New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-01
TIE VOYAGE OF THE Volta.


The small launch Volta propelled by the electric
current method invented by Messrs stephens Co.. of
Mwa left Dover yesterday morning on her voyage across
the Channel greade Of interest concentrated In the event
the novelty the trip aud the scientific nature
the experiment made To those WHO have
had pfcvoms experience OF ne many @ wCn
peaTancc of type of boat perfectly safe IN The weather with
calm which would stand little chance of
re main 1"1 She S 'aqf che G an STg an
nearly feet BEAM bu Of galvanized steel plates. She
toward The stern she ranay reduces the depth Of her gun
Svae Her deck nearly quite level with the water
Beo the decs which Is eGprey down. are PLACED LACE
They little square boxes about six by twelve inches aud
I'm the Whole Of tho space below the deck This Of course
acts as ballast but tie i'm preston Of
guav was that was rather too heavy boat which
rolled somewhat heayy The proPepg power consists OF
motors placed floor the whole the
power complete control and the speed can be
o"i on ths principle was recently supplied to
tho sner Of the nr S main Wc
AMI there special switches for going astern the whole Of
Of iSd motors may Se Varied al viii from four horse power to
Coupled e c the motors SHAFT makes from 600 to LOCO
handle phd ober Of ihS eIpernen Is the limitation Of
electricity a. motive power particularly Tor snch craft as
be greatly enhanced as they would be provide WIN moye
turning Of switch and which would enable the boats
TO move about without smoke nose or IRE sch as oogms
s e t1e Ss Which ay aqsse tq 9 dyga
which had been specially erected In the workshop OF con
named Clark The distance between the workshop
the alongside which the Volta spanned win
electric coil that the accumuatos in the boat could all
their under the deck before being charged
The boat has been placed under the charge OF the veteran
channel pilot Toms. -
As s the gates opened. hafpast 10
O'clock launch rowed out OF the dock into the harbo
thence There eight persons hoard,
provided the boat being sufficient for
nearly dOnbo that number. Among those on board WAS
General the launch glded ont Of the harbOr tho
shining brilliantly - the boat apprSacbcd'
the which had hitherto bren
motion There large number of people on both
the Admiralty Pier. and the little craft
she noSeleSsy
The iarbOr with visible OF propulslOn and no
SMOKE tunnels sails Tho boat. when II left Dover
about knots hour. and
intended not TO exceed this speed 80 ta me store OF
shOnd not become exhausted The boat was provided
sails and of accident Toms was az the
helm when the boat left the harhOr.
The To shortly before O'Clock. nav
ing completed a which regarded great scen
tnc When the boat arrived at Calais IL was lonu
that the amount OF electricity remaining in the accnnuas
warranted the return journey being attempted Nhen uo
completed the current rom ia accuuaiors was
still powerful notwithstanding that during the last ha or
Journey launch had been driven at the rate OF four
hour and rushed through the water AT such
throw her bow The total distance
about fifty miles During the voyage the speed
will Of the switch The experiment
board Tar IN advance OF
anything they expected An incident occurred on the pas
which illustrates the noiseessness OF the little vessel
About Channel Toms. the pilot, observed seagu hoa
The boat steefed close 10 the
bird caught 10y OF those board
nd uUht al q Ia