Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-02-15
HALPlNE TORPEDO BOAT.
A Successful Application OF Electricity In
Naval Warfare

n NneeessJut Apphcation OF Electricity In
Naval Warfare.
The rapid advance made by electricity
In warfare is evidenced by novel tor.
pedo-boat recently given n public trial
In the waters Of New York Bay The
Halpine torpedo-boat is of copper, cigar.
like in form, having total length OF
twenty-three feet, with diameter of
twenty-four inches, and carries shell
four feet long, ten inches in diameter,
and capable of holding one hundred
pounds of explosives. This torpedo-boat
" the first one of the kind which carries
within itself It's own power, tho electric
force being derived from q storage bat
terry within the boat. The torpedo-boat
also carries its own shell, which can be
made to leave the apparatus at the will
Of the operator on tho shore, or IL is dis
charged automatically when an impedi-
ment is encountered, or the netting nov
used by war vessels TO guard against the
approach of torpedoes. A short spar
with a javelin head protrudes from the
bow of the torpedo-boat, and when this
becomes entangled in the netting of o
man-of-war, two pieces OF steel, like
those of ali1iy-iron on a harpoon, open
and help to hold the entangled spar and
draw 1t out, which gives dip TO the
torpedo-boat and fires tho charge which
drives out the loaded shell. The tor,
pedo-shell then takes a downward di.
roction and, having its own motion, Is
unit. and Is destroyed when exploded:
while the boat is independent of It's
projectile, and. being controlled by a
wire from the shore, returns to its point
Of departure. The problem of con.
structing an independent boat .shaving
Its own motor power, and carrying a
she'll TO be fired from IL. which can be
backed automatically 10 a position OF
safety prior 10 the discharge Of the ex-
plosiye, whereby the boat proper remains
lninjured, the boat being capable of
constant usage has apparently been
solved by Lieutenant Nicholas ]. Hal
pine, of the United States navy, the de-
tails of the electrical work and eonstruc.
ton having been carried out by Mr.. Ar
thur W. Savage. The supposed security
against torpedo attacks furnished by
rope or wire netting will be dispelled
by the IIalpine torpedo-boat, although
The full series of experiments with ID has
yet be made.-Demorest's Monthly.
General Tom Thumbs widow.
Tom Thumbs widow. who will moi
consent to exhibit herself at museums
now, passed through the city few day.
ago. seated In an easy-chair, 10 reach
the seat OF which the ase Of cricket
was absolutely necessary the diminutiyt
lady extended the hand of welcome.
and, with q smile, shook her head a.
her visitor gave greeting 10 "Mrs.
Charles Stratton." mo longer Mrs.
Stratton," she said; II am now the
Countess Magri and this is my husband. +
she Count" The gentleman thus intro.
luced was a handsome little fellow,
whose years and whose inches are almost
The same, for the crown of his head
reaches only the level OF an upright
Yard-stiek and his age Is but thirty-nine. |
Mrs. Stratton- Magri, II tho double ap. /
pellation may be used, is forty-seven
years old now and she stands head
'hat Is to say, lilliputian head shorter
than her husband. Boston Journal.