Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-25
minous little box of an affair a wide

ominous little box of an affair a wild,
berth.
Even to this day, although they have
witnessed a trial of the machine before
Government experts, the building is no
approached after ~nightfall, and is regarded
with a feeling of commingled fear and sus
picion. But two men have been working
in the shop for the past year, and although
the sounds of the hammer we're audible &c
the people, they were not permitted to
had not been in existence, or been SO
strictly enforced, it is doubtful if any one
could have been found with sufficient te-
merity to inspect the work.
These feelings had their foundation in
the scare administered to one of the citi-
zens two years ago. He was admitted to
the building, and, there being no chairs
available, he was invited 10 sit on what
was apparently ar empty barrel. He had
occupied this impromptu seat but a few
minutes when he heard a SUSPICIOUS siz-
cling in the barrel, and on looking around
to his great horror discovered the word
dynamite painted in black Letters on its
side. He beat a hasty retreat, and as he
ran from the building the workmen dis
charged their revolyers, increasing his ter
ror and leading him to the belief that an
explosion had occurred. The news spread
quickly about the town snd much excite
ment resulted. The two workmen offered
no explanation, and were studiously
avoided in the future.
The new torpedo is destined to effect as
great a revolution in naval warfare as
that wrought by the destructive little
cheese box of Ericsson's. The firm of
which ex-senator J. n. II. Fitzpatrick Of
Omaha is the head, controls the patent.
and is now constructing three for the
United States Government and eight for
France. The mandatory is established
at Hartford, and the waters of Bowery Bay
have been chosen as the most desirable
point for trials.
The boats are built in two sections, both
the shape of a double cartridge, in the
lower section of which the machinery is
located and the 400 pounds Of dynamite
each carries are stored. This section is
also provided with q scissors-like arrange
ment at the bow, intended to cut away the
wire netting which protects all the mod
ern vessels from torpedo buoys. The boats
are propelled by wonderful little engines
OF go horsepower, and are capable of
driving them one mile at the rate of
twenty knots an hour. The power is fur
nshed by carbolic gas, and the engine is
supplied with no less than six pistons,
which turn the propelling screw at the
rate of 500 revolutions a minute. The
engine does not occupy a space of more
than four feet long and two feet high.
The boats may be ioated from a man-of-
war, and steered by means OF an electrical
arrangement from shipboard. The upper
section of the boat floats a trife above the
surface and cannot be distinguished at any
distance in rough water. A long, needle
like pin projects from the bow, which,
when it comes in contact with the ship
the torpedo is sent to destroy, explodes the
dynamite. The lower section Of the boat
is about forty-four feet in length and is
about three in diameter. The upper Sec
ton or float is about ten feet shorter and
slightly smaller in diameter. Both sec
lions are covered with copper.
One of the three boats contracted for by
the Government will be tested in August
or earlier, before a committee of naval
experts. The Government will pay for
the three when accepted $4,000.