The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-04
GEN. GRANTS POVERTY.
What He Thinks of the Zubowitz Torpe-
dot Wouldn't Retard the Advance Of
an American Army.


NEW YORK, Oct 3.-Tbe Zubowitz tor.
pedo, so called from the name of its inven-
tor, Lieut.. Feeder Won Zubowitz, Of the
Austrian army, has been the subject OF
much discussion among army officers and
engineers in this country since the Swiss
military authorities have made NOV. ments
looking to the purchase OF the right to make
the torpedoes and the secret Of their con.
structlOn.
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was called upon
yesterday, at his office in the United Bank
building, by your correspo ldent
for the purpose Of ascertaining
his views as to the merits of the
Zubowtz torpedo. When called
the eX-President was looking over letter
from widow OF one Of his former soldiers
asking aims, with "may God bless YOU il
you will, in glazing characters, lacked on
as an afterthought. One hand held pencil
while the other was passed through
his diSheyelled locks as he wreslled
with the problem as to how much
remain after dividing 81 900 900 to SIC. He
puffed vigorously at a cigar stub, the fire
from which was playing sad havoc with a
once luxuriant moustache. My "Good
day, General was responded 10 by
sixteen into ten won't go,n and
an anxious and sad expression passed
WIN tine khotty problem as to how the
peoples gifts should be divided among
MS offspring. Still the cigar burned on and
the moustache was gradually dropping
10 the desk In ash piles. Suddenly, 1902, :.
ooO is fat little nest egg, r" came from the
ups OF the General, and an exultart evil
Tl"s..A - I'D <.V. ~ .nih'
1.-The World has been trying to make me
out worth a million. have sixteen chill
dren and grandchildren, counting the
babies, more or less. Granting that they
each are worth $50, 900 might possibly say
that there is 81, 900, 900 in the family. |
am q poor man, comparatively, |
can assure you, sir" exclaimed
the General, as, without turning
towards his visitor, he still pulled igot-
ously at his cigar stump.
"Thr correspondent would like your
views on an entirely different subject to-
day, General, " remarked the correspond
ent. "What do you think Of the Zubowiz
torpedog
"What is thati Oh, that Austrian inven-
ton. That's nothing new 1t may be All
improvement on others constructed on the
same principal. 1t may be cheaper, but 1t
is nothing new.
"Don't YOU think that these torpedoes
could be made the means OF delaying
the advance of an army In pursuit and thus
assist retreatH
"a slight delay might be caused,
but 1t is only necessary TO contemplate the
marching Of the American soldier to be sat-
isfed that line OF hundred miles OF these
torpedoes would be comparatively small
matter when in pursuit Of an enemy. The
detour could be made without mourning de-
lay OF much moment. During the late war,
do not remember having lost any time on
march when torpedoes were placed
In my path. A man or two might
have been killed, but the remainder OF tho
army was warned In time. The place for
the torpedo is In the hsrbor. There 1t will
perform effective service. A harbor de-
Tended with this weapon may be safe from
the attacks Of the greatest and heaviest
armed war vessels afloat. II seems to me
that the torpedo is the coming weapon for
such purposes. Money expended upon 1t
| vii make 1t unnecessary to sink more In
| iron clads, AT this point the cigar had
gone out, and the newsman left.
|