The morning call., 1891-08-09
A TORPEDO STATION.
The Place Where Terrible Explosives Are on
Exhibition.

What a wonderland for warlke imagin-
ings is that little Island in Newport harbor
called the Torpedo Station" On it are but
few insignificant buildings; but in them
is made nearly all the gun-cotton used in
the United States Navy.
Gun-eotton! 1t seems a peaceful name
for terrible explosive. How innocent it
appears, done up in little round cakes. And
yet that peaceful-looking cotton is ready at
the touch OF the electric spark, or the slight
est blow Of a hammer, 10 rend great rocks
or masses Of metal that would resist three
times the weight in powder.
Near the long, low building in which gun
cotton is manufactured, but separated from
them by the massive walls of an old-time
fertilization, is the machine-shop of the sta
ton. Above the shop are lecture-rooms,
and storage places for the various kinds of
torpedoes used in the past. The specimens
run from a model of David BushneiPs orig
inal torpedo, designed to blow up British
man-of-war in the Revolution, down to the
types used in the great Rebellion; and there
are even working models of the kinds which
Will probably be used III the future wars of
our country, should there be need of them.
In the large ana well-lighted lecture
room those officers of our navy who are Sc
lected to study up this subject and be-
come experts in handling these dangerous
instruction. Here they see not only plans
and charts but the real models themselves
The various methods of anchoring, bu0ying
floating, towing Or propeiing torpedoeS are
carefully explained to them here. They
learn also what substances make up the
many deadly explosives used. and are
taught to handle the wires. batteries and
other means of exploding them.
In the broad, beautiful bay, wherein
the sunlight shmmers beneath the station
windows the claSSpS Law ra:npG nd
mines. or send the swift movable torpedoes
tearing through the water in search OF an
imaginary enemy.
In the center aisle of the lecture-room,
and hanging from the ceiling, are short por-
tons of booms or spars bearing torpedoes
on their ends. They are all large ponder
GUS and black, and point down at you in so
realistic a way that one looks anxiousIy
about fearing that few may have caps on
and be loaded Some are round, some are
cylindrical, others are oval; some are like
great conical cans, others yet are pear
shaped.
On the floor. to the left, is q mushroom
torpedo" made to lie at the bottom of
bay where ship must pass over it. Be-
yond 1t Is one shaped just like a great sun
fish, with a tail-like rudder and attachments
known as side elevators, looking like fius.
This Is made to be towed by a chain
fastened to ring in what may be called its
nose, and upon little rods sticking from its
snout are caps, the touching of which means
destruction.
On the right of the room is a reel on
which is wound long line. This line is to
tow and direct the queer-lookiDg towing
torpedo just beyond it, with the iron han
die upturned. Next to this lies union"
an arrangement from which number of
wires can diverge to a like number OF tor
pedoes. The torpedoes can then be Set off
in battery" or separately.
The long, white, pointed torpedoes are
more modern. and are known as " fish,"
log and whitehead" Some of these are
propelled by electric engines in the tor
pedo. connected to the shore by wire which
is paid out. Some of the torpedo engines
work by s0da-gas. In another sort, the
machinery is kept in motion by a wire
which is continually pulled from the coil
In The torpedo by those on shore. The coil
being thus revolyed turns the machinery
OF the torpedo. so the harder you pull the
faster ii goes from you. Yet another is
propelled by a heavy iron wheel, which.
revolving at wonderful speed, is set spin
ming in the hollo' torpedo shell, and hy
gear-wheels operates the propeller. This
Hy-wheel runs a long time. Perhaps Won
have seen toy locomotives run by the same
method.
In fact surrounding the visitor all kinds
and shapes and sizes of queer-looking OBJ
lects can be seen; but they are all torpe-
does, and the whole purpose of each device
is to be quiet, stealthy, obedient and, above
all, effective in action.
The entire collection is wonderfully in
teresting and instructive, but each of the
terrible machines. although unloaded, has
a certain dangerous air which Is likely to
give tlmid visitor the "creeps." August
st. Nicholas.