The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07
Torpedoes in the Gulf.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WABASH, !
GULF OF FLORIDA Feb 15 1874

GULF OF FLORIDA, Feb. rs, 1874
This day had been set apart for torpedo expert
ments and the results altogether quite salts.
factory.
The days experiments have taught all observing
officers much that is valuable, and which will be
OF great advantage in future naval battles. The
old fogies got good shaking up, and possibly lost
some Of their tlmidity. Experience Is the only
school which can teach an onicer to be cool when
manipulating the electric key which fires NAM
moth torpedo. The few slight blunders OF the day
only served to show to every off1cer Ut this vast
fleet just what to avoid. The weakness OF the fit-
tings Of the torpedoes to the spars was a slight
mechanical oversight, which Will probably
never occur again. 1t was proved clearly
also. that large ships at q low rate OF speed
cannot use the torpedo extensively, and that,
while the torpedo might be very efficient SAFE
guard against boarding parties or the torpedo
boats OF the enemy, it cannot be used against q
vessel which cannot be overtaken AS an ofren-
sive agent 1t can be employed with ease by fast
steamer even In mid-ocean. spars might be
rugged along each vessels side, that they could
be swung into place on the approach OF a heavy
ram, against whose SIDES guns would be worth.
less, and her bow blown OF before she could deal
the fatal blow. All these things seem possible.
THE ELECTRIC TORPEDO
Is certainly great Improvement over the old sys-
tenn OF percussion weapons They are as dangerous
to friend as enemy, and If guy rope carried away
or tackle-blOck broke the officer OF ship had
perfect assurance that he ana not his adversary
would go to the bottom. The application OF cleo
trcity, however, does away with all this, and
takes all the responsibility and danger out Of the
hands Of
CARELESS AND TIMrD SAILORS
who are employed to put the torpedoes in place,
and lodges IL with COmDPtent Off1cer who has
been trained for that very service at Newport.
While the key remains open the torpedo Is as
harmless as any loaded she'll in the magazine. The
torpedo oflcer has the entire system Of submarine
defence completely under his control, and can ex.
plode the terrible weapon just at the desired IN
stant saw enough to-day TO satisfy me that any
OF those charges exploded under even 1000 tons
man-of-wa would have sent her to the bottom.
do not believe THAT the raft used was OF any sort OF
service, only asdndicatlng spot at which the ex-
posion should occur. 1t was light, fragile and OF
insufficient draught or bulk to show the effect Of
mighty upheaval OF the water which noated 1t.
There should have been hulk, then the expert
ments would have been more useful.
The resume Of the days work is given below
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 1874.
The weather was clear but intoerabiy warm, the
Thermometer ranging among the eighties. raft,
composed OF heavy mass of planks, Duoyed by
about nfty casks was set adrift about noon. The
vessels were all fitted with torpedo spars, pursuant
TO q general order issued on last evening, which I
send you by telegraph tonight. and they were
directed to steam as near the float as
possible, exploding the torpedoes as they
passed. The torpedoes we're Of cast iron,
attached to spars fifty feet in length
and contained 100 TO l25 pounds Of powder. The
Fortune was ordered to steam at the target under
full speed, but the resistance Of the water against
the spar was so great to break the torpedo short
OF and to send 1t to the bottom OF the Gulf. The
following the official report, which is only sent as
a supplement to the despatches:- ~