The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-10-01

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sumption at Salisbury recently, warne.
the young men about his bed agains
smoking cigarettes. He smoked then
for many years and attributed his dis
ease in no small degree to the effect !
had upon his system. Young me1
ought to heed the warning.
While this country is in state O
peace with the world and we all hope
it may remain so always, men are all
the while at work on new inventions
for more successful warfare. The lat.
est terror Of the deep" is torpedo
boat by Lieutenant HaIpine of U. S. n
1t IS being quietly built in Boston and
is most unique in its operations and
effects.
During the last session OF Congress
$1,000 was appropriated for expert
ments with the Halpine torpedo. Fol-
lowing Is a partial description, taken
from the National Recorder
'.The torpedo is long, slender, ci-
gar-shaped affair, made of copper Cor
steel If preferred), and IN this is placed
an electric motor, with storage batter
les containing sufficient power to pro-
pei the torpedo at speed Of twenty
two knots by means of screw at the
rear. There is also within 1t reel
containing several miles of fine piano
wire, and it Is by means of this wire
that the operator retains his control,
the wire passing out as the machine
proceeds on Its journey. The operator
may be stationed where he sees fit
Holding in his hand simple little
keyboard, all that he need do is to
move an index arm around it, making
connection with any one of a number
of little metal points, to send the ma
chine ahead, fast or slow; back, put
the helm to port or to starboard
through any angle, or explode the
charge. Briefly, he Is enabled by this
simple keyboard to propel, steer, bring
back or discharge his weapon. He
needs no other apparatus, all the motive
power and machinery being within his
missile. He may be on shore, on a
ship or in small boat, or he may even
put on life preseryer, get astride the
torpedo, proceed on 1t as far as he likes.
then jump off, and, holding his key
board In his hands, maneuver his weap-
on as he likes.
"The torpedo may be operated at
any distance within the range of Wis
ION, as the reel inside may hold doz-
en- or more miles of wire. When the
operator sights his prey, he has but to
start the machine in pursultFspeeding
up or slowing down, backing or steer
ing in any direction in pursuit of the
hostile ship. When the latter is reach
ed, the explosion may be accomplished
in one of two ways. It may be done
by means of the keyboard, or it may
be done on contact. In the latter case
a long harpoon, which projects from
the nose of the machine, Is driven back,
liberating conical headed canister and
ignitlng Its fuse, which burns for few
seconds and then explodes the big
charge Of high explosive, which Is so
powerful as not to require actual con-
tact with the enemy's hull to break it
in. If it explodes anywhere within
20 or 80 feet the disturbance will be dis
astrous. But here must be described
one of the most unique, peculiar feat
ures of the invention.
"When the harpoon strikes the ship
and liberates the charge, the torpedo
boat itself is at once backed away
and returns at the top of its speed to
its operator, leaving the harpoon stuck
in the ships side or entangled in her
torpedo net. The torpedo proper,
which contains the explosive, is dis
charged from the fundamental ma
chine, or torpedo boat, and takes q
downward course at an angle OF about
IS degrees, but the moment it has
cleared its carriage, 1t is brought up tc
it with the harpoon.
"Thus if torpedo net is encountered
the harpoon remains entangled In it,
but the explosive, In its medal canister
dives down beneath it, rises on the 9TH
er side and explodes against or close to
the hull. If there be no net, the har-
poon sticks in the side of the hull al
tackled, the explosive diving under and
striking either lower down or on the
opposite side. If the harpoon tails te
stick in the hull or to be held by the
net, it makes no difference, as the ex
plosion takes place so quickly after the
first contact that its work would be
performed effectively anyhow. Wher
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