Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-03

4. 1.,,.4..s..s n.'is'as Al rs'' L'ss''

foTt Laieycbtc COuStfuctsu8
boat, which, II success, will prove
submarine wonder that will startlc the
world. The craft Ia made after the
style Of model prepared for Its IN
ventor, whose name those most inter-
ested are not now willing to give to the
public. Several patents covering the
craft as whole, as well as its special
features, with two important exceptions,
were secured early last winter ct
Washington. The next step was the
formation Of small syndicate Of gen.
tlemen 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 crisis existed 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 invention was pushed with
all possible energy, but with the cessa-
ton of hostile demonstrations the la
borers were permitted to take more time
in building the trial craft.
The most careful attention has, there
fore, been expended upon it by the in
yentor and Lieutenant Zalinski, station
ed at Fort Hamilton. The latter has
made marine vessels an especial study,
and no more capable person could have
been given charge Of the construction
of the important boat than he. Lieu
| tenant ZalinskI ana the Inventor ga
anime every piece of material used
in the construction OF the hoped-for
wonder, direct its proper posi-
ton, and test each separate feature
| Of the invention when practicable or ne
cessary. 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 confidently will reyo-
lutionize submarine warfare as at pre-
sent possible to be carried On. This
submarine monster, for such it is, will
be launched during the present week
from Fort Lafayette, when it is the pur-
pose of Lieutenant 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 were aware of what
has been going on. These included the
woTkmen. some soldiers, and the per-.
sons directly interested with the inven-
tor in the success Of his scheme. In
addition to these parties, three
great Powers have also been aware
Of what was being attempted, al
though no emissary of theirs has
been permitted to view the progress
Of the work, merely knowing that
a submarine vessel Of enormous
strength and great possibilities had
been begun by the hackers of the in
ventor. These foreign Powers are the
Governments of China, Russia, and
Germany, by all of which overtures
have been made looking to the pur-
chase of the invention. China went so
far as to make a definite proposition,
but those who control the patent are
so confident of big bonanza -" that
they resolved to hold on to it, at least
for the present.
in many respects the American boat
suggests the description at first given
by seamen Of Jules Verne's famous
Nautilus, so powerfully written about
in his interesting book, Twenty Thou
sand Leagues Under the Sea-" espe-
cially as it is not an enormous
thing, certainly a " mysterious object,
spindle-shaped, and, if not larger,
more rapid in its movements than
Wheel" The American boat, as now
constructed, consists mainly of wood.
1t is fifty feet long and eight feet
in diameter. The crafts shape sug-
gests a cigar, being pointed at one
end-the head-and blunt at the other
the tail. The head is designed to con-
stitute sharp ram, which, when driven
by the prodigious strength contemplated
in the power of the boat, will perforate
the iron plating of a ship, and then by
a retrograde motion quickly withdraw
itself. This ram looks like the snout
of hog. 1t is built Of steel, and has
peculiar edges of sharp surfaces, in
tended to facilitate its operations.
On the top of the craft and in its
centre is small iron turret. surround
ed with little electric lights, to aid in
steering. Between this turret and the
ram at the head is an aperture, at the
mouth OF which is dynamite gun, this
being hidden from view. Directly over
the gun and situated on the neck Of the
vessel is sharp, thin piece Of steel. 1t
is intended to use this to cut hole in
small craft or other torpedo-boats by
rising suddenly from underneath them
and piercing hole in them. The in
ventor claims that he can destroy boat
by rising rapidly in the manner de-
scribed as easily as by darting along
horizontally and puncturing its side.
The rear of the boat is constructed like
an ordinary propeller. It's machinery
is in every sense double, there being
twin screws and two engines, &c.
After punching hole in the side or
the bottom Of an enemy it is claimed
for the torpedo-boat that it can, after
retiring to such a distance as may be
desired, "bob up serenely" and fire
dynamite into the other vessel as often
as may be necessary. To discharge or
project dynamite the boat merely shows
its turret for few seconds, and, never
coming up at the same point twice, it
will be impossible to bear a gun on to
it successfully, even if it was exposed
in its entirety.
In the new vessel three features of
especial superiority are claimed. These
are accuracy Of movement and certain
ty of destruction, safe concealment
from the view of the enemy when de-
sired, and an ability to move faster
under water, make greater distance
without rising to the surface, and pro-