The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-12
A SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT.
Launch OF an Iron Steam Submarine
Torpedo Mt the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Description OF the Vcssel-Shc II Com
aadereA VIv,safe.

Launch OF an Iron Steam Submarine
Torpedo at tho Brooklyn Navy Yard
Description OF the vcssel-shc Is Com
sidered Unsafe.
In pursuance OF an order received from the Navy
Department a Board OF Survey was convened at
the Brooklyn Navy Yard yesterday at noon, for the
purpose Of examining and experimenting on an
iron steam submarine torpedo boat, which was
launched at the Brooklyn Navy Yard from the Ord
dance Dock on Tuesday afternoon. The Board Of
Survey consisted OF the following O1lcers:-COm-
modore Y. G. Howell, Commandant Of the League
Island Navy Yard Vice Admiral Rowan, Captain O.
Ransom, Commanders N. Scard, W. Whiting, II. Err
ben and Chief Engineer w. w. w. Wood, Naval
Constructor b. F. Delano. Lieutenant Commander
Barclay and other naval officers. The Board OF OIL
GERS met at the Sc0w Dock where the torpedo boat
had been m0ored, and proceeded to investigate her
power OF action and capabilities OF working while
This formidable engine Of war was recently built
by MI. Stetson, OF New York, and is constructed
according to plans OF his own Invention. She Is
about one hundred feet long and Is shaped
like cigar, and when In the water has
the highest elevation. Her frame is OF
we'll seasoned wood transversed by iron beams,
and sheathed with iron plating, chainrlveted, and
OF eight miles an hour when under water. II is.
claimed by her inventor that enough air can be
surface for space Of ten hours. She Is divided
into different compartments, both air and water
tight, ana through the agency OI ner own engine,
or, when practicable, by the agency of an indie.
pendent pump on shore, compressed air Is forced
Into the compartments. by regulation OF which the
may require. She il propelled by steam
and has two rudders, and can be propelled either
backward or forward without the necessity OF
turning the vessel while under water. She Is able
to proceed In a harbOr under water and aiiix tor
pedo to an enemy's ship without being seen, ana
when at o safe distance explode IT by means OF
electricity.
is that the vessel IL not provided with any means
of ventilation while under water. The air which Is
In the compartment In q compressed state serving
by aid OF machinery to ventilatc the vessel on q
small scale and 10 serve the purpose OF workingthe
ship. The only large outlet on the vessel Is hatch
OF two and one half feet square, and that Is closed
and ca ked while under water.
The Chief Naval Constructor at the Navy Yard, Mr..
+. b. Delano, says that he has but little confidence
In the torpedo, and 1t is his opinion, as he ex-
but tempting Providence and the laws OF human
nature and humanity to risk their lives
In such vessel as the one at
present under examination at the Navy Yard.
He says he does not know how man Will serve
her, even II paid bounty, and thinks she is very
unsafe and does not approve Of her. She, when at
work. will need crew OF about eighteen men to
fully equip her and to work the machiRery; but as
she 10 only intended, II found worthy OF approval
by the department. for harb0r defence, 1t Is not I'M
likely that some means may be adopted to lessen
the risk OF the possibility Of any lives being lost
In her. Further experiments will shortly take
place under water, when the real power OF TINS en-
CINE OF war will be fully developed.