The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-13
PRICE TWO CENTS.
TIE PAMRAP0 SEA DEMON.
IT STiRTS ON IT'S CiRFER IND BRINGS
UI' ON 4 JERSEY BEICH.

Ending mn Experimental rrip md scnslbiy
Relieving the Minds Of Certain Hcpre.
sentntives-A Description of the Torpedo.
The Pamrapo Sea Demon recently de-
scribed I'm TIE SUN stnrted out on its career of
destruction yesterday afternoon. Fortunately
it had not mastcatod its usual meal Of 100
pounds Of dynamite. or tho results might have
been more disastrous to the pretty village Of
pamrapO than to the object Of attack In the
ofllng tho Robbins Reef Light House, whither
the Demon was to bc sent, glitterod whito
and clear I'm the cold November air. On the
shores at T. McGiehan's boat yard clustered
representatives Of cffcte despotisms ns we'll as
many mild-manncrcd men who discoursed
cursorily Of twenty-inch cannon ironclads.
and no end OF dynamite. nitro-glycerlne. and
other things Of the sort. The torpedo ship lay
submerged its black back shining out occasions
ally like a big sea serpent. Tho mysterious
machine that furnishes tho motive power to
charge the torpedo ship was on the banks.
1t resombled a doube-barrelled soda water
machine painted a dingy bro wn. An electric
battery was at the end OF the wharf. To this
keyboard was attached. Then tho wire on the
stern Of the boat was connected with tho bat
terry. A man took his seat at the keyboard ms ne
might have done nj a pianofOrte In concert hall.
M hsd 56sr breath A. "a Sa the b DSm9p %asr
like thing Of life.
1t refused however, to obey the commands Of
that 1t paid out through the stern. and after
sputtering around for awhile Ms II pleased. II
ignQminiously ran ashore short distance down
The explanation OF the failure was that the
cable or wire reeed out had been used too
often. and that the electric current. through
breaking or abrasion OF the Rutta pcrcha on the
wire. became imperfectly Insulated, and thus
tho control OF the Demon was lost. week ago
Monday tho Demon wont out half mile as
obediently as pet seal and cut q perfect figure
shore. and then came back to land OF this
there can be no doubt, because Pat McGie;
''yachtng fellows and brethren.S and othoI
veracious eyc-witnesses testify thereto. The
representatives OF effete despotisms shook theiI
their carriages with sigh of relief They will
wait until after next Tuesdays trial before tel.
egraphing TO their respective Governments "a
The following is a description Of the torpedoi
United states Torpedo Company Of Jersey City,
under letters patent granted to Mills L. Calcn.
der in the year 1858, who made the first nova
Bile torpedo controlled from vessel or shore
Calender died leaving his invention in a crudt
state. and the patent was nprchased by the
brought 20 its present state OF perfection by ths
ingenuity and mechanical skill OF Mcssrs. NJ.
Hubble and NJ. A. Hardy. TWO gentlemen who
for the past nine years have devoted their en-.
tire time to periecting movable torpedo which
could be controlled with absolute certainty
| from vessel or shore against an enemy.
The present implement is 2l feet in length
| and Is inches in diameter, tnpcring to n point
| at both ends. 1t is built OF light sheet iron.
| divided into compartments. Tho forward or bow
| section Ia n magazine which contains the explo-
| sve capable OF holding 100 pounds OF dyna.
mite or ntro-glycerino. equal TO 1900 pounds Of
| powder. The motive power IL carbonic acid
| gas or compressed air Tin the present Instance.
carbOnic acid gasl. which is carried in n strong
| tank or reservoir forming ono OF the middle
| sections OF tho implement. and Is used to drive
| q small engine which sets In motion n propeller
| wheel. One OF tho compartments OF the tor.
| pedo contains a coil of two miles OF insulated
| wire one end OF which Is connected to n battery
| on shore or shipboard. and Is payed out rs tha
| implement moves over its course. Tho weight
| OF the wire makes IL sink to tho bottom rs fast
| ms II Is payed out. BY means OF m electric cur-
| rent sent through this insulated wro TO the
| engine and steering apparatus in the tOrpedd
| the operator from shore or ShtpbOard. by the
| usa Of u keyboard connected with the battery.
| Is able to start. stop and steer the Implement to
port or starbOard at will or to turn IL about and
| bring il back to the point Of starting. IL runs
| submerged. nnd Ia no, affected by rough water,
| the operator directing itB course by means OF
| two small rods with flags 10y day or lights by
| night. projecting above the surface. While tha
| torpedo. when in fighting trim. weighs loss
than 600 pounds. II can be sout TO nttnck an
cnemy's vessel at distance of two miles with :
out risk OF life or danger to tho operator. and
| carries larger amount OF explosive than could
| be fired with safety from any spar or outrigget
torpedo vessel. When charged for actual war
| fare the magazine can be either exploded by
| contact with the object attacked or fired by the
| operator through tho insulated wire.