The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-29
A NEW MARINE MONSTER.
The Torpedo Boat sBuilding at Fort La
fayetts-Merits Claimed for It
Its Destructive Power.

Busy laborers have been hard at
work for several months in the ruins of
Fort Lafayette constructing a torpedo
boat which, if a success, will prove q
submarine wonder that will startle the
world. The craft is made after the
style of model prepared for its inven-
tor, whose name those most interested
are not now willing to give to the pub
lie. Several patents covering the craft
as whole as well as its special fea-
lures. with two important exceptions.
were secured early last winter at WASH
ington. The next step was the forma-
ton of q small syndicate of gentlemen
of enterprise and capital. who pinned
their faith on the inventors scheme to
an extent that assured the construction
of trial boat. Work was begun on
this boat at the time when a crisis ex-
listed in the relations of England and
Russia and France and China. As the
war clouds blackened and fighting
seemed inevitable between England
and Russia work on the American in
vention was pushed with all possible
energy, but with the cessation of hos
tile demonstrations the laborers were
permitted to take more time in build
ing the trial craft.
The most careful attention has,
therefore, been expended upon it by
the inventor and Lieutenant Zalinski,
stationed at Fort Hamilton. The lat
ter has made marine vessels an espe-
cial study, and no more capable person
could have been given charge of the
construction of the important boat
than he. Lieutenant Zalinski and the
inventor examine every piece of mate
rial used in the construction of the
hoped-for wonder, direct its proper
position. and test each separate feature
of the invention when practicable or
necessary. For over three months
their work has proceeded, slowly, to
be sure. but to their own satisfaction,
until now they are adding the last
touches to what they believe confident
ly will revOlutionize submarine war
fare as at present possible to be car
ried on. This submarine monster-for
such it is-will be launched during the
present week from Fort Lafayette,
when it is the purpose of LieHtenant
Zalinski to give it thorough test in
all respects.
So secretly has the building of the
torpedo boat been conducted that less
than fifty persons we're aware of what
has been going on. These included
the workmen, some soldiers, and the
persons directly interested with the in
yentor in the success of his scheme.
In addition to these parties, three great
powers have also been aware of what
was being attempted, although no
emissary OF theirs has been permitted
to view the progress of the work, mere
ly showing that a submarine vessel of
enormous strength and great possibil-
tiles had been begun by the hackers of
the inventor. These foreign powers
are the governments of China, Russia
and Germany, by all of whom overtures
have been made looking to the pur-
chase of the invention. China went so
far as to make definite proposition,
but those who control the patent arc
so confident of '.big bonanza" that
they resolved to hold on to it, at least
for the present. ,F
suggests the description at first given
by seamen of Jules Verne's famous
Nautilus, SO powerfully written about
in this interesting book, Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea-"
especially as it is not an ''enormotls
thing" certainly a mysterious object,
spindle-shaped, and if not larger more
rapid in its movements than u wheel"
The American boat as now constructed
consists mainly of wood. 1t is fifty
feet long and eight feet in diameter.
The crafts shape suggests cigar,
being pointed at one end-the head
and blunt at tho other-the tail The
head is designed to constitute ram,
which when driven by the prodigious
strength contemplated in the power of
the boat, will perforate the iron plat
ing 2t 9 shipi and then Py 4 EstEoggeas