The New York herald., 1879-09-04
Wonderful inventions for Destroying Marine
Armaments.
[Dy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

building to represent permanent fittings on
board ship and the officer illustrated with
fuses the exploding of four torpedoes in
tho four corners of the room. using Farmers "A'
machine. He explained the of Lieutenant
Newelrs firing plate. needed but recent invention.
lie showed how it could be used board ship to
fire any number of guns. and how it could COM
pletc any number Of circuits by simply inserting
pin. Tho sounding of bell showed whether the
circuit was complete not. This be used
in the night we'll during daylight. by
tho old method the officers Obliged. in order
to the circuits all right to note tho deiec-
ton of the galvanometer needle, which diff
cult task. especially at night. Tho turning Of the
ship disarranged the normal position or tho galva-
nometcr. The contrivance is not portable. Tho
oflicor also exhibited explained Captain RAM
says machine to DO used for tho pur-
pose. This is portable and a half dozen
moro could be used In all parts OF the ship at the
same time and aloft as we'll. from which it will be
that it has advantage over the other. 1t was
connected with four tttses to represent as many tor
pedoes. and it fired each OF them independent Of the
other.
PROPOSED CHANGES.
Master L. S. Hotcikin explained the proposed
change in the present boat fittings for torpedoes
that torpedoes could be carried, ready rugged. out
ahead or dropped to make flying shot abeam.
When abeam the torpedo gets its proper immersion
of ten fee and is then fred by the circuit closer.
which completes the path for the electric current.
Two propostions-the first by Lieutenant Com
mander Converse, and the second by Lieutenant
Newell were submitted the models being before
the Board. Both, however, were found to be nearly
the same principle. The fittings were also ex-
hibited 1t is proposed to lessen the weight of tor
pedoes now in use. the OF which alono weighs
100 pounds. The officer stated that it proposed
to have steel flask. weighing only twenty-hve
pounds. tested for an internal pressure of 800
pounds. The officer showed tho Board some Jack
work" by splicing wires and explaining their
FOREIGN LAUNCHES.
Lieutenant II. L. stockton described foreign tor
pedo launches. their httngs &c. largo drawings OF
launches. Danish launch. with an iron pipe spar
instead Of wood as used for spar topedoes in tho
American navy. He showed the construction of
does. one Of them aft Ho also exhibited
an English gunboat plan. after the Comet class. of
$50 tons displacement carrying spar sixty hve feet
In length aud torpedo holding $50 pounds Of pow
der. No network. the gentleman said. had been
made yo which would resist this class OF vessels
| Lieutenant Stockton also showed diagram of tho
fittings OF Danish gunboat and tho broadside sys-
tem of the nation. They were all described in
very entertaining manner.
Lieutenant John G. Wilson ordered to explain
the manner of fitting torpedoos on board OF m ntors
diagram of which was at his disposal. lie told
tho Board how to uso tho many articles which go to
make up vessels torpedo outfit. aud the articles
contained the supply boxes, wire rccls. &C.. sup
piled to all vessels. While he explaining their
utility the various appliances taken from the
box and arranged in their proper places.
| SETTING THINGS
Lieutenant Samuel Belden had difficult task to
perform. He ordered to correct faults in
farmers "A" and '.C' firing mschiucs. and in tho
key board as we'll. 1t appears that an expert ma.
things up, said machnist being capable of putting
in defects which in the natural course OF
events would not. mot DC hkeiy to occur in In
Board and of the instructors well the members
the class Obliged to discover and remedy tho
faults by the methods in which the class in
structed. galvanometcr needle was used and one
cell OF battery. After long study the officer
found all the defects. about dozen in number and
before he was released from his embarrassing po-
sition he left tho machines In perfect order.
Lieutenant Henry o. Handy was asked to tell all
that he knew about tho service Harvey towing tor
pcdo. 1t shown that this torpedo was not up to
parts were not interchangeable. and that under
circumstances could tho starboard torpedo bc
used tho port side. or the reverse:
The officer explained its construction anu
showed the different methods Of attacking ship
with tho Harvey torpedo. using drawings. aud no
and torpcdocs overheard. by using arrangement
similar to that Tor letting go anchors.
Lieutenant G. d. Harber toId all about the other
towing torpedoes. several OF which were the
OF and no had xnss wes at
in the building. He pointed out tho
advantages OF the torpedo. which could be towcd in
differently either side OF vessel. the invention
of Lieutenant L. NJ Barber. United States Navy.
The next torpedo explained was tho one after Com
containing the explosive material and which drops
upon coming in contact with any object.
electricity. A model OF the torpedo built after
the idea of Lieutenant Washburn Maynard. United
70 DO towcd by line which makes fast under water
to tho vessels divergng under water in horizontal
plane. Lieutenant Merril's torpedo and the modi-
/ hcation of the ono made by Lieutenant Com
mandcr Converse, by which there two
towing cables. were also exhibited and
from ono side Of the ship to the other
at will. Ono tho earliest inventions the station
as well as three torpcdoes OF French manufacture.
| two of which work by circuit closers while tho
ths timer dsn,h 4 OF %"rsen for which is
sct to explode. Tho samo officer also showed
the outlines of Danish towing torpedo
TORPEDO.
Lieutenant J. X. Cogswell gavo interesting
description of tho station fish torpedo which Is
modelled somewhat after the style OF the famous
| Whitehead English torpedo. The inventor of the
latter asked 100000 for his ideas. but ono equally
az good made here with good deal less
money. This torpedo. upon trial. is Kept always
Mt the weight. IL can be driven by air
at 60 amosphcres 900 pounds pressure to
the square inch Its driving rudders controlled
by hydrostatic bellows and 1t steers itself IN
torp,so was invented by Commander Howell, Unitod
States Navy. and tho principle upon which 1t works
Is that OF the gyroscope Its motive power Is de-
which rcvolvcd Mt great speed before tho
torpedo is dropped, from 1000 to 10000 turns
minute. IL has automatic steering and diving
apparatus. the steering arrangement being contained
/ in pendulum. It has been run very successfully
! Lieutenant Charles p Shaw showed the utility of
hand crcnades of American as well as those
arranged S" to I,e ne carried in ' leather pouch @
! the left side OF the person using II,
supplies the current Tor nring. IL has
about sixty foct OF carry the electric current
through tho fuse oi the deadly missile and back to
/ the coll. The grenade itscf weighs two pounds
complete. and IL flied with dynamite nitroglycor
/ inc II is spherical in form and can DO thrown
somewhat after tho manner OF sling
distance of from forty to sixty feet. IL
| il lands In boat at desired point
tho person throwing IL can with his left hand. by
slight movement invented at tho station. close tho
electric circuit, whom the current will instantly fro
the grenade. 1t also shown that Il could be
ranged to DO fired when the connecting line was
strai, out taut by throwing.
MINIS.
| Lieutenant John {. Wilson gave brief account of
! the different submarine mines of vafious nations,
showing these ground and buoyant on diagrams