The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
GRAND NAVAL SPECTACLE.
The Torpedo Practice
at Florida Bay.
CoLUNNs OF FIRE AND WATER.
Splendid Array Of Vessels in Administering
to Key West-Frogramme for the
Remaining Exercises

Inc following dispatches have been received
from our special correspondent with the United
STAKES neet OF Florida Bay
FLORIDA BAY, via KEY WKsr)
ma Feb rs, 1874
Inc meet exercised to-day at torpedo practice.
Inc iono"mg general order was issued yes
terday:-N
GENERAL ORDER.
FLAGSHIP WABASH, Feb "a 1874
target for torpedoes viii be set adrift to-
morrow, and each vessel will steam at the target
and explode one or more torpedoes under ~ &C.
cording TO her fitting. The torpedoes must bci
fired on the starDoard side, and submerged At least
twelve feet. Each boom will be marked to indi1
cate proper submerson. Each vessel Will have a.
pieces of Wood Torpedoes must be discha uy,nS
whether target Is struck or not The speed OF
ionr Knots an hour must be accurately Kept.
A. LUDLOW CASE, Commander in Chief
THE DRILL OF YESTERDAY.
raft twenty by ten feet, constructed Of heavy,
panks, was to-day towed by the Fortune to po-
siton one mile ahead OF the neet. At one O'Clock
all the vessels got under way, and, forming into
columns, steamed toward this raft in the following
order The wabash first, then the Congress, Tie
conderoga, Canandaigua, Osslpee, Colorado, BROOKE
Ign, Wachusett, Kansas Lancaster, Alaska. shes
nandoah, Franklin, and, hastily, the Fortune.
Each vessel carried l00pound torpedo, rigged
out on the starboard size on o 50foor spar. Thd
wabash carried 8 and the Brooklyn 4 All were to
be fred by electricity.
A SPLENDID DISPLAY
Fourteen out OF the seventeen torpedoes wer0
successfully exploded. The spectacle was very
grand. In many instances o solid column OF water
was thrown twice the height OF the mainmasts
The best execution was done by the Coorados
wachusett aud Shenandoah. The Fortunes tor!
S1,A
explosion occurred.
TIE SHOCK OF THE EXPLOSION.
The shock on shipboard was something terribles
REsULr OF TIE EXPERIMENTS
Commodore Parker declares that to-days ex.
periments have demonstrated the Improperly Of
applying torpedoes to large war vessels incapable
OF great speed,
AN ENGLISH SPECTATOR,
Captain Jones, of the Royal Navy, witnessed the
experiments from the Brooklyn.
To-DAYs PROGRAMME.
General heet exercise will be the feature Of toe
morrow The Despatch and Pinta, now at Key
West will take part in the drill, after which the
Despatch viii 60 to Havana.
CLOSING OF THE EXERCISES.
The exercises in Florida Bay will conclude to-
morrow, instead OF on Friday. The feet will san
for Tortugas Friday. The Juniata arrived ut
Key West to-day.
When the Fleet WIN Return to Key
West-The Final E1crcises-Forpedo
Practice.
FLORIDA BAY, via KEY WEST, Feb a. 1874.
1t is now definitely settled that the fleet viii
leave here for Key West via Tortugas on Saturday
morning next. The fleet will remain at anchor ON
Tortugas on Sunday and Monday, aud on Tuesday,
with the remainder OF the feet, will depart loE
Key West.
TRIP TO HAVANA.
The wabash will go to Havana TO remain untip
Sunday morning She Will then return to Key
West where the final landing exercises will occur
about the 9th. Twenty-Five hundred men VIII be-
landed through the surf instead OF LOO, on
former occasion. The skirmish drill shore
will be much the same as before. The functioH
will conclude on the day following the landing
with brigade dress parade.
This trip to Havana prolongs the function an-l
other week. Commodore Parker will 60 North onf
the steamer Of March H.
WESTINGHOUSE BIRTHDAY.
Yesterday was observed q national holiday
All vessels remained at anchor.
EXERCISES At TORPEDO PRAcrIcB
The neet to-day exercised at torpedo practice.
The vessels formed in column the Wabash leading,
and passed the target three times. full broad-
side was fred the last time Tomorrow will be-
devoted to experiments in exploding torpedOes
on spars.