The New York herald., 1872-11-30
SUBMARINE TORpEDOES.
Interesting Experiments with Lays Torpedo
Boat at Newport R. LA New and De-
structivs Implement in Naval Warfare.

NEWPORT, II. l., Nov 27, 1872.
The march OF Yankee invention Is az Irresistible
as the progress OF American civilization and imple-
ments OF war have been receiving the attention OF
the most talented and ingenious inventors. The
latest as well as the most formidable apparatus
which has been successfully experimented with is
new submarine torpedo, the invention OF John
L. Lay. The frst satisfactory experiment, about
month since, was on the Mohawk River, opposite
Schenectady; but within few days there has been
second trial and exhibition opposite the govern
ment torpedo station, on Goat Island, here in
newport. This latter experiment was more thor
ougn and rigid, and was made uuder the direction
ana In the presence OF board OF army and navy
omcers appointed by the Secretaries OF the two de-
partments. The naval board consisted OF Admiral
Rogers (President. Admiral Worden Commodore
Hornell, Captain Simpson, Captain whiting, Com
mander Kirkland Commander Dewey and Lieuten-
ant Commander Marvin. The board representing
the War Department comprised General Barnard
(Presdent, and Generals Tower, Cullum Wright.
Warren and Abbott.
THE APPARATUS OF DESTRUCTION
is fragile in appearance, though strong and for.
midable in point OF fact The hull OF the novel
craft is not more than twenty-five or thirty feet IN
length, and Its breadth Is perhaps three or four
feet at the most. 1t is cigarshaped and the whole
is covered with coating OF green paint, giving IL
an appearance similar to the water. rendering It
almost invisible. The entire hull Is composed oi
iron plates firmly rivetted and caulked, thus rem
dering 1t completely water and air tight. 1t is
divided into three compartments-one for the mo-
tive power, one for the machinery and one for
reel containing q telegraph table, the purpose and
use OF which win be presently shown. The motive
power Is derived from carbOnic acid gas contained
In wrought-iron nask, and holding sufficient
Avnttt Nnn Jiuto
Of SIX or eight miles at the rate
OF ten to fourteen miles an hour.
ns a power
operate small screw or propeller placed at the
stern OF the boat All this machinery s controlled
which passes through couple OF wires contained
In single cable placed upon the reel before men.
toned. The opening or closing OF the circuit on
one wire opens valve on the flask containing the
gas and the engines are thus set in motion or
or closing Of the circuit on the other wire steers
| the boat to any point desired The cable contain
board
on shore at Q distance OF four or Ave miles, con-
trolls the whole course and movements OF the de-
structive craft She Ii almost entirely submerged,
| and at trining distance can only be seen with
the aid OF powerful glass. No men, OF course are
service comes she Is launched, the batteries con.
nected and the engine started, and she starts on
orward for part and has capacity for 500 pounds Of
powder or nitro-glycerne, as may be desired. Be.
sides oil this, she is so constructed In her forward
part as to carry shells charged with powder or
out any damage whatever to the boat but with
which she is directed. The explosion Of these
shells can be produced either by directing
D0nsa percussion Ss Vess cap ws Rased it on Is tS Ss
ssaes 81 through rd wire !"
can the magazine with all Its 500 pounds o. de
structiveness, be exploded. The explosion O lhe
strscton Of the % TORPEDO t boat itseit; but as
victory amply c0mpensates ior that.
| was conducted under the supervision OF Com.
station here during the temporary absen' q
ventor, was present, and also Mr.. wiiliaI A.
/ Torney, OF New York, as well as several -
te sea o. MSer
| Gorod, of the star OF the Emperor Of Russa
Lieutenant b. A. SpakofIsky, OF the Russian Ngi
tiilery; % Lieutenant Commander j. Pilon, s.
the Spanish Navy ; Major. +. Bermudez Az
mral A. L. Case, Chief OF the Bureau OF Ordn aee
OF the United States Navy, and Professor Ro' 'er
A torpedo charged with ten pounds OF powder
was put in position and then the boat was ST. rted
from the shore OF Goat Island. It darted Off lse
harpooned whale, and described complete err
cult OF the harb0r, going distance OF about two
miles. The operator, who remained on shore had
switches moved her to port or starboard aaI
stopped her at Will Having demonstrated ior
considerable time the facility with which she could
be propelled and guided her course was changed
to the shore or the point from which she
started. Then she was again sent out
in the direction OF large rowbOat.
which had been anchored as an imaginary vessel
OF an enemy short distance from the island. The
bow OF the boat, the point where the torpedo was
placed, was directed against the rowboat, and in
simultaneously there followed the explosion OF the
proectile. The water was thrown about thrty-nve
feet or more into the air and the timbers OF the
boat were sent flying in all directions The gen.
tlemen VINO witnessed the experiment were highly
ora ffned with the result.