Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-29
THE R DEVIL FISH.
That Pamrapo Torpedo Goes Out
Again and Attends to Business.
Veering and TacIEing a Mile
Away at the Will of a Man
ON Shore.
New York World, 10th.

W WhtSh ehS pttNNN
creaked under the weight of the
crowd, which occupied every inch
of standing room and spread out like
a fan over the beach and meadow.
Among the company on the wharf
were officers who have familiarized
themselves with the torpedo problem
by scientific investigations and expe-
riments: Admiral Gore Jones, of the
British Navy Captain Montojo, of
the Spanish Legation; Commander
Matthews, in charge of the United
States Torpedo Station at Newport
Lieutenant Commander Elmer, United
States Navy; Chief Engineer Snyder,
United States Navy Lieutenat West,
United States Navy, and others.
President Barnard, of Columbia Col
lege, also was present and watched the
proceedings with close interest.
On the previous Tuesday the expert
mental trial of the torpedo had been a
failure. This failure was due, as the
exhibitors claimed, to the p%atched-up
condition of the connecting wire.
Every %precautiOn was taken yesterday
to insure success. The torpedo hung
suspended by ropes in the air, a few
feet above the water. A description
of its form and construction was given
in the World last week. 1t is an iron
shell, cigar-like in form, and tapering
at both ends to a point. In the shell
are three chambers. The chamber in
the bow is prepared to hold dynamite,
which will be exploded either by per-
cuSsion or an electric spark. Hester-
day this chamber was filled with oats.
The central chamber of the she'll con-
tains tanks of carbonic acid and the
engine which propels the torpedo.
This engine is driven by che expan-
sive force Of carbonic acid gas gene
rated under pressure in the tanks and
drives a screw propeller. In the
chamber in the stern of the shell is a
reel of insulated wire connected with
a battery on the wharf. By touching
different keys of this battery the tor
pedO is put in motion, turned to the
right or left, backed or stopped, as de-
sired. A spark from this battery can
also be used to explode the torpedo, if
explosion by contact is not found 20
be the better method. The length of
the shell is about twelve feet, and its
greatest diameter nearly eighteen
inches.
AT 100 o'clock the signal was given
and the torpedo was gently lowered to
the water. 1t was nearly submerged
BY its own weight. Little red pen
nants hoated from slender rods at the
bow and stern. Hardy, the inven-
tor of the torpedo, who has worked
for more than twenty years, struggling
against discouragements of every kind,
/, in order to perfect his invention, is
the old man in a rough cardigan jacket
who is kneeling beside the battery fin
gering the keys.
Admiral Jones breaks the suspense
with a pleasant laugh. Il didn, I
bring my telescope glass this time,p he
, says, for | rather expect the torpedo
will not run out Of sight"
The six stockholders see the point
! and smile family. Hardy mods, and
the torpedo is pushed clear of theb boats
r out from the wharf. Itrests for an in
J slant quietly and then Hardy touches
! a key Of the battery. A sharp hiss Of
, escaping gas follows. The water bub-
r bles under the stern of the torpedo
I and the blades of the screw begin to
4 churn the water. The torpedo move.
E forward, at first slowly, then faster
e and faster. 1t is heading straight our
G to sea-, and cuts through the water
d like a rocket, A broad ripple extend
ing many y Sjs on both sides marksit
course.
" A hundred watches on the whar
|. are timing its speed. How fast is i
moving?" asks President Barnard
d It's making better time than | ex
pected," answers Captain Matthews
eight or ten knots an hour, | think.
About twenty rods from shore tn
st speed Of the torpedo appears to slack
en-. 1t yaws a little, and seems t
d hesitate which way to 60. The 81
Is stockholders glance at Hardy anxious
ly. What is it going to do now?
Of says Lieutenant West. Perhaps
is seasick, and wants to turn back
responds Captain MontQjo. Hard
smiles cOolly and presses his key AGAR
N The torpedo shoots off as rapidly a
ever, and the trailing wire runs of tn
is reel like a snake.
ct Half a mile out Hardy presses an
l. other key and the boat stops shor
Then it begins to turn slowly TO tn
Is. left, and swings around with a gran
Is sweep under perfect control. Good
or says President Barnard, a%pprovingl
es The torpedo is out Of sight under WI
ty ter, but the line Of the little flags
nd her bow and stern marks her motor
ul perfectly. Coming up from her sweC
NJ to the left, she describes a correspon,
nd ing circle to the right and returns
re. the same point, having cut a iiguI
e. eight on the water. Then she shoe
fly backward and forward, as Hare
lie touches the keys.
Id. How well she minds her helm
ny is the general exclamation. Let h
VS. 20 at full speed, Hardy" exclaimed
&C. delighted stOckholder. The torpeC
ZEN obediently starts of, kissing throui
his the water, while a slender jet Of spr.
ch is forced by the escaping gas throui
m a hole in the bark Of the she'll, drenc
ID ing the little flag in the stern as
lat falls. Its a pretty sight " sa
Captain Matthews. 81 think she loo
ms better now than she will loaded wi
Ted dynamitel" responds Captain Monte
sry Struggling his shoulders.
ate Tho spurt Of the torpedo is oude
err II turns docilely and heads for t
Mt: wharf. The little flag at the bow
,hn seen palmer and palmer. The bow
NJ. driven under water, but the ste
tn. rises above the surface as the reel
"a