The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-28
a WONDERFUL INVENTION.
Latitude, Longitude and Compass Err
rors Determined by Lieut.. Beehler's
Sol

" ~ - - ~ - - ~ V EN- AAONs
Latitude, Longitude and Compass Err
rors Determined by Lieut.. Beehler's
Solarometer.
From the New York Herald.
Washington, April 22.-Lieut. w. II.
Beehler, of the navy, has made an official
report of the Secretary of the Navy upon
the test to his solarometer in n twenty
nine days voyage at sea on board one Of
the North German Lloyd steamers, sail
ing between Baltimore and Germany. In
this voyage he demonstrated the practical
success of the instrument in determining
the vessels latitude, longitude and com
pass errors by observations of the sun,
moon and stars whenever visible, indie
pendent OF the invisibiitY of the sea hori-
zon, and without elaborate calculations.
On the return voyage the constant
level base was found TO be decided sue
cess. The vessel was light and in. the sue
cesslon of gales encountered she rolled
heavily and deep The only difficulty ex-
perienced in the use Of the instrument
was due TO the effect Of the wind blow
ing directly on it at times. In rolling the
screen ceased tOgive lee to the instru-
ment. and when the wind was blowing
fresh toward it, it was difficult and often
impossible to make observations. A house
has been designed, however, which will
amply protect the observer and the in
strument from the wind and sea, and en-
able observations TO be taken without
difficulty.
NIGHT HAVE SAVED THE KEARsARGE.
When one of the German steamers
sails on her next voyage the new house
VIII be installed on board and the entire
course of the ship in crossing will be
navigated by the new instrument. The
instrument is designed to afford a means
OF determining a vessels position and
compass errors at all times during the
day and night, if the sun or any star is
visible, and all errors due to unexpected
currents drifting TO leeward, and magnetic
action upon the compass will be avoided
The solarometer will enable a ship to
keep on the shortest route save time in
ocean averages and contribute to her
safety
The navy is much interested in the in
yention of Lieut.. Beehler, and nnm-
Der of officers believe that had one of
these instruments been on board the
kearsarge the i'll fated vessel would not
have gone on Roncador.
GREAT ARMOR TEST.
The navy's largest gun will be used
THIS week in an attack on the thickest
armor vet fired at in this country. 1t
VIII be an acceptance test of armor for
the battle ships. Armor piercing Car
penter projectiles will be used in the l3-
inch gun, two shots being fired at differ
emit velocities, and if the second shot does
not pierce the armor with ease ordnance
officers will be greatly surprised The
plate is from the Bethlehem works, and
has been put in place at Indian Head A
new brand of prismatic powder has been
received with which greater velocites
are expected to be obtained than at the
first test with a different brand some
weeks ago.
The plate lie eighteen inches thick and
represents a lot of one-half of the Indi-
ana's side armor, or about 800 tons. 1t is
of nickel steel and is treated with the
Harvey process. The first proiectile will
be fired with velocity of 400 feet per
second and the second with velocity of
about l,S00. The lower velocity will
probably not cause penetration, but in
the second there seems to be no doubt of
the shot going clean through. There is
interest manifested in the manner the
projectile will stand the force of its terri
bic impact with armor Of this thickness.
The blow delivered by the higher We
locity shot is about $4,000 foot tons, or
more than sufficient to lift the Indiana a
foot and half in the water.