The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-02
PRICE TWO CENTS.
ERICSS0N'S NEW TORPEDO.
AN INTENTION THAT NAY REvoLUTTov-
IzE N4T1L WARFARE.
The Man who Buiit the Monitor stiu mt Work
An Enemy which the Fastest Irou-cind
Cannot Escape-The Torpedo Conductor.

The Man who Bunt the Monitor SEN nj work
An Enemy which the Fastest Ircu-ciad
Cannot Escape-The Torpedo Conductor.
Yesterday reporter for The SUN found
himself in the presence OF a hale old man
whose name has gone around the world: who
built the first steam fire engine and the first
modern armed steam vessel who invented the
caloric engine and gave to naval warfare tho
turret ship; who has spent many years and a
hundred thousand dollars upon models OF en-
gines to be driven solely by the power OF solar
heat: who has succeeded in measuring the
heating power OF different portions OF
the suns disk. and in the last fifty
years has perfected over thousand patents
for various mechanical inventions. His name
Is John Ericsson, and he is now in this city,
constructing apparatus for torpedo warfare.
which. he believes. will rcvolutionize the defen-
sivc methods OF the world. and render harmless
the ironcad navies on which so many millions
have been expended.
Capt. Ericsson's plan involves first the in
vention OF n new torpedo OF Irresistible power
and. second. the construction Of a conductor
that they will carry this torpedo almost TO the
very sides OF an enemy's vessel with deadly
accuracy. To this country. where const and
harbor defences are Of the first importance.
such torpedo will be invaluable.
Capt. Ericsson conducted II series OF experi-
ments on the Hudson in December last. In the
concluding trials torpedo % feet 6 inches
long. weighing 1.400 pounds. was propelled
horizontally under water by means OF COM
pressed air at a mean rate OF SO nautical miles
an hour for the first $50 feet. In another ex-
pertinent the torpedo was discharged at cer-
tain inclination. making It take an upward
course and after passing through about 40 feet
OF sollu water, performing Hat trajectory in
the air, entered the water again at distance OF
200 feet; then. moving near the surface, II
traversed the next 400 feet in 10 seconds. at the
rate of 23h nautical miles an hour.
Capt Ericsson says that he can explode half
ton Of dynamite under the fastest ironclad-that
no ronclad ship has yet been built fast enough
or strong enough 10 escape or resist the new
OF the fact that the armor plating OF ships ex-
tends onlya short dictanre below the winter line.
and cannot he extended further without making
which the torpedoes will be carried by the con-
ductor will prevent any accurate aim being
taken Mt them, SO that the conductors may get
within 800 feet of the enemy's ship with safety,
md OF course. retire at leisure after their work
The Torpedo conductor. sometimes errone-
ousy called boat. is now Mt the works Of Della
mater \ Co., foot Of Thirteenth IT,, street. North
beahm' ,h oSi MSdge nn shared at the bow sharp at
plating. and intended to show only, about
| one foot above water when in fighting
trim. Tho frame work is already completed.
| Tho ribs nre Of finished angle iron; the stern
orncc for the propeller shaft; there is an open
through whichthe torpedo Will be worked. The
vessel Will be propelled by peculiarly fashioned
Cm5 Ericsson new nEsSed poweg sy
| within given compass, than any
others ever built-estmnted at 1000:
| horse power. something unheard OF in vessel
OF such small size. The design is to run this
steam torpedo conductor swiftly. end on. with
discharge the torpedo by the power Of COM
pressed air. The submerged conductor. pre-
senting hut n small surface to the fire OF the
enemy. will be further protected by its heavy
iron plating. as impregnable rs that oil any iron
Capt. Ericsson was found Mt his rssld nee. 80
| Brach street. last evening whore ne mas kept
| bachelors hall for the past ten yea s. surround
ed 10y some ol the costly models Of his nuner-
Gus inventions. Although much averse TO any
newspaper discussion Of the torpedo at pres
ent. he consenied to say ewwords as to it's pos
sbities He thinks IL not nj all unlikely. should
war bronx out between England and Russia.
| inent part. but thinks II will prove especially
valuable TO the Unilcd Siates: He. confidently
| predicts that the building of costly ironclads
and coast tortincatons Will soon be discontn.
| ued. and That the torpedo will do the work OF
| humanity IN keeping the sea clear for the traffic
| Of pcaeeahle commerce.. As to the actual speed,
| he docs not care To give figures just yet but is
sure that the torpedo conductor can overtake
any ironclad that IS likely 70 be huilt.
| The work on this torpedo he regards as only
| temporary suspension OF his great work on
ms solar engines. and he hopes. before he dies,
| To se" the rnys oi the sun substituted for coal as
| motive power.
AUNouEn % years OF age, Capt. Ericsson is.
| In look. Il robust man Of So He Is as strong as
an OK. 1.-THE and active. and has "A voice OF great
| compass and torcc-strong enough to break a
| phpnOgraph lie says he can work twelve hours
| day. and does 80. because otherwise he would
| not know what to do with his time. He cnts
| moderately. brown bread and vegetables
| for. the most part: drinks cold water,
| ana occasionally tea: never smokes and
sleeps with his window open all the year round.
| IL" has Il special horror of being written up in
| the newspapers. and hrsouEht the reporter not
| to murder him ~ 10y attempting in n brief arti-
| clr To give an idrn of his long life Of activity.
| Capt. Ericsson made his first model. which
was that of saw mill AZ The age OF 10 wears.
! and took out patent for flame engine" in
England in 1926. In the year 1929 he pro-
| duced locomotive that beat Stephenson's
| famous engine. The Novelty" and ran NJ the
| rate of ility-iivr miles nm hour. His caloric en-
| glne was brought out in London in 1893; and
in the great crisis Of the civil war in 1862 when
| the rebel iron plated vessel. the Merrmac. was
| spreading haVO' among the United States shin
| ping in Hampton Roads. he thrilled the world
| By the achievements of his famous Monitor.
When asked how ne managed to keep up such
! n wonderful activity at his time Of life he said
| that he did 1t by taking care OF his body, and
| using II us carefully as he would one OF his
| engines.
Capt. Ericsson felt somewhat slGhted at be-
! ing overlooked by the Centennial Commission
! crs. and printed Ht his own expense. a fifteen
| thousand-dolla work illustrating his various
| inventions, and reciting the honors that had
I N..aNN Ia