The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-11
IT Is a MIGHTY ENGINE OF WAR.
An Exhibition of the Wonderful Sims
Edison Electric Torpedo.

An Exhibition of the Wonderful Sims
Edison Electric Torpedo.
New YORK, May 3.-The last public
exhibition to be given before the South
American delegates was that at WiIlet's
Point yesterday, where the sontherners saw
the workings of the famous Sims-Edison
electric torpedo. Although number of the
delegates have already gone home, half a
dozen are still in this country and promptly
accepted the company's invitation to wit
ness the work of one Of the most improved
weapons known to modern harbor defense.
The invited guests who saw the tests yes
terday were Judge jose Alfonso of the
supreme court of Chill; Domingo Pena-
Zorro, secretary Of the Gillian delegation;
John Nj. Foster of Santiago, Chill; Capt.
Saldanha da CANA Of the Brazilian navy;
Adolfo @. Calvo consul general to the
Argentine Republic; Juan Francisco
Velarde, Bolivian minister to the United
States: Charles II. Flint, United States
delegate to the International American
congress; William II. Curtis. chief executive
officer Of the congress.
The first explosions were of two fixed
mines submerged at four feet. Their posi-
tions in the harbor were marked by tiny
black buoys, which bobbed on the surface
500 feet off shore. These mines can be ex-
ploded in either of two ways-by a vessel
striking them or their attachments, or by
means of an electric current from the shore
just as the vessel passes over the trap. The
latter method was employed yesterday,
because the test showed very accurately
what results would follow similar
explosion on the torpedo boat
While the guests gazed intently at the
| unsuspicious-lookiug chip floating In the
| harbor, Col. King pressed a button at the
1 Mt Ave do Of,
| tar powder responded with roar, and up
into the AIR, to a hight Of $50 feet, went q
| column of water, punctuated here and there
| with flying chips and the glistening scales
| of badly-frightened fish. When the commo-
ton had subsidized Col. King touched an
| other button connected with fifty pounds Of
dynamite. There was another and louder
roar, followed by another and higher shaft
| Of water, in which could be seen pieces OF
| flying fish. stones, and mud.
The gentlemen who marveled at the ire
| mendous force that threw such a column of
water 200 feet skyward were reminded by
| Mr.. Sims, the inventor OF the torpedo boat,
that these results were obtained from
| charge of only fifty pounds of dynamite,
while the torpedo boat carries from $50 to
| 500 pounds. 1t was hardly necessary for
him to add that there was q vast difference.
While great flock of gulls swooped down
| upon the fish floating on the water the fam
| Gus torpedo boat glided out from under the
wharf. 1t seemed harmless enough, floating
| there like good-sized porpoise, but IL in
| days to come one OF these miniature arse
mails chances to strike the biggest and strong
est vessels afioat, straightway the career Of
that vessel will end in scattered shower Of
chips and slivers.
The boat has a cylindrical hull Of copper,
with conical ends 1t is twenty-eight feet
long by eighteen inches in diameter, and is
y.
hull, carrying the dynamite section, con-
trolling cable, electric motor and steering
gear, is supported at submerged depth by
an indestructible float attached to the hull
by an upright steel stanchion. As the boat
moves only the top shell of this float is
visible, carrying little rods showing signal
flags or balls. This float. against which the
Calling and Hotchkiss guns of the enemy
would be vigorously directed, is claimed by
it's inventor to be entirely impenetrable.
The hull and float are protected from cables,
ropes, or other distractions by sharp steel
blade set at such an angle as TO make the
boat dive under or cut away the obstacle.
Having made these preliminary explana-
tons the inventor announced that the boat
was about to start. At the same instant
there was heard the whirr of a dynamo.
and before the spectators could fasten their
eyes on the little craft it was shooting
across the bay. Its conical PROV cut the
water like a knife-blade. Suddenly the
man at the key turned a lever and the boat
zigzagged at various angels, showing it's
complete submission to the will of the ma
nipulator on the wharf. Then he pressed
| another lever and the boat described a per-
| feet arc, coming to q standstill at the very
| instant fixed by the electrician. Eighteen
| miles an hourp simultaneously exclaimed
| two engineers who had timed the little
craft, whereupon the southern gentlemen
| in much excitement cried: "Que grardiosap
| which means that they had never before
heard Of such wonderful implements of war.
AS soon as the boat stopped interest CEN
| tered in the machinery and the remarkable
steering apparatus. The electric current
| produced by the dynamo machine is con-
| veyed to the torpedo by cable stored in
one of its sections, which is paid out as the
torpedo proceeds on its errand. The electric
| current is constant In supply, unlimited in
| amount. and at all times under the COM
| plete control of the operator by means of
| keyboard. The operator from his
| station ON shore or on shfpboard
| can at will start stop, or steer the
| torpedo to port or starboard and explode the
| charge, which can also be arranged to
explode by contact ii desired, and he
| receives notice when the hull or blade meet
with any obstruction, together with the
| magnitude of the same, thus making sure
| of the proper moment for the explosion.
| Owing to the great expense no torpedo was
| exploded yesterday but the work done by
the fixed mines, viewed in connection with
| the operations of the torpedo boat. satisfied
| the visitors as to the results obtainable.
| Steering is effected, said Mr.. Sims. by q
| powerful electromagnetic. into which is
| switched the main current by means Of q
| strong polarizsd relay actuated by the cur
\ rent of the shore battery. Two keys con-
| troll the relay il, the boat, and the rudder is
| thus thrown from side to side. The gentle
men examined every feature Of the appa-
ratus, and Col King explained that the
largest OF the treble-bottom Italian ships
was as completely at the mercy Of that tiny
keyboard as were the fish az tne mercy Of
| the submarine wire.
THE WILL of the late O. w. Childs Of Los
| Angeles has been filed for probate. He left