Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-13
TOrpedOes.

NHcMeEaA AOOOt6 Ok tne OMAGeU Ss<sS%S | Engineers-TOrpedO Warfare-Its Past and Present-Interesting Illus 1 tratfOns-The Operation of these De structives-BeautifuI Views OK their Power as a Meaus of Warfare. Brig. Gen. Abbott, of the United States Engineers, and the head of the engineering school at Willett's Point, from which it will be seen he ranks among the first engineers Of this country, and who Is of note locally in Connecticut, as having been commander or the First Connecticut Artillery regiment, and as such held in much respect and esteem by the men of his old command, gave the con- cluding lecture last evening at North Shef- field Hall, in the annual course to the students of the Sheffield Scientific School upon mii- tary science. His subject was ''Torpedoes. The lecture was open to the public. He had an audience which must have been gratifying, both in point of numbers and it's high char acter. The lecture was one of much more than ordinary interest and afforded great pleasure. battery of eyes closely watched the experiments and observed with absorbing interest the pictures thrown upon the inn msnse screen, especially those representing the results of the work of the destructive tor
 
 of the speakers platform arrested much at tention before the lecturer opened. They were strung with objects of cardinal red, which looked like the puppets of a Punch and Judy shew. What appeared to be battery with magnet lay upon the speakers table. When the speaker announced in the course of his opening remarks that some gunpowder would be exploded, some of the ladies began to look nervously about, bus the calmness of the speaker was vsry reassuring, and not exasperating, and it was easy to perceive that his audience had full confidence in him. The speaker rapidly passed over the history of tho torpedo warfare and the extent to which this destructive agent had been used in the war of the rebellion, and referred mo mentarily to their use in the late war between the Russians and the Turks. He summarized this under the general heads of Purely Of- fensive,' "Active Defensive" Passive De- fensive" and ''Infernal Machines" alludipg briefly to the subdivisions of the subject. Then followed the display of pictures upon the screen, ard the audience looked upon the torpedo of the most improved style for pro- noting peace on earth. They beheld the tor pedo as it is when in use, in the waters of the sea, river, bay or what not, with all the con- nectives by which those who operate them are placed in reliable connection with the destruct- ives. They saw with admiration and interest the evidences of high skill and even genius which has been successfully invoked to render the torpedo as nearly perfect in operation as possible. While admiring and enjoying thif, oIoSact aftapfiop apIizfa5 the apaakar giving practical illustrations on minute scale of the operation of the torpedo, how it tele graphs to tEe fort when vessels keel has dis turbed it, or when an enemy has laid violent hands upon the wire communicating with the shore with the intent to destroy it.
 The puppets now came in play. They rep | resented torpedoes, and when the professor meddled with them they exploded, to tho huge satisfaction of the audience, and the ladies were not daunted, finding themselves unhurt. The way the electric current communicates from the torpedo through the wire to fort, and touches of the cannon in the fort, which is pointed directly at the presumptuous foeman who tries to cut the wire, was also shown. Finally the interest of the audience was increased by the display upon the screen of the huge and grand volumes of water which are thrown up by the explosion | of torpedoes of Willetts Point in the conduct ing of experiments. Next the audience was delighted with several scenes, one represent. l ing a schooner which was sailed against | repeated warnings close to where 8 torpedo | lay, which was to be soon touched of. When the vessel approached near enough for good scare or lesson the torpedo was let loose. Il had the desired effect. Vessels now allow ex periments to be conducted in peace. Finally the audience were shown several striking views depicting the sad fate of Q condemned schooner which was subjected to torpedo blast. Three or four of the views represented the great volume of foamy water at different times in the very brief interim that it was wis ible and the last represented the vessel as il appeared after the experiment. The audience looked in vain. They saw only placid shee of water with multitude of small sticks anc pieces of timber floating about. The lecture was warmly appIauded.
 | Band Music.
 We are indebted to Streits American Bant for serenade last evening. The band is al enterprising organization and gave some fn' music. They were on their return from ser enading Ex-Gov. James E. English in homo of that gentleman'S 6Sth birthday. Gov English responded with very pleasant speeel of acknowledgement.
 Entertainments.