The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-19
ELECTRICITY AS A WEAPON.
A Marvellous Invention For Destroy
ing Battle-ships
From the Boston Herald.

a marvellous invention For Destroy
ing Battle-ships.
From the Boston Herald
An invention is said to have been recently
completed by means Of which an enemy's
ships can be kept outside a harbor at a dis
lance 30 great that the place defended is be-
yond the reach Of her guns This wonder
full achievement is claimed to be done by
electricity, and by very simple machinery.
and were it not for the name attached to the
claim as inventor might we'll be regarded
as emanating from the brain of some imag-
native writer instead Of being the inyen-
tlon OF scientific military gentleman of
distinguished record.
The inventor Of the device claims that il
Is applicable to the protection of all sea
coast cities, and it is said that drawings and
specifications have been made of its appli-
cations to the harbor Of New York. as aux
lllary to the present Notifications In its
application to New York it is so devised
that If single ship or feet of any number
OF vessels attempted to enter the harbor
each ship could be struck blow with what
or In what way it is not stated equal to So
700 foot tons, and the blow would come
from overhead, out of the air, as the ships
crossed the 6119-fathom line In the outer
bay, which Is some ~ miles distant from
the built-up part Of Brooklyn and about Il
miles in straight line from the city hall at
New York,
The mysterious blow, it is stated, is to
come vertically, and is to strike upon the
part OF the ship where it Will do
the most permanent harm. Twenty of
these Thorhammer blows can be struck in
ten seconds of time. Several army officers
and naval experts are said to have inyesti-
gated the method, and are said to have said
that the blow can certainly be struck within
foot or two Of the point indicated. If
these officers and experts would only author
ize public expressions Of such opi0ion, the
public would, perhaps, be convinced that
the thing is feasible.
Again 1t is said that nearly all the parts
the construction of the what-is-it can be-
bought from machinery dealers and need
only be assembled and put together ready
for action, and no expensive plant will be
necessary to make any part of the system.
There is not to-day ship in any navy that
could Withstand sucn blow as it is claimed
can be struck by this new application of
electricity, and it is further said that the
blow cannot be warded or conducted off as
stroke OF lightning might bs, but would
shatter the object struck into fragments.
The electrical device In question, it appears.
would not in the least degree interfere with
or endanger commercial vessels, and it is
claimed that it can be built very quickly
and at comparatively little cost.
zen. hd"ard w. Serrell, the inventor Of
TINS WONDERFUL electrical system OF auxlli-
airy maroon detenses, was, during the civil
war chief engineer OF the department of
the south, Onitedf States army. He Is the
inventor of the hydraulic vert cal gun lift
Tor baroette guns; planned aud personally
superlntended the construction OF the
world renowned Swamp Anger batteries
curing ten. GllImore's siege of Charleston,
and commanded the volunteer regiment Of
engineers from New York. He has also
made several other Important inventions,
am onR them long wire for telegraphs and
suspension bridges, and the reduction of the
exposure OF the embrasure in Notifications.
zen. Serrell, as civil engineer, has had
charge of many important public works in
seem to be capable of knowing what he is