Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-22

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national strength Us military power, Germany
and England are quietly at work in testing diff
ferent kinds of torpedoes, and in endeavorine
to perfect this important branch of naval bust
ness; and it is stated that the naval stations o.
Russia have also made arrangements for renew
ing the efforts made in that country to manu-
facture torpedo that shall prove satisfactory
to the government. Knowing that the United
States government is engaged in perrecting q
new and powerful instrument of "submarinC
warfare" it is said that various agents of old
world governments have underworld TO learn
the secret of the manufactures on Goat island
but, thus far, they have been unsuccessful
Some years ago, an agent of the French govern.
ment obtained from Colts armory, in Hartford
one of the famous Gattlin guns; and, with this
terrible engine of war as a model it is said, the
French government constructed the mitraelleur,
an instrument considered by American authori-
ties far less effective than the Gattlin gun, but
one which, in the hands of men more truly
soldierlike than the French army, would have
proved terribly destructive to the ranks of
the Germans; and so, having borrowed from our
country their ideas in regard to monitors and
| field pieces it is no wonder that the governments
| of Europe are DESTROYS of obtaining from
America the secret of her torpedo manufac-
ture.
During the late rebellion, the ingenuity of the
south was displayed in the manufacture of tor
pedoes, which proved more efficient and des-
tructiye than any similar attempts on the part
of the government. The most destructive sub
marine instrument made and used by the rebels
was the "beer barrel torpedo" simple in its con-
trivance but effective in its working. 1t con-
sisted of lager beer barrel, filled with gun
powder, and was exploded by any vessel COM
ing in its vicinity, by means of an ingenious ar
rangement, running out into the water, and
communicating with tin case connected with
the barrel and charged with Illuminating pow
der. This instrument was used at various
points along the southern coast, and several
government vessels were destroyed by it. A
paratus, used in the harbors of the
gulf coast, was manufactured by a
gentleman who, having unlimited conf
dence in his own ability. has, since the war,
made a curious proposition TO the government,
his communication being sent to the commander
of the station on Goat island. He states, i'll eff
feet that, in addition to his obstruction torpedo,
he has perfected plan for the manufacture of
an apparatus for offensive warfare. He proposes
that the government shall arrange that one YES
sci, to be managed by himself shall be armed
with this torpedo, and shall enter into battle
with three similar vessels, armed, manned and
equipped in precisely the same manner as the
vessel under his management, except that they
are to have no torpedoes. If his vessel shall
prove able to blow up, destroy, and completely
annihilate the other three by means of his ma
chine, he proposes that the government shall
buy his apparatus and his secret for three mill
lion dollars; but, it, on the other hand, the stu
alton shall happen to be reversed, and the soil
tary vessel under his orders go to the bottom he
proposes to bring no claim against the govern
ment, but will magnanimously make free gift
of his great discovery to the country!
Various articles, more or less plausible, but,
at the same time, more or less marked by lack
of information on the subject, have appeared in
different publications concerning the secret of
the manufacture, and the manner of working the
torpedoes here manufactured. The officers in
charge have contradicted none of these state
ments, any erroneous impression which may
obtain credence in relation to the business being
considered as adding to the real efficiency Of the
service in which these officers are engaged; in
asmuch as it is deemed necessary for the highest
success of the undertaking that the secrecy of
the service be maintained. Erroneous as have
been the statements published, they have been
exceeded in their lack of truth by the stories
told and explanations made by the residents of
Newport themselves, who, with an air of mys-
terry not unmixed with sort of awe, recount
TO their visitors wonderful stories of how old
wrecks are blown up; how the waters of the
harbor are occasionally thrown into the air as
if by terrible CONFUSION of nature how the
little steamer that lies at the wharf at Goat
island sometimes runs out from her bows a
bright two-edged sword rods long, which,
worked by some Internal machinery in the hold,
is able to cut even iron cads in twain
in an instant; how, at the midnight
hour, the city is shaken, as by an earthquake,
by the diabolical agencies set at work on the
bottom of the harbor by the commander of the
station at Goat island; these, and other equally
probable stories are told by the residents, and the
boatmen who carry passengers from the city to
Fort Adams add their quota to the list Of mar
vicious explanations given Of the secret of all
this mysterious work. This sort of feeling is
rather encouraged by the officers, as it tends to
keep away the curious, as well as to add to the
secrecy which it is desirable shall surround
their work.
Goat Island is low, small island, not easily
accessible to large vessels, except at the point
where Il small war steamer is stationed. From
the north end of the island, runs out the break
water that adds much to the safety of Newport
harbor. A lighthouse stands at the end of the
breakwater; in order that no necessity shall
exist for the persons connected with the light to
pass in the neighborhood of the torpedo works.
a wharf has been built near the lighthouse for
their express accommodation and use
The main building on the ISL
and is the residence of the commander
which is being repaired and bcautifed,
rumor says, for occupancy by bride. In the
rear Of the house is fine garden, laid out on
the earth embankment of the old fort. Houses
are being built at the lower end of the island, to
be occupied by the other officers connected with
the works The other buildings consist of the
machine shop, the laboratory, and the nitro
glycerine factory; the latter building is situa-
ted outside the fort wall, and at safe distance
from the other structures; in it no one but the
officers of the service are allowed to enter, and
within its walls are locked the important secrets
of the work of the station, which, with the dis
coveries and combinations going on in the
laboratory, constitute the main features of the
enterprise.
Captain +. o. Mathews, the commander and
Instructor of the station, is young man, evil
IDENTIFY not over thirty-three. He was on board
one of the Union war vessels destroyed by the
rebel "beer barrel torpedo" served with
bravery during the war, was appointed
instructor at the naval academy and
was finally selected by the navy
Departmental take charge of the new station.
During his service as instructor in the academy,
Capt. Mathews devoted much attention to the
subject that's now left in his management, and
| perhaps no better selection could be made from
the officers of our navy for the position. The
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