New-York tribune., 1878-11-13
4 HEADs1R0NG TOEpEDO AT PAuRApo.

AN EXPERIMENT WHICH RAN INTO THE GROUND.
A number of gentlemen yesterday after
noon met by invitation at PamrapO. N j.. 10 witness
the practical working OF new torpedo boat.
Among the visitors were Admiral Gore Jones,
Of thu English Legation, BaitazI Ehendi. oil
the Turkish Legat on, Captain MCntoio, Of the
Spanish Navy. Lieutenant G. II. West United States
Navy the Hon. Beniamin X. Phelps. Scott simms the
electrician, aud many other gentlemen Interested In
posiyes, of kind another, and electrical
aud other inventions less remotely connected
with submarine warfare.
The ciait itself is cylinder Of thin shcetrOn with air
tight compartments, 21 feet long and 10 inches in diam
eter ana tpering to point at each end In Sec
tion IL the magazine with capacity for 100 pounds of
dynamit ite-wheh under the most destructive conditions
would blow up considerable navy. strong reservoir
for compressed air carbOnc acid gas, which
motion 10 the propeller wheel. forms middle compar
ment In further astern is coil OF insulated
wire two three miles in length, which out tho
boat ad yances. and sinks T. the bottom. Through this
wire from battery ut the shore cud the craft started
stopped aud steered and If need be, the charge
ploded The implement has been improved from the
original invention OF Mills L. COlender by Messrs. N.
Hubble ana M. A. Hardy. and whlc in some psrtleu-
lara IL differs little from other torpedoes, il IA claimed
that owing its light structure II DO easily
handled and managed than any Of its rivals The
plete apparatus weighs only half ton that a single
vessel might he armed with Of them and the
facility with which IL was launched yesterday shows
that might he lowered from dayits INTO the wafer
few seconds, and started its swift erraud mercy
j. aid tuat previous experiments have proved IL Co
be under perfect control but tins IL was
perVetsely dSobedient When alrwas ready presi-
dent OF United states Torpedo Company announced
thai his craft Oud fret be directed straight on shore
for halt mile, then itwOud tuIn TO staIbOard,
to port and finally return to the starting pO mt.
Tle concern ct Ilcd on smoothly Ut eighl-knUt
speed, with red signal hutterng from short stan
The bow and white at the stern. These the only
visible signs displayed when II il fuy submerged. IL
moved with steadiless, but II soon apparent
that the sfcCrug gear would respond 10 starbOard
appeas; and the look Of dismay on the face Of
tLe operator, who cOn,cndlng with the keys
of the cry, shO wed that the machine rapidly
getting the advantage OF him. II began 20
toward Cavan Point, thea IL swung completely round
small circle, then headed for land, aud finally s
sharp bow high and dry on the low shore, while its
screw kept throwing mud as industrfOusy DtInu-
cratic inyestgatiOn committee. FOrulateyit not
charged explode by impact, aud HUDSON County
escaped with slight damage. The IrOnclad WIS
safely 1Oated of with little delay, and it
found that the wire, which had been already used
several times had become worn oxydzed, Inc elec
rcal apparatus bad been dcTanged that the rudder
could not persuaded 10 stop after had fu
noliOn. The experiment. therefore, " uDtimely
end.
The accident, however, did not seem to stageer the
faith Of the prOpretOrs OF the invention yet the
faith OF the spectators. But 10 universally
agreed that an engine with such possibilities
OF speed and destIuctlyeness, Ought not 10 DO
Let loose for business until II under perfect control
An unnamed or vIDdeiye torpedo, likely 10 take Of
fence It's electrical treatment and 10 turn round 10
chase the vessel WLic1 discharged H. would certainly be
embarrassing weapon.