The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-10
The Edison Of the south.

SNIP. ARMOR INVENTED BY ClIishN VIZ NJ.
WILLIAM COUNTY. vA.-kLAs'lc ihoN
pLATes--YuE MERRINAc PLAN lsFRo''p
UPON.
KING WILLIAM COURTHOUSE L. o., VA"
February 2, 1881. J
Editors DispatCh: AZ matter OF puonc
interest 4 send YOU notice OF tne 'nNen'
lion NJ our coustyman, Mr.. William Sien'
low n i taken from the Philadeiphia
,Sbjopisg Ne,cs. A patent has been OBJ
,sined for a.; and from the opinions eN-
dressed by parties well informed on tbe
snbier, and fron common-Sensc view Oh
the matter, il il likely to produce as great
revolution in nautical warfare rs the piating
The sides of the Merrimac did during toe
war OF the Confederacy; aud then hs
odaptability 10 merchant and passenger-ves-
sells makes IL one Of the most useiui in'en-
lions OF the age. have seen his patent
aecompanied with engraviugs representing
all parts OF the armor. II looks strong ana
perfect. will add that ] am IN no way IN
fe,ested in the matter more than the inter-
cst | feel I'm the invention Of couptyinan.
Very respectfully,
JOIN LEWIS, NJ. ID.
Srr,ury's SHP-ARN0R MIR. william
Stebley, OF Malquin, King William county
Va. IA the coming Edison OF the south. lie
Is not yirginian by birth, but has been on
\ farm in the South since 1869, having Deen
horn in Harrisburg. Pa. thIriy.eight years
AGO. lie Is a practical inventor, and very
successful one at that. His latest invention
is a sbip.armor. Foreign Governments are
amending millions OF dollars to ma out
what Mr.. Stehley has Substantially demon
straied.
The United States Government mas Deen
SLOW 20 adopt many OF tie best imp Owe
men,s which il already owns, but in this
matter delay may be fortunate.
II Mr.. Stehley's invention is success
and the United States Government adopt VI,
the navy, instead OF being worthless, VIII
be second TO none IN the world.
TIE armOr, II seems, is elastic. ana con-
sists in alternate layers OF steel or non
pilates a. preferred, and system OF fuDper
cushions aud spiral springs. These Spi ln"s
and cushions act aS support 10 thc pil'es
IN resisting the force Of the proicctilr'.
The principle involved IN the construction
Of the armor ia thi- manner appears TO be
that the elasticity given 10 the plates by the
rubber and SprinG-wO1k i OF such nature
as will enable the plates TO resist the i'm
pending blow OF the ball, etc; the
NIOIt tilUOI VI ibt sup ''N'N 49,
ing away in the manner Of Sprlng'
50 that the force OF the blow may
be broken and distributed over The entire
surface. This principle i entirely new,
and has been the subject Of numerous pa
peis in European scientific Journals. In
addition TO this, retaining intact the front
age TO the enemy is another strong pOint'
The extreme lighlness Of The armOr does
not in the slightest interfere with the sail
inc capacity OF the vessel. II j. the plain
duty OF the proper congressional committee
10 give Mr.. Stehey'S invention thorough
trial. 1t has every element OF strong merit,
and deserves conscientious and exhaustive
trial, which the inventor warmly deserves.
Then, too, the armOr can be used on al
vessels other than for war purposes. y
section or more, at Il comparatively small
outIay, for the saving Of life and the de-
>truction OF the vessel, will prevent the
many disasters that now so often happen.
In case Of collision, instead OF the vessels
having holes put in them, they VIII rebound
rs a gum ball thrown against an obstacle,
and II all new ye>Selssn now building and all
now sailing with sound timbcTs would APP
ply Stehley's armor, there would be IN END
to sinking.