The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-03

with land fortress These are termed ground tor
pedoes or subaqueous mines and under this compre-
hensive head Is included vast field for research in
which there is ample space for the development OF in
ventive genius in connection with the defence Of forth
most important subject, and one which, affecting
It does, the attack Of such places from the
Sos raSy The Of machines 3 Of
this nature In war cannot be overlooked with impunty
by great maritime Power like the United States pos
sessng IL does such long extent OF coast and
such large commercial marine which must DO pro-
tected In the event Of war; and the employment Of
orpedoes TO present such considerable Increase
in defensive well offensive powers there D every
TO suppose that ludicous use Of them would
in an emergency prove Of Infinitely greater value TO US
than TO nation possessing less of the maritime ele
ment in its composition Liberal appropriations there
FORE for the development Of this subject will always DO
safe and wise economy.
Instruction in the theory and practice OF electricity
and its application TO the Ignition OF gunpowder anu
other explosive agents for mining purposes, both on
shore under water and also as required IN cohheotoh
with system of subaqueous mines is part OF the IN
structon at Newport Defensive Iorpedoes wouu seem
applicable 10 almost any circumstances and may DO
used with a very great advantage to the defence IN IN
Vulnerable instances Experience also teaches that the
moral effect Of such system OF defence very great
/ sUBAQUEoUs MINES
may be briefly described charges Of gunpowder gun
cotton other explosives Of various sizes TO about
1000 pounds of gunpowder its equivalent, enclosed
in water tight cases Of iron other material and
naced under water at such depths that by the explo.
sion they may sink or seriously damage vessel passing
in their vicinity, They fired by electricity, which
may be accomplished either at WILL or the vessel her
]
rent pass and fire the charge They are always abso
souey under the control Of the operator in charge,
perfectly harmless to friendly vessels, and may be
tested without going near them TO ascertain whether
they good condition. II also possible TO know
by electrical tests II they have been tempered with by
the enemy or to take them up for examination with
perfect safety
The most perfect circuit indicators and circuit closors
10 be used IN connection with various systems Of sub
aqueous torpedoes have been gotten up and success
fully experimental with here, and they have eectuay
endured the hardest tests Of service
To return TO the experiment OF to-day Captain R.
r. Breese, the Commandant OF the station, had made
the most complete arrangements He stationed
officers on the wharf TO keep of all those not specially
invited and personally received those to whom invita-
| tions had been sent
Shortly before eleven the little launch attached to the
station brought the genial Secretary Of the Navy
| Mr. Robson, who was formally received by Captain
Breese. The ladies and gentlemen accompanying him
were conducted TO the verandah in front OF the Com
mandants quarters whittier they were followed by
long retinue First came Rear Hdmira Case, then Adj
mira Reynolds Isaiah Handscombe Chief Of the Bureau
of Construction; Senator Anthony, OF this state and
Senator Craign, Chairman of the Naval Committee
! Next came Commodore Jones' NJ, Naval Attache Of
the British Legation in Washington; General H. j. Hunt
! commander of Fort Adams and Colonel of the
! Fifth Artillery, late Chief Of Artillery Of the Grand
| Army of the Potomac; Admiral Raymond Rogers,
Superintendent OF the Naval Academy at Annapolis;
Admiral d. .. Porter and daughter Commodore
William n. Jeiers, Chief OF the Bureau Of Ordnance;
Major General Warren; Mr.. Bancroft the historian;
Senator Burnside, Of Rhode Isand Rev. W McAlliser,
OF Ehzaaeth ~ . Ex-Governor Morgan, Oh new york.
Norman Ward Mr. Lincoln Baron Du Jardin Secretary
OF the Belgian LegatlOn MI. Orpp Cnarge dAHlreS OF
Sweden and Norway; W. Beach Lawrence, Hon.
Samuel Powell Professor Rogers, formerly President of
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology Professor Cook,
of Cambridge; Professor NJ. G. Farmer Chief Electr
clan Of the station and number Of ladies In bright
elegant summer costume. Among the officers present
in blue undress uniform who took active part in the
subsequent proceedings we're Commander H. D. Marley,
Lieutenant G. A. Converse Lieutenant X. 3. Bradford,
Lieutenant W. Maynard Lieutenant W. T. Moore Lieu.
tenant j. p Morrill, Lieutenant A n Cowden, Paymas-
ter J. F. Tarbo, Gunner W. B. Burditt Professor W.
n Hills, chemist; with the following officers under In
err cffars fat1tHn anhn II HiDDtU
Lieutenant Commander +. Wilde, Lieutenant Com
mander G. +. Schmtz, Lieutenant Commander B. P.
Lamberton, Lieutenant Commander G. F. +. Wilds,
Lieutenant Commander G. II. Davis, Lieutenant Com
mander J. Bishop, Lieutenant Kingsley, Lieutenant W.
L. Randall Lieutenant G. A. Bicknel, Lieutenant W.
7. Swinburn, Lieutenant 3. Mclvaine, Lieutenant f.
W. Very, Lieutenant N. Z. Niles, Lieutenant r G.
Davenport Master A c. Dillingham;.
The Secretary Of the Navy had never visited the
station before and must have felt highly grated at the
completeness OF the discipline and the warmth OF his
reception The electrical instruments by which most of
the orpedoes fred placed the croquet
lawn elevated plateau adjoining the southeast
corner Of the Communicates house and overlooking the
harbor. These connected with the batteries
in the electrical building. Professor Farmer was
in charge aided by Lieutenant herrell Converse Cow
den and by Commander Marley. Among these instru-
meits electric chronograph, invented and per-
fected by Farmer, worked by pendulum driven by
electricity and designed so that 1t viii fire from
100 torpedoes few seconds BY the side of this
electric engine invented by Lieutenant Moore,
The first item on the programme was a
novel subaqueous salute Secretary Robson of
teen torpedoe each charged with ten pounds of powder
arranged line south Of the ferry landing These
fred in the presence OF the whole company by
Lieutenant Manley, by the action of the pendulum Of
seconds, comnencns southwark This WI was y cer
tainy of the most exciting experiments
ever undertaken AT the first explosion q huge
column of spray thrown up 10 the
height OF 100 feet the second threw up large volume
of which sprnked the persons nearest the shore
the third like the discharge of tremendous foun
tain whose spray reached at least altitude Of $50 feet
and subsequently, settled down to the slopes; and
it 10 the end No better description be given
than to imagine row of nineteen giant fountains whose
Of water rise up massive column 10 the
age height Of $50 feet each opening with loud report
and conclusion
THE OBJECT OF THE EXPERIMENTS.
The experiments were chiefly intended TO show the
utility Of applying electricity under various conditions
TO the torpedo service and thus further llustra
ton Mr.. Neral next exploded twenty-five FOUNDER
north Of the ferry deep water to show the useful
ness Of Farmers b. E. machine for boats. The harbor
full of boats and yachts, which the government
steam launch had been unable TO keep off up TO this
time; but the tremendous shock Of this explosion and
the probability of drenchng by the falling Of water
soon sent some Of the foohardy sightseers to the
Torpedo No 3 consisted OF 100 pounds Of powder,
placed east Of the landing and was fired by Farmers
machine for ships This was IN deep water AT the in
slant OF the discharge it seemed though 1000
cannon had been fred under The spray flew up
nearly 300 feet deluging the persons in the nearest
craft and causing the water to seeth like vast whr
pool
against raft at about 1000 feet distance. The
boat having five pound torpedo fastened the STERN
handled from the croquet lawn by Lieutenant Brad
ford The boat is made almost in the shape Of
a cigar, with two pointed ends, and Is almost
totally submerged, the green outline appearing
above the water being almost like huge green
fish The boat is fitted inside with a small oscillatng
engine driven and steered by carbonic acid gas the
steering being regulated through the electric machine
and by means Of which be made TO perform the
most difficult evoutons long there is any gas left
in the receiver The object Of this invention is TO
attack enemys vessel at distance Of two or two and
a half miles and by Of immense torpedOes
charges Of gunpowder nrO-glycerne destroy the
enemy and the boat also After few fancy maneuvres
the deadly looking craft made right Tor the target and in
few seconds the edge posts shyered into atoms
and thrown into the distance Of twenty feet Then
the boat sent cruise among the sailing boats
and turned round and round with rapidity that
astonishing considering the distance. The move
Of the caused considerable pashng Of tho
water, and il doubtful If the boat would not
ceve very wide berth and hot reception If at
tempt should be made use It against an enemy
BY daylight still the boat was not submerged to her