, flexible tube, one end attached
to the torpedo, and the other end wound
over large reel on board the torpedo
ship, monitor, or any other ship of war.
The air is compressed by powerful
pumps, driven by the steam engine of
the vessel. The prepared torpedo is put
into a lube, ten feet more or less, under
water, pointing forward from the bow
of the monitor, or other war ship fitted
with the apparatus. Above the torpedo
is wire, having at the end float, or
bladder, designed to float upon the sur
face of the water, so that the course of
the torpedo shell under the water can
carry Il small electric light at night,
with a screen in front, SO that it can
only be seen from the rear. The air
tube may be quarter Of Il mile, or even
a full mile long. The torpedo is so ar
ranged with fins that it will keep Just as
far beneath the surface as it is started.
Ten horse power, or more, may be made
to work on its propeller. 1t is thus
driven rapidly through the water, drag
ging after it the floating air tube which
supplies it with power. The torpedo
has rudder, too, which is so arranged
that, by increasing the air pressure
through the tube, the Tudder steers the
shell 10 port, but diminish ng the air
pressure steers the shell TO starbOard.
This change may, of course, be effected
at any moment, with the greatest ease.
Now, suppose one of our monitors,
armed with Il dozen or more of these
torpedo shells, observes Il British IRON
clad, or is engaged with one, the hostile
vessel being a quarter or Il half mile off.
the tow OF the monitor is pointed at, or
nearly at the hostile vessel, and a torpe-
do is attached to the air-tube, pressure
is made, and the torpedo isstarted. The
officer in charge watches with his glass
the progress OF the upper float over the
water, ard is thus able to steer the ter
rible shell eXa 'tly for the opposing ves-
SCI. When the torpedo reaches the
opposing vessel, and touches its bottom,
ten or fifteen feet beneath the water
line, an explosion is sure to take place,
when force equal to two and a half
tons of gunpowder, which would be suf-
ficient 10 throw the vauGted British
ironciad Monarch into such absolute bits
that not fragment as large as a mans
body could ever be recovered.
These machines mag also be separated
from the shore, or from any kind of a
vessel; but they are mainly designated
as q supplement to our monitor system.
Captain Ericsson does not believe in
building immense sea cruising iron
clads, after the England style, and he
says that he has thus proved the futil-
ity of encasing ships of war with huge
masses of iron, and the absUrdity of
wasting millions of tons of coal in pro-
pelling weight which does not protect.
He is now engaged in experimenting
with a.view to arrange his torpedoes so
that they can be used in rough water
at snsea, ut all times, and under all
conditions. The Army and Navy Jour-
nal declares that, with his terrible in
vention in our hands, we need have no
fear of the naval supremacy of Great
britain, but may confidently measure
strength with any power in the world
that ventures to trample upon our
rights.