The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-04
Governors Island, He'll Gate and
Willet's Point Visited.
A STUBBORN TORPEDO
Views of the Secretary and Gen.
eral Of the Army.
Interesting Experiments and Explanations
at the Forts.

foot OF West Twenty fourth street to inspect the inner
limo Of the defences Of New York The morning was
lowering and dismal and fine, busincss-lke rain
promised the inspecting party reasonable amount OF
discomfort Hopes were entertained that toward noon
tho storm would wear on; but tho elements have no
feelings and rcspccters OF persons so they per-
formed delicatcly graduated crescendo until the re-
turn OF tho party to the city The Henry Smith was
headed for Governors Island, which was reached
about nine O'Clock. Tho Secretary OF War and party
were received here by Colonel Crofton, General King
having come up TO the city 10 accompany the Secre-
tary down. Tho salute usual in such was frcd
The troops were already the ground tor parade
They inspected by General sherman and
put through . few movements by Colonel
Crofton, the march past In double quick time being
well effected notwithstanding tho too rapid time to
which the band played the quckstep The number Of
German faces among tho men was very noticeable.
Colonel Crofton gives the owners the reputation OF
being very steady, obcdient soldiers but thinks that,
barringr Christmas and ST. Patrick's day, there are
troops in the world the Irish. The number
Of men Governors Island Is not large, consisting
OF battalion Of recruits, two permanent companies
ofinfantry and one company Of music boys, who are
being trained for incorporation into the regimental
bands The work OF inspecting the men ovor, the
arsenal was next visited. As tho great quantity OF
the party was directed to huge shed In which are
stored OF all systems and patterns in every
stage OF condem nation awaiting some favored foreign
purchaser The condition Of everything Governors
Island reflects great credit the authorities. neat
ness trmncss and scrupulous cleanliness being every
where observable. Before leaving the Sccretarys
party received IN the Colonel's house
THE PARTY AT HELL GATE
He'll Cato was the next objective point Whatever
may be the aspect OF tho place in fine weather, It
seemed, yesterday morning. to justify the inelcgant
but suggestive name Tho party descended series Of
mud-strlcken staircases until the openings TO the
various galleries reached. An audible rippling
and heavy patter tho muddy floor warned the
the Secretary the way, while Major Fry undertook the
explanations. II is needless repeat these
here the readers Of the HERALD have already been
made quite familiar with them. bountiful supply of
taow candles stuck against the sides Of the support
ing pillars mitigated the darkness and in places lent
unctuous radiance 10 the dripping walls Tho task
OF explaining the various steps in this bold
piece OF engineering . snort and easy
one This done, the party emerged from the
forbidding galleries into the p,tess In tho little
house above the process by which the 1000 charges
to be exploded explained to the Secretary and
party by General Newton who had just arrived from
ASVerV muCn miScouceptlOu
OF tho popular mind in relation the manner OF ex.
plodng the charges and the result Of such explosion to
riparian houses, General Newton gave tho writer de-
tailed account OF both the hope OF allayng fears
which have been nesdiessy and fooshly aroused. In
the first place people imagine that the explosive mate
rial will be tired at one time in'bulH This Is not the
case No single charge VIII be larger than Gun be con-
tanned in boring OF three inches diameter taperng or
gradually 10 two inches and hail. No boring will
contain more than three pounds OF the explosive.
mt ho stv .s.olx hat
there will be, between each explosion, interval OF
the fractional part OF second. small indeed.
quite appreciablc, enough to make every explosion
lateraly counteract the earth. creating effect
OF other explosion. General Newton said, with
much earnestncss:-l am SO confident OF the absolute
certainty ot what advance that, far the effect OF
the explosion concerned, should not hesitate
stand within hundred feet OF the ads at the
OF the discharge. The only thing which would render
such position unsaie is the probably large volume OF
water which will rush through the mouths OF the gal
erics immediately afler the explosion No should
be enough to suppose that would discharge in
bulk the nitro-gy ccrIne used; II Will be divided
INTO such fractions that practically win
General Newton had bad news for the
qu,dnuncs who have made mp their minds that the last
In this long and arduous work Is to take place
the Fourth OF July. The explosion will take place
either toward the end OF July or In August but
tainly not on the Fourth Of July THO necessary APP
preparation has already been voted and General New
ton is that should any further amount be required
Congress, in view Of the importance OF the work,
would. Immediately furnish t.
The party was next shown the model of the works,
tho Secretary evncng considerable interest IN and
In the diagrams showing the position OF the charges
He'll Gate was lett With apparent regret and tho
steamers head turned toward wilIet's Point. The
run made in about thrce-quarsers OF hour
roRPKDoEs AT wiLLKTT's POINT.
The inspecting party received at the pier by
General Abbot his officers and several companies OF
the Engineer battalion stationed here. sloppy walk
the rain brought the party the Generals quarters
The readers OF the HERALD probably aware that
wictts Point is the headquarters OF The single Engl
battalion IN the United States service They are,
possibly, not 30 well acquainted with the act that
General ABBOT OF most scientific electricians
Ia the army and that he has long been engaged in
bringing perfection that terrible and DREADED narbor
defence, the torpedo. This occupation OF the General
and those under his command - significantly ntated
on u conspicuous sign board by the curt warning
/ ''vEssxLs DO not ANCHOR. rogrEDoEs!"
Tho party was introdu. cd into the Generals cx-
pcrimcnling room, where General Shcrman--al~ays
eager Tor iniormation-ccited an elaborate explanation
OF tho progress made in the torpedo System To those
present who listened for tho frst the
tending tho GENERALS experiments, and the enormous
forward strides IN torpedo work consequent hercupon,
were really astounding BY his ~ stem, General Alb
bot can control the torpedo so rs To allow friendly
ship TO strike u and pass unhnrmed. while
enemy following IN her wake, at the Insignificant dis
lance OF 100 yards, wound be blown into the air He
makes the torpedo register by electricity the
presence OF hostile ship passing II. IN the
darkest night, aud record many other things OF
which u IS perhaps well TO omit the de-
Tails. Not content with this he Is constantly
instructng the men Of the battalion in tccRfaphy aud
the handling and use OF the torpedo. Some OF these
tary aud General sherman specimens OF their prof.
cheney. Messages were sent and ro between OF
the mon. ''Now, sad General sherman, tell him 10
give the order 'frc.'" The and rapIdty with
which the word was uttered produced electrical
effect The visitors looked AZ one another and then at
the hero oil the march TO tho sea, and significant
smile was distngushablc on the faces Of all present
General sherman, IN pursuing his inquiries, asked
General Abbot what was the peculiar internal arrange
mcnt by which the electric current could DO instan-
tansousIy cut OIL This being OF the kcystoncs OF
the system, and not Intended for pubhcatioo the
General rubbed his hands In suggestive pcrplcxily and
looked SO archly at General sherman that all present
burst out laughing anu the question tacitly with
drawn. II was very pretty piece OF pantommc
During the conversation which General Sher.
man and the Secretary Of War expressed their high
sense OF the extreme value OF General Abbots inve-
TONS saying that the further prosecution OF expert
rncnts with view 10 the absolute perfection Of the
system should be cncrgetcally literally supported
by the pubic my experience Is" said General
sherman, that no ships going torpcdocs.n
twas diihdenty suggested by ofccr present that
Farragut would do II Eyes said the General, II
think the old Admiral would but Farragut Is dead,