The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-30
NAVAL WARFARE.
More Torpedo Experiments
in Newport Bay.
M I M I Q b TT L E S /.

[Bx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

NEWPORT, r. l., Sept. ~, 1877.
The torpedo experiments yesterday wore Of a high
order, and consisted In practical OF explosives
torpedoos, &c Two mimic battles also arranged.
The Board arrived At tho before O'Clock,
On their arrival small steamer observed lying at
tho wharf with steam up and having small limo trail
ing over her stern This line proved to BIO electric
cable connecting q simple mechanism on board the
steamer with an equally simple apparatus on tho
wharf, both being designed by Lieutenant Mclean ono
OF the assistant inspectors ordnance at the torpedo
station After brief explanation to the Board Of
what It proposed to 40 with the boat Captain
Brcese gave the order to 20 ahead, and Immediately
there followed u click Of magnet and of the boat
started. Captain Breese then gave directions In ro-
gard 10 steering, Moving and stopping, which wcro
Immediately oboyed by the boat, without any Inter-
ference that communicated by Lieutenant Nc
Lean, who was on tho wharf, through the cable which
out over the stern OF the steamer from tub IN
which II was coilcd. Then the steamer was
brought to tho wharf, and the mechanism, which was
taken out IN two minutes, was minutcly explained TO
tho Board by Lieutenant Mclean. This Is new In
vcnton and tried to-day for FIRST There
appeared to be vibrating key, which could be placed
any OF eight electric paths Each OF the attor
included q magnet, which, In turn, operated valvc
for turning steam or or the cylinders, which
were Of peculiar construction, thereby starting,
10 either side at pleasure. There were also otner
by which torpedoes could DO dropped
and fired under enemy's vessel. Tho steam cyln-
ders were out OF the way and nearly out OF sight, and
the controlling apparatus could all be carried IN hat
box. The experiment was perfect success, and Lieu
tenant Mclean by tho Board, by the
commundant OF tho and by his fellow officers
we'll upon his marvellous invention. the Commo-
doro telling him that It did him great deal OF credit.
roRPEDoEs.
Tho Board were then to the United States
steamer Nina, In charge OF Andrew p Basntord, where
excelont expert onts witnessed with spar
t0rpedoes, tho service launchers beng brought into
The offensive class Of torpedocs, such issued
to all vessels oil the navy, the only ones used.
Tho first experiment made by Lieutenant J. r.
Sellrdgc, who, with boat and crew, located ninisf
about sevcntyave feet from the shore and submerged
q common service torpedo attached To tho extremity
OF hickory spar, forty hve eo long and about eight
inches in diameter. II placed about twelve
feet under water, and was igntcd by IN
electric with tho aid Of OF farmers machines
with turn Of crank, which stored up quantity of
electricity and touched key. thus exploding tho
pcdo. Tho explosion q success, throwing tho
water about my fect In tho 10 guard against
cident the connections were not made until the cx
plosives mad beon placed in position. The Board
were shown that an explosion would DO sure
to take place, the precautlon being taken to
send test circuit beforehand. thus showing that
this precauti0n IN actual warfare ncces-
sary before running alongside Of enemy's
vessel. The second experiment OF the same nature
was made by Lieutenant Commander Z. 7. Woodward
using ssventyhve pound torpedo Tho
scnt distance oil sixty feet IN toe air, and
the commotion raised In the hurbor astonishing.
Tho report could have been heard long distance.
Lieutenant X. N. Berry and Ensign b. A. Fisk mndc
the third experiment, using twenty-five pounds Of
dynamite, equal 70 2uo pounds OF powder, and
wnsh NV, was placed ., III tin ,s can was o. no.
boat before the explosion took place, and upon
curry tho reason WIS found 10 DO that tho wish
OF tho commanding officer that risk should be rum
and, IL turned OUT II was fortunate that this pre-
caution was taken. Tho explosion made terrific
noise and huge column OF water aud dirt assembled
TO great heign causing the harbor tor distance OF
eighth OF q mile TO present troubled appearance.
Vessels rolled At their anchorage and the Nina
subsidized than Nm enterpristng fisherman was
tho spot SEEMING the fish which had been stunned,
aud which were floating about In large numbers. rho
spar which the torpedo was fastened sent at
lightning speed over the bow OF tho boat and brokcn
been crushed In u vice. IL lied 70 u staple tho
with two turns Of spun yarn and alter the expo
II noticed that the staple had Doen drawn out
and was hanging In It's customary place, Lieu
tenant f. i. Gilmore and Ensign f. w. Dunno
called upon to make the fourth experiment the
Same manner, and wore given torpedo filled
with gun cotton, equal to 2O0 pounds oil powder, to
explode. The shock was not as violent as the last,
but had the explosive article been under vessel bot
tom II would have been more disastrous This
finished tho exercises with the spar ,orpsdooa
FROZEN DYNAMITE
The Board were then escorted 10 the shore whero
Leu,enants Uriel scbree ana G. DIochlinger AZ
tempted " mako an experiment with frozen
dynamite, the latter material being placed
IN the harbor. 1t has always been commended
tnnt frozen dynamite was non explosive; but during
tho winter Professor W. N. Hull, .he chemist at the
station, has arranged fuse that will ignite the stub
born material The Board informed that n
gineer Lmo ago placed quantity OF dynamite
Ia u sleigh during tho WINTER ana Le found o MS sur
prise, when no had reached tho end OF his journey,
that II had frozen, aud no found 1t impossible to ex
plode IL The explosion to-day did not Iako place vt
The rst attempt aud II was subsequently ascertaned
by Professor Hill that the dynamite had frozen
the fuse, this being caused by delay In moi having
made the experiment sooner new iusc
ranged and the experiment again tried This Time
It proved grand SUCCESS aid thus while the govern
mont blessed with having ound way to transport
tho dangerous material. " has also found way TO
ignite during the winter months should It frcozs be-
lore being utcd.
Lieutenant Horace T. Elmer then dred three salut-
ing torpcdoes Professor Farmers boat machine,
what could DO done with tho attcr, lull
capacity being the hring or Of four. For some
known the fourth torpedo did not ignite lnoy
were placed about seventy from shurc. Lieutenant
Commander Yates Stirling aud Lieutenant james
franklin followed aud Interested tn, Board with tie
exploding oil an improvised torpedo 10 show that u
torpedo could be made on board . ship In
OF emergency with the aid Of an Old can,
be made waiertigh This also Tired by electricity
Tho comnotlon It raised was silsht compared to Tho
other torpcdoes when had been exploded. 1t was
mado with the ala OF two-quart stone jug hed with
powder.
The condoupcd schooner Marina. from st. John, n.
b. when into and sunk oil Watch Hill q few
months ago by tue steamer CITY oil Ftchburg, OF New
Bedford, towed ~ the outer harbor and stationed
at the south end Of Goat Island.
The harDor completely covered with small
boats, which many times ordered back from The
vicinity Of tho wreck The explosion IN charge Of
Commander Thomas y. ScIfriigo, Mr.. Bunce anu Z. s.
Norton, who had made aii the preliminary arrange
ments, planting torpcdocs, &C. The craft was water
logged and well down, and many were OF opinion thar
torpedoes would a 10 crush her, but tho ncrcduous
wero never more mistaken. SIX 100 Founders.
charged With dynamite, which was equui 10 4,SOU
pounds OF were placed unuerncath her
bottom. Sho was located about tour bundled
feet from shore. Commander Seifridge stood
the battery, winch contained nftoen cells, nnd care
fully tested the leading to the hulk. The circuit
closed by the latter officer, aud IN an Instant
vast volume VI water asccnded distance OF nearly
Two hundred and lity feet, followed by dcaicning
roar and a CONCLUSION which Will never DO forgotten
by tho spectators. For a moment nothing could
be seen tho air but ono rias5 OF
aud broken timber. rho torpcdoes were all irod
at once and performed tnan was expected.
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