New-York tribune., 1878-11-20
TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS.
TESTING A NEW INVENTION.

IESllNp n NEW lCN'
SUCCESSFUL TRIAL AT PAMRAPO, y. J.-LIFE-sAVlNG
AS WELL AS LIFR-DEsTROYING PROPERTIES OF
THE CRAFT.
The new locomotive torpedo did not dlsap-
point the expectations OF its propreos or OF the spec
taOrs who assembled at PamrapO yesterday afternoon
10 witness its performances, as 1t did a week ago
On that occasion break in the wire which
connects the engine and the steering Of the craft
with the will Of the operator Shore left the weapon
10 follow its evil imagnings and after buzzing
around the bay for time and making the deep boil like
pot it finally made vicious lunge for the state OF
New-Jersey and inflicted deep hole in the ten
derest part OF Hudson County. Yesterday, how
ever, the Tutor ct UltOr," which Is said TO
be the Latin OF the concern, was under
perfect discipline and did the bidding OF it's manager at
the end of a mile and half Of wire IA obedienty and
promptly as II his hand had been the tler and en-.
gIne valve. This certainty OF control the motion OF
the boat was the main point TO be shown In the expert
amount of explosive force, and to carry 1t swiftly but TO
Everybody remembers the story, Motley tells II,
OF Gianibellrs Helburner," the Hope, which foated
centuries ago and laid herself along side the bridge
which had cost Alexander Farnese 50 many many
looks like a clumsy cOntrvance now, but II
did not fail on that April iday to explode
blew into the air thousand OF his iDen-at-arms amid
rain Of blue & and had
and the boat let down from the pier IL Is light cyn-
OF shectlrOu dpcrlnE al thcD cnu twenty
long and fifteen inches in diameter. The bow section
carries when charged, 100 pounds OF dynamite In one
of the middle sections is flask of condensed cdrbonic
acid gas which gives motion TO the screw In the steam
section is a coil Of insulated wire two miles
long and weighing less than 100 pounds, which
pays out and sinks the boat advances
Through this wire, connected at its shore-cnd with
battery the operator controls the engine and ruddcr
and be, he exulOdes the charge The whole ap
paratus weighs 200 pounds, and floats a. TO he
lust by the al hOugh II can be weighted
on a button, and of the craft shot like "a
rocket. About half milo from shore was float
at anchor and for this she drove leaving considerable
wake from the miniature screw, which was making
about 450 revolutions minute She rounded the boat
toward nOrth the little signals hutcrng from the
short STATS her bow and stern making her course
plaln FROM the shore At tins distance out she was
stopped, started, turned to starbOard and mort,
and finally brought back alongside the wharf,
time she set out having stopped four times and left
mile and a half OF wire in the bay Altogether she he
haved herself Just she advertised 10 do In the
snail bills and until some shows craft which VIII
faster ard further and more surely and Obedlcnty TO
the mark, she is a good torpedo boat
Her OwncTs tOn are encouraged 10 believe that when
she unships her dynamite she be- useful on Cf-
rauds OF mercy of destruction. trial in the surf
will show whether she relied upon for service AZ
the Life Saving Stations, when line needs TO be carried
from shore to a wreck.
Among the interested spectators at PamrapO were
Admiral Gore Jones the British Legation; Captain
MOntOO, Of the Spanish Navy; Captain Matthews, Lieu
tenants West and Elmer and hicfl.uginecr SNYDER
United States Navy; President Barnard Captain H. T.
MOat Ot ordnance fame, and Major Slckles, engineer
Of the Mississippi River Commission.