The New York herald., 1874-08-19
EXPERIMENTAL EXPLOSIONS.
Continuation of the Torpedo
Practice at Newport.
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.
Further Movements Of the Senate
Naval Committee.


The torpedo experiments carried on to-day IN
the presence OF the Senate Naval Committee, now
on tour ofinspection through the different navy
yards and hospitals, proved eminently successful.
The attempt made yesterday afternoon to demOl-
ish, in an instant, the old Cornleld Point Light
Ship which had been taken TO Newport for the
purpose, while partly effecuing the intended OBJ
1ect was not perhaps so complete as many had
anticipated, owing to the lightness OF the vessel,
which merely 1Oated on the surface, and probably
the depth in which the torpedoes were sunk.
hole was put through her, and had she not been
towed of and beached she would have flied and
sunk. Indeed had there been any ballast in her
when the torpedoes we're fred she would have
been Immediately destroyed.
THE MAIN OBJECT
Of the experiments to-day was to show the rapid
fty with which vessel could be blown to pieces.
For this purpose the new iron-plated torpedo boat
which arrived here from Boston Q few days ago,
was brought Into requisti0n. The Intrepid steams
little over nine knots, and uses torpedoes exclu-
sively for offensive and defensive measures. She
Is anchored on the torpedo station, the following
being o list OF her oficers:-Commander A. P,
Cook, commanding; Executive Oficer, Lieutenant
Commander A 8. Barker; Navigator. Lieutenant
A. IL. Fletcher; Masters, w. w. Ksmmail and NJ
e. Wright; Ensign, NJ. G. Dmock Passed Assistant
Engineers, John Lowe. w. A. Windsor and r. d.
Taylor; Passed Assistant Paymaster George H.
Read.
Shortly after nine ocl ock the hulk of an old coal
schooner was towed by the Intrepid outside the
harbor, and, proceeding up the channel, was
taken to the southwark Of Brenton's Reef Lightshp
Captain Simpson, the commandant OF the station,
went out on the torpedo boat to witness the ex-
pertinent. So after her departure, the United
States steamer, having on board the Senate Naval
HcYr ttAn Dnn
naval oflicers and large number OF guests, in
Guiding many ladies' got under way and pro-
cceded in the wake Of the Intrepid until she an
rived near the hghtship, when good position was
chosen for observation. There were. besides, quito
NUMBER OF SPECTATORS
in small sailbOats, aud the result OF the expert
An impression had prevailed the day previous
subject that because the Old COrnfeld Point Light
ship had not been instantaneousy blown to atoms
being however, that under the existing circum-
stances the old vessel could not be 80 summary
"a o. H. Although It was apparent to al inter
templated success mad been achieved, It would, Of
course, have been more gratifying to. the ordinary
spectator II the lghtship had been scattered ia
bits towards all the points of the compass. This
object was accomplished to-day, and the assertion
may be ventured that navigation will never be I'M
schooner.
4uE EXPERIMENT
was simply and neatly executed. When the hulk
was placed In position the Intrepid backed astern
some distance In order to get full mead OF steam
on. with Harvey torpedo in tow the star
board side she rushed ahead at full speed and Just
as the torpedo struck the side OF the hulk 1t was
exploded by electricity. Whether 1t was that the
Intrepid did not proceed with sufficient rapidity
or from some other cause, the explosion OF this
torpedo caused only hole amldships of the
scnOOner'S hulk, but as 1t was determined that 1t
should be disposed OF Captain Cook promptly
! port side, and again steaming past the hulk ex-
ploded 1t under her bottom. The supposed enemy
was persuaded to move this time. Almost stimuli
! tane0usly with the report an immense body OF
WATER ROSB IN THE AIR.
and amid the cloud OF smoke could be seen, flying
schooner was gone, and up went signal on the
| Despatch expressive OF the Admirals admiration
| at the success OF the experiment. The members
| OF the Senate Naval Committee were likewise full
| OF encOmtums. Nor was the experiment unat-
tended with risk, for no sooner had the explosion
or the intrepid, one piece OF WOOD carrying away
her flagstaff. nag was Immediately run up at
the peak, and. IN order to leave
NO TRACES OF THE WRECK
III Cne way OF navtgatOrS, Captain Cook riQged out
another torpedo spar from the starboard SIDE, and
IOre made atoms OF the hulk, thus pietely de-
mohshing II. This brought the experiments to o
close. fine southerly breeze contributed to the
enjoyment OF the spectators, who were evidently
pleased with the prompt and skiliul method with
Which the interesting operations were conducted.
the narDor shortly after twelve O'Clock. The
Despatch sailed this afternoon for Boston, where
the Senate Naval committee Will witness 1urther
experiments. 1t Is understood that the Intrepid
Will shortly proceed to New York and make some
experiments with Ericsson's torpedoes, and will
| onh IN