The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-26
THE "EUREKA."
Vessel Propelled Without Steam That Will A..
t0nish the Marine World.
IN " Hssnyd1

IN. r. HefdId.l
The new "Secor"s vessel, Eureka, will be
Poillon within a few days, and her trial trip
will take place in less than three weeks. This
experimental craft has created much interest in
marine and commercial circles. If the motor
proposed to be used proves . success, 1t will
likely supersede the present mode of propulsion
on the water. "Steam,"it is said, "and the
marine engines of the day will be as the lum-
bering old stage coach Of d century ago to the
locomotive of to-day TIE experimental ves-
sci is 100 feet long, L. feet Vide amidships seven
feet six inches deep,and Will draw about four
feet six inches. She is as sharp as knife at
the stem, and has prettily rounded stern with
butlittle oyerhang. The principle upon which,
it is hoped, this vessel can be propelled is the
explosion ola hydro carbon by means of an auto
matte engine direct upon the water The I'M
pacts upon the water will be made in rapid
succession, through strong steel square ports
placed on each side of the hull, about eight feet
forward OF the stern post and two feet apart
These ports are covered by an apron, the apron
of the after port opening toward the stern and
the other toward the bow. The inventors say
that the effect of these explosions or impacts
upon the water may be repeated from 80 to 90
times minute. They are under absolute con-
troll and will drive the vessel through the water
at speed and at much less expense than has
yet ever been realized. The machinery will
only occupy about 30 per cent. of the space of
the vessel between decks, and thus will be saved
the largest part Of the ship for passengers and
freight.
Messrs. A. W. Whippe and j. L. Pairaga. Of
New York, who were instrumental in bringing
the new motor before the commercial world,
are very sanguine OF its success. There will
be no paddle wheels, no shafts, no propellers,
nor any of the devices of steam vessel" they
say eXultingly, land the only fuel required
will be very small amount to work the ma
chinery. In case of need a vessel OF this kind
can be pushed through the water at velocity
hitherto deemed impossible. The power is COM
pressed air, and the automatic machinery is an
air pump which is driven by donkey boiler.
The compressed air is forced into reservoir.
into which spray of petroleum is also injected
and the whole is ignited by spark OF cleo
tricity.
IF the experiments with the Eureka are sue
cessful we shall DO able to 60 to Newport and
back just as fast as we want to, and the expense
for fuel will be less than 81. The Eureka is
large enough to experiment with. 1t will show
us what can be done, and we think it will work
just as well in vessel of 5000 tons as in one of
IS tons. Should this be found to be so, a revolu-
ton in the mode of propulsion of all passenger
and freight steamers is only question of time
Some of the most wealthy and successful mer-
chants in this city and in the country are in
terested financially in the project as they are
looking forward to the advancement of COM
mercial pursuits. vessel of the Seeor type
could cross and recross the Atlantic many times
without being compelled to add to her stock of
fuel and it is pretty certain that vessel of this
kind would go around the world without touch
ing at port for fuel. And then the reduced
cost in running craft of this kind in compare
son with the great expense attending the trips
of an ocean steamer now on regular routes will
be something extraordinary"