The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-20
C4pr. WIT1,s GAS LAUNCH HUM
Launched Yesterday, hut Stuck In the Mud,
othat Her Engines Were Not Tried.

Launched Yesterday, hut Stuck In the Mud,
SO that Her Engines Were Not Tried.
There was a crowd Of jolly yachtsmen and a
number OF ladies in gay costumes at l4jth
street and the Harlem River yesterday after
noon to SEQ the launching OF the steam launch
Hum, built b. Capt. Archibald Watt owner Of
the schooner yacht Osprey Capt. Watt has
put in the Hum an engine Of his own invention
and make 1t is a very small and con pact
Quadrulle expansion engine. with the cylinders
placed sleepe and tandem. They are 2's, 2 =,
Ia and 50 inches in diameter. and have all q
2i,-inch stroke. Tho smallest cylinder is
placed above the largest and the third In size
over the second. and the D ston rods of the TWO
steeples are connected. There are small twin
screws OF two blades. but more than the usual
pitch. The motive power may be derived from
steam or from q vapor which results from
heating a combination OF oils, tho basis OF
which is kerosene.
In the bow OF the launch Is a twelve gallon
tank in which the oil is stored Zach stroke OF
the automatic pump throws into tho boiler
enough oil To generate sufficient gas for one
revolution. Tho EaS goes through the cylinders
as seam does through the tliple apsio1
cylinders. but Inetea! OF being exhausted and
wasted. it is sent thro' Eh acondenser which is
laid along the keel. aiter Which the, "il is re.
after the FIRST gas is generated tho engine Is
radically automatic as Tor each revolution OF
Inc screws the q Is one SlTOkt u lib n, tnl.
The boiler is very contact. holding about
four gallons. and. with the engine and t!e box.
weigh about $50 pounds cant. Watt thinks
rev Int ons with the engine although it was
built TO make 800. one gallon o. oil lasts an
hour and twenty-five minutes and viii develop
ten-horse power an hou,, with which the boat
can / Q driven eight and possibly ten miles.
The launch is only IL ieet inches long. and 1t
is not easy TO drive go small boat at high
rate Of speed.
shortly after O'Clock the little boat was put
on the ways. Miss Alice GertZen stepi ed to
the bow. and sa ing. II chris'en YOU the Hum:
fortunate and successful. may Won never ex-
re innce defeat" broke Il bottle OF Neuve Gil
quot. The wo d was given. and the Hum slid
down the ways INTO the water. Bur the ebbing
tide which waits for no man. failed L. wait for
The Hum. IN the little boat stuck in the mud.
The tide ran out so fast that II was found i'm.
possible to get the Hum off and the trial OF her
speed hat to Dr. postponed.
After the ceremonies on tho water the party
ad burned TO the home Of Cant. Watt at l4lst
street, where music and re're -hments we're in
order. Miss Harriet istele 4, own composed
the " Hum " waltz for tho occasion. Among
those, present were; Mr. and Mrs, c. |. Me,
and, Mrs, lanes W. l.. Strad1. Mr., end Mrs c.
Emily Pierce. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas l.. Wait.
Miss Hattie Brown Miss Florence brown, Mis-
Alice Geritzen. Miss Mary q. Pinckney. Miss
Matte Eanedict. Barrett Adams, GeoIge
Iivermore. Owain Hughes. I. Fred Fay. A. G.
Wait. j. j. Kunsterter. Samuel Weeas. Jr,
Patrick Fox, William Moser, and John q.
Shaw.