Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-08-22

A NEW DEsTRoYER.-Whatl locked like
l long black box tapering at both ends,
with lie I'd colored box on top of it and a
black smokestack running up through the
middle, lay at the brewery dock below
rompkinsville, Staten Island, Tuesday,
says the New York Times. 1t was Cap
John EricSson's torpedo boat Destroyer,
which, the inventor thinks, will destroy
vessels that are impregnable to shot
thrown against their sides. There was
number of men at work on her preparing
10 take her down to Sandy Hook to day,
where experiments will be made the latter
part of the week under the direction of
Mr.. +. V. Lassoe with her gun, at shoot
ing prolectles under water. In her gun,
which pointed out at the bow about eight
eet below the surface of the water, was a
long steel cylinder. This was the proec.
lie which in warfare would be supplied
with a torpedo at the conical. shaped tip,
o explode on striking the side of ship
and blow her to pieces. The furnac, 8
were ready to start fires in them and the
engine was prepared to be set in motion.
In the experiment net will be lowered
into the sea to serve as a target, and fired
ut at a distance of from 800 to 500 feet.
nn the bow of II little craft. which was
almost submerged, were wooden floats to
support The net in the water. The pro-
jectles are hollow, and made so that they
will float. The tendency TO rise is so
carefully adjusted as not TO interfere with
the flight under the water or destroy the
aim. They are expected to come to the
surface about 700 feet from the vessel,
and they will pursue a perfectly horizontal
course for 500 feet at least. They will
travel the first 800 feet in three seconds or
little less. They weigh 1900 pounds
each. In the experiments there will be
no occasion to use torpedoes. The object
will be to test the distance of flight and
accuracy of aim. The experiments
hitherto have been conducted in still
water, and the firing off Sandy Hook will
oe the first deep sea practice. TIE
Destroyer has attained speed of IL knots
an hour, and her fullest capacity has not
been reached. Although her hull proper
is almost entirely under water, she is
seaworthy. for everything can be battened
down and no water can get into her.
Blowers ventilate the boat perfectly. All
her working apparatus is below water,
and it would be next 10 impossible to
disable her in an engagement. If the
iron house built on top of her and her
smokestack were knocked off entirely it
would make no difference. She would be
as serviceabe as ever. A steel plate Is
inches thick is set in front of the pilots
position to defect balls if they should
strike there. The pilot is entirely sur
rounded by iron work, and looks out
through hole on level with his eyes to
get his bearings. He can touch off his
gun when he gets in exact range, and
back off to safety. There is
a dummy plug at the opening in the boat
where the projectile goes out. This is
shot away with the projectile and a
valve closes over the hole to keep out the
water. Ouly enough water to fl the gun
can get in anyway, and this can be quickly
pumped out by steam siphon. So there
is no danger from this source. There is
no room TO spare on the boat, but sufficient
for the use required. The Destroyer is
the only craft that shoots torpedo under
water.