The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-04
mr.. sANDERsows EXPERIMENTS.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr' In the
month Of March. 1919. while boiling sap In the
bush / conceived the idea 81 building torpedo
boat for harbor defence. In brief. my plan was
To build boat that could be propelled by mus
culnr energy; and SO arranged with mir cells
that i could be expanded by compressed air. or
contracted by letting the compressed air escape.
The object OF this was to sink or raise the boat.
as circumstances might require. Mako socket
IN the bow with spring catch to hold spike (;
TO the spike attach short chain; to the chain
the torpedo; - the torpedo an electric wire
When ready for action. Jet the comp 'ssed Hir
escape until the boat sinks TO the desired depth :
then make for the encmy's vessel. and drive the
spike into the ship, then retreat proper dis
tanoe and fire the torpedo by electricity.
After studying and experimenting on mis-
an reaI;y ys9r cnne tn ' ,ror GoM ri a
drgre" OF safety In broad daylight. for could
not live under the water without fresh air. To
that could h, seem and " discovered by the
rnrmy IT would not be hard task to defeat tho
Now. have watched the experiments with
the torpedo for u good many years. and found
that other inventors are in the same prrdIra-
mcnt Let us suppose that the British snip In
flexible should Abuedr on Newport at miluAy
the Inv torueIo To destroy the ship 4 man on
the lnh"Xihlc can sce an object on the water
near shore ~ well as man on the brach can
see AN object near the lnfrNbl'; that j.. man
-
Lay torpedo and tell IL position as well rs the
manipulated This being understood, let Us
suppose that when the Lay torpedo l"ay"s i's
hidinG place steam inuneh !eHN 8 tn luieN-
ible. 1t Is admitted TINT % steam launch cun
run two miles TO the Lay torpeio's one. For
thus reason the launch can max" turn
and come In behind tho torpedo. viii ~
Will shut oil the manipulators sight. and
force him % fire his torpedo without accom-
plishing the object or else Ia" launch can sever
the connection and take Ut the torpedo. For
this reason the milton 'aunoi rlpce reliance On
a a q 4 AaaN
pose We try steam launch NJ. @ tLgh'niLsl.
which has been propelled 2O.2l statute miles IN
% min. 50 src.-a mile within 3 MN. IL is adj
United thW inc quicker the lauhth can run NJ
90 the enemy vessel ana IRE the torpedo tho
less IL f. exposed 90 the enemys hrr 70 nc
cOml Nsh TINS, inc iaUur II must run straight Tor
the vessel. II ylu use the spar ON hes bow. you
will be- compelled 90 slt'ken spool at the most
critical TING. or else Nou VIII either telescope
your launch or be- destroyed by your torpedo.
II the spar II used on the sid" you Will be- COM
PEELED u make turn al Il particular point near
the ship. for the torpedo must he fired IN close
proximity To- the vessel THIS being under
stood. II Is plain 10 be- sccn that i Will be very
To- believe that 10 cauuut be done in broad day
light. for the luilnN Die cum h" armed with the
Calling, Gardner, Bailey. Lowell. or HutcLkiss
revolving cannon. besides the eu-ton guns. So
II Is obvious that the movable tOru"lo remains
where lett T. IN the month Of March. 1850, u
complicated. hazardous weapon, and cannot be-
relied on for defence. when the sun II shining.
In the month Of March, 1850, while having tho
torpedo boat under cons dHration Il occurred To-
me thaI inasmuch Us | had got 10 strike the
euemys vessel To- drive the spike. it would be
better to 70 with iorcn enough 20 pierce tho
hui aud S,ns her. nstcnd " blowing her up
with the torpedo. This thought made u d.cp
| impress ION on my mind. And By due con-
sderat.on found that had 70, hold ~ the in
| cpient Idea ~ n steam ram. and was not long
IN coming 20 70" conclusion that the steam ram
| would Doe the best weapon use % accom- .. sn
the object. So | Laid 10y tue torpedo and am
| now able IN say that the ram question never
| looked SO bright as il does To-day. for Clmmo-
! dore Amnen informs "a" may lie hni many
| other navy officers are doing all In their power
! 70 have one or more steam rams butt. and that
II vessel of war. and in their belief il would
| make obsolete all armur- plated gun-bDaring
| ships. Whom this TACT is made plain To tpe
| iar. and tho men that have been trained o. Use
| II must 20 with IL. That Is the ilrst stop for
ward compelling all maritime nations To- with
| draw their war v"ssals and kc,p the peace.
STEWART SANDEEsoN, Shelby y. Y