The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-09-16
A New TORNADO


Mr. Brennan has at last convinced the
Admiralty that seryiceable torpedo can
emanate even from the colonies, remarks
orr (dIyys) London correspondent. writ
ing on 29th May. lie has had a very up.
hill fight for years. The commodore on
the Australian station, years ago, was not
too ready to listen to him: on his arrival
III England he met with Encouragement.
especially from the military experts. but
the Admiralty at last allowed him an OPP
portunity OF perfecting his invention, and
its extraordinary powers appear now to be
considered demonstrated. All the metro
politan papers yesterday published des-
Crlptions of this powerful weapon. The
subjoined account cmbOdies all that APP
pears TO be known respecting this novel
and dangerous addition 10 the armoury of
m odern warfare The Admiralty granted
TO the inventor the use OF q casemate on
the upper tier Of Garrison Point Fort.
Sheerness. and torpedo factory was er-
ected outside the fort, with d tramway
running down to the sea beach. With
these advantages and ample sea room IN
front, the preliminary trials have taken
place, and the mechanism has been 50 far
perfected as to admit OF an official inspeG-
ton. This has proved SO satisfactory that
the Admiralty have already agreed to
adopt the torpedo Us part Of the national
armament According TO report the in
vantor Is TO have a very handsome reward,
and various sums, ranging from 100000
TO 100000 are mentioned, while it Is posi-
lively asserted he has been paid 100000
on account. The new torpedo, which Is
g ay,Iug uItnFrnt lRars III
tinct in principle from the Whitehead, the
Harvey, or any other system known il the
service In the many trials which have
taken place III public. machine, some
thing like the section Of a boat. has been
seen to descend to the waters edge 10y
means OF a carriage Oh the tramWay, and
plunge into the sea, through which 1t has
shot at marvellous speed, estimate by
some observers at fifty miles an hour. Its
principles have now, however been ex-
planned without reserve to many officials
and others, and viii shortly be taught
generally throughout the navy. There
will consequently be no longer any at
tempt to keep the secret, and 1t may be
explained that the torpedo Is impelled by |
a steam engine, which Is stationed within /
the fort. and acts upon 1t by winding IN |
very rapidly two wires cOlled round wheels !
within the machine As the wires are in
dependent Of each other, and actuate diff
ferent propeIlers, the torpedo can be
steered from the engine with great &C
curacy. Ii Is even practicable to stop the
in full flight and send it on
again, but this is thought to Try severely
The endurance of the wires, which are as
hin as those of a birdcage. Jets of light
lre produced by some chemical agency,
md are simply TO indicate the position of
The torpedo at night, but being screened
in front they are visible only to the OBJ
servers in rear. Travelling with very lit
.le of its body above water, it would scar
ELY be seen by an enemy until too late
or resistance or escape, and rs Its speed
Increases the harder it Is pulled, the last
lart of the journey can always be the
astest.