Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-01-28
HALPlNE TORPEDO BOAT.
A Successful Application of Electricity In
Naval Warfare.

The rapid advance made by electricity
in warfare is evidenced by novel tor
pedo-boat recently given 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 a diameter Of
5wenty-four inches, and carries shell
four feet long, ten inches in diameter,
and capable of holding one hundred
pounds of explosives. This torpedo-boa
is the first one of the kind which carries
within itself it's own power, the electric
force being derived from storage bat
terry within the boat. The torpedo-boa
also carries it's own shell, which can be
made to leave the apparatus at the will
of the operator on the shore, or it is dis
charged automatically when an mped
ment is encountered, or the netting now
used by war vessels to guard against the
approach of torpedoes. A short spar
with javelin head protrudes from the
bow of the torpedo-boat, and when this
becomes entangled in the netting Of a
man-of-war, two pieces OF steel, like
those of lilly-iron on harpoon, open
and help to hold the entangled spar and
draw it out, which gives dip to the
torpedo-boat and fires the charge which
drives out the loaded shell. The tor
pedo-shell then takes downward di
rection, and, having its own motion, lisa
unit, and is destroyed when exploded
while the boat is independent Of its
projectile, and, being controlled by o
wire from the shore, returns to its point
Of departure. The problem OF con
structing an independent boat having
it's own motor power, and carrying q
she'll to be fired from it, which can be
backed automatically to a position Oh
safety prior to the discharge OF the ex-
plosive, whereby the boat proper remain.
aninjured, the boat being capaDle oi
constant usage" has apparently oeen
solved by Lieutenant Nicholas ). Hal
pine, of the United States navy, the ue'
tails of the electrical work and constfuO'
ton having been carried out by MT Ar
thur w. Savage. The supposed secarN
against torpedo attacks furnished "
rope or wire netting will be dlspelea
by the Halpine torpedo-boat, although
The full series of experiments WIFI i'n''
vet to be made.-Demorest's Monthly
General Tom Thumbs WIDOW
Tom Thumbs widow, who will mol
consent to exhibit herself at MUSEUM.
aow, passed through the city few Jay
lgo. Seated in an easy-chalr, :" ior'a
The seat of which the use OF a crioA''
was absolutely necessary, the dlmihu~,N
lady extended the hand OF weico~''
and, with a smile, shook her heaa Is
her visitor gave greeting to NJ,
Charles Stratton." mo longer MS
Stratton,' she said; Il am nov "a
Countess Magri and this is my husoanu'
he Count" The gentleman thus i ,r
luoed was handsome little ieiiOs,
whose years and whose inches are a',lO INA
he same, for the crown OF HIS i,h,
teaches only the level OF an upl ;.s
yard-stick and his age is but thirty mn" ~.
Mrs. Stratton- Magri, if the doupie ' ~
oellation may be used, is for'y-se,sl
years old now and she stands a ao's
hat is to say, lilliputian head-sno'
,an her husband. Boston Jourh'i
One shrewd Maine dressmaker ha'
hit upon a lucky idea, and is thrislhs +bs
it. When ladies come to her WIN VA
goods to make up an ordinary wois "Ss
lress, she asks: ''Will you have II in.
TO feel like silk or wool|' Inc o" .ha
If the dress naturally inquiries ih' ~, in
meaning of the question. III Is o. aill
lining. ! can give you lining 'nas r wou
'ustle like silk and that will maAo :.
,hink whenever you touch IL 'na .,;rty
'ilk, and it will only cost you ln t.ou
,ents a yard" The fancy of the pa.fV "
s caught by the alluring prospe. s;,r
having her woollen dress rustic iiho - 1,
md she leaves an order for TINS Wv
With silver lining.