Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11
A rsRRlFio NAvAz ENGINE.
what IL Seen in the Wheel-h Ouse of
Al modern Ir0nciad.


N Modern HrOnciad.
Here in this spot, says the Graphic, 10 |
concentrated the whole power of the ire
mendous machine which we call an iron
clad ship. Such power was never, since
the world began, concentrated under the
direction Of man, and all that power, the
Judgment to direct it, the knowledge to
use it is placed in the hand OF one man
and one only.
What is power Talk of Jove with his
tbundefboits, of Nasmyth with his ham,
mer, the fables of mythology and the
facts Of science, where has there been
anything to compare with il
Here in the coming tower stands the
captain of the ship, and beneath his feet
tine hidden powers which the mind can
scarcely grasp but which one and all are
made subservient to his will and his will
| alone. Piature him as he stands at his
| post before the battle begins; all is quiet
enough, there is scarcely sound save
| the tapping OF the water against the
/ smooth, white sides Of the ironciad, and
| no outward sign Of force save the ripple
| of the parted waters falling off on either
| side of the ram as it sheers through the
water. But mark that white thread eB-
Gaping from the steampipe astern, fleecy
vapor rising into the air and nothing
more.
What does il mean? II means that far
down below some 80 glowing furnaces
are roaring under tue blast OF steam; that
in the great cylindrical boilers the water
is bubbiing, surging, struggling, as the
fierce burning gases pass through tho
fiuea, and that the prisoned steam, tear
ing and thrusting 1T the tough sides oil
lxe.sTa Sa 4l1 farV
and blowing of at o pressure of leo
pounds. 1t means that the captain in
his coming tower has but to press the
button by his side, and in moment the
four great engines will be driving the
twin screws through the water with the
force Of 10 600 horsepower, and that the
great ship with the dead weight OF 10000
tons, will be rushiug onward at speed
Of over 20 miles an hour. In her turret
and in her broadside batteries there is
desp hush Of expectation. but there, too,
waiting to respond Go the flash of the
will that can, lie forcas OF destruction
which appal imagination.
Far down below our feet, in the cham
bers of the great guns, lie the dark masses
OF the powder charges. A touch, spark,
and in shest OF fame, and with crash
of thunder, the steel shot will rush from
their muzzles, speeding on their way 90
feet in second and dealing their blows
. with the impact OF 60, 600 foot tons, 1900
pounds weight of metal discharged by
, one touch OF the captains hand. Nor is
this all; another touch and another signal
will liberate the little clips which detain
the four Whitehead torpedoes in their
tubes. A puff Of powder, click as
,, the machinery is started, and
the two screws are set of whirling,
, and, with a straight, silent plunge, the
long steel torpedoes will dive into the
water, and at the appointed depth will
. speed on their way so or 40 miles an
: hour on their awful errand of destruc-
> ton. Move that switch and through the
h dark wall of the night long, straight
I beam will shoot forth with the radiance
: Of 10000 candles, turning the night into
!. day.
a word spoken through that tube will
I, let loose the haiistorm of steel and lead
= from the quick firing and machine guns
a on the upper deck and in the tops. A
a discharge Of shot and shell, not to be
II counted by tens or scores, but by hun,
8 dreds and thousands, a storm before
is which no living thing can stand, and
II under which all but the strongest de-
= fences will wither aud malt away like a
snow bank under an April shower.
SO last and y os, Ee 4 ia tSt
= IS us Ut.. IL force ready to the cartl'-'t
hsb5 rec nj aum 81 ri others Az
} which, if rightly used, is as irresistible R'
- the swelling of the ocean tide or the hanl
~ y of death. By your side and under youl
I, hand are the spokes of the steam steer
n ing.wheel, far forward under the swirlins
u wave which rises under the ships cut
.k...r L.
~ most fatal of NIL the engines of mstitim
~ warfare. II ia the task of the hand which
u turns that little wheel 10 direct the fear
e tul impact OF the ram.
y Think what the power confided TO on
~ mana hand must be, IL, 600 tons of dea
~ weight driven forward by the frantic Ell
" ergy Of IL geo horse power, plunging an
~ surging slopg the yielding waves at
~ speed of 10 fest in every second aud wit
y momentum SO huge that the mathemat
~ icai expression which purporis TO repr,
-. sent 1t to the mind conveys no idea TO .
intelligence incapable of appreciating
~ conception 40 vast To receive o bio
- - from the ram is dsath-the irtetrieYsbl
- catastrophe of ships career. To d
is. liver such blow is certain victory.
is with the captain and the captain alon
as he stands mere in the coming towe
that the responsibility OF infletiEg or e.
NV counteTing this awful fate lies.
Now you will understand what / Insd
the when say that mover since the wor
the began have euch forces been placed
in the hands OF single man, whose e,
ion alone must see me opportunity, who
to Judgment atone nnst enable him 10 u
to it aud Whose hand alone must give effe
mi 20 all that Lis courage, his wisdom al
an. hia duty prompt.