The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-25
EricssOn's New Torpedo.

Capt. Ericsson's plan involves. first,
the invention of a new torpedo of ire
sistible power, and, second, the con-
struction of conductor that will carry
this torpedo almost to the very sides of
an enemy's vessel with deadly accuracy.
To this country, where coast and har-
Dor defenses are of the first Importance,
such a torpedo will be invaluable.
Capt. Ericsson conducted series of
experiments on the Hudson in Decem-
Der last. In the concluding trials a
torpedo twenty-five feet six inches long,
weighing l 400 pounds, was propelled
horizontally under water by means of
compressed air at a mean rate of fifty
three nautical miles an hour for the
first 250 feet. In another experiment
the torpedo was discharged at a certain
inclination. making it take an upward
course, and, after passing through
about forty feet of solid water, per-
forming fiat trajectory in the air, en-
tered the water again at distance of
200 feet; then, moving near the surface,
it traversed the next 400 feet in ten sec
onds, at the rate of twenty-three and
three-fourths nautical miles an hour.
Capt. Ericsson says that he can eX-
plode half ton of dynamite under the
fastest iron-clad-that no iron-clad ship
has yet been built fast enough or strong
enough too escape or resist the new tor
pedo. In making it he has taken adj
vantage of the fact that the armor plat
ing of ships extends only short dis
lance below the water line, and cannot
be extended further without making
them too heavy to float. The swiftnesS
with which the torpedoes will be car
ried by the conductor will prevent any
accurate aim being taken at them, so
that the conductors may get within 800
feet of the enemy's ship with safety,
and, of course, retire at leisure after
their work is done.
The Torpedo conductor, sometimes
enormously called a boat, is now at the
works of Delamater & Co., foot of Thir-
teenth street, North River. The YES
sci is 100 feet long, twelve feet beam,
wedge-shaped at the bow, sharp at both
ends, covered with heavy inclined plat
ing, and intended to show only about
one foot above water when in fighting
trim. The frame work is already com
pleted. The ribs are of finished angle
iron; the stern post is a single mass Of
iron containing an orifice for the pro-
peller shaft; there is an opening in the
bow through the solid iron stem through
which the torpedo will be worked. The
vessel will be propelled by peculiarly
fashioned engines ofnew design invented
by Capt Ericsson, developing more
power within a given compass than any
others ever built-estimated at 1,000
horsepower, something unheard OF in
Il vessel of such small size. The design
is to run this steam torpedo conductor
swiftly, end on, within very short dis
lance of an iron-clad, and to discharge
the torpedo by the power of compressed
air. The submerged conductor, pre-
senting but small surface to the fire
of the enemy, will be further protected
by its heavy iron plating, as impregna-
bic as that of any iron ship afloat
Capt. Ericsson was found at his resi-
dence, 36 Beach street, last eveaing,
where he has kept bachelors hall for
the past ten years, surrounded by some
of the costly models of his numerous in
ventions. Although lauch averse to
any newspaper discussion of the torpe-
do at present, he consented to say few
words as to its possibilities. He thinks
it not at all unlikely, SHOULD war break
out between England and Russia, that
his torpedo will be found playing a
prominent part, but thinks it will prove
especially valuable to the United States.
He confidently predicts that the b9ild-
ing of costly iron-clads and coast fertiti-
cations will soon be discontinued, and
that the torpedo will do the wonAl OF
humanity in keeping the sea clear for
the traffic of peaceful commerce. As
to the actual speed, he does not care to
give figures just yet, but is sure that
the torpedo conductor can overtakeany
iron-clad that is likely to be built.-N.
| Y. Sun.