The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-12


Political svnna thies have comparative
ly little TO do With the general Interest
aroused nv the purchase OF several rect
American stean-yessels by representa-
tfyes of the recognized government or
Brazn for use against AamAfai Memo
rebel fleet.
That III Cid. the fastest merchant
steamer ana Feiseen. the speedlest pleas
ure craft ever built In the United States,
are being entirely fitted In this country
for their deadly mission, mas brought 10
the interested attention OF toe "ota Nite
rapid progress made BY uncle sam IN
the arts and scieLces OF naval warfare.
IT, FL Cid Brazil will have a steel ship
Of n gross tonnage or 46o0, with a record
ed speed averaging IS 81 knots during a
voyage from New orleans to New York.
She is 40 feet long over all, $50 feet SO
inches on the water-line, and draws 70
feet when loaded. She will have the dis
tinction. or perhaps the fate, OF being
the nrst naval structure 10 use dyha-
mite in actual warfare. For this purpose
she Is being fitted with a dynamite gun
Weighing 43 tons. which moves on CIR
cular track on the bow. Compressed air
is the medium by which the procedures
with their destructive charge OF miro
gIyeeSine will be propelled. The smalIest
charge Of 200 pounds Of explosive Is -FOUR
times greater than the largest quantity
heretofore used experimentally; CV
mounds Is the maximum charge, and WIN
be contained in tubular shells Of like
weight. What the destructive power or
the latter quantity is can barely be estl-
mated
In the limited time allowed for the par
tial improvement Of the vessels arma-
rnent a protection against any nut mus
kerry fire is out OF the question I'll Ga
will therefore greatly depend upon ORD
nance of a different character 10 make
possible the use OF the dynamite gun
with it's limited range OF 5000 yards foI
that purpose she will carry two o0-pouiIu
rapid-Hre guns, t%o SS-pe0ndevs, t~o -
FOUNDERS, and twelve 6-pounders. Inc
latter will be placed In the deck mousse
Feiseen is a marine wonder, having once
developed a speed Of 31.67 miles during a
rim of seven miles She is constructed
of mahogany and oak, and will be 81 feet
long when fitted as n torpedo-boat. n
steel conning-tower will take the place
of the deck-house, and l-pound rapid
fire gun in It will give some slight pro-
lection 10 the feet little craft. Ahe tot-
pedo-tube viii move on a pivot forward
and thus have a range OF nearly 100 De
erees She is to be carried to brazil on
the deck Of FL Cid. The Ericsson torpedO-
boat Destroyer has also been bought IN
this country by the Brazilian government;
Col0eldeHt with these purchases are haNa'
nreparations ON the part Of Brazil in Eng
land and France.
Whether the formidable feet thus ac-
ouired which Is 10 meet at some Brazil
ian port, presumably Pernambuco.
whence. under the command Of Admiral
Cordovio Ntauritz. it is TO sail to the relief
OF Rio. will succeed or not in crushing
the rebelHous Mello Is an interesting
question. Upon its answer will largely
depend the future Of nav@ warfare. II
n establish that dynamite can be safely
handled aboard ship under the emersehs-
Giles and stress Of battle, then the age OF
artuipowder and armor-plate Will be super,
seeded by that Of nitro-glycerine ana
speed .-Harpers Weekly.