Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-12
SHAPED LIKE A SHUTTLE.

TWO Inventors, Freese and Gavin.
have patented shuttle-shaped sub
marine boat. which may sink to any
depth. This is accomplished through
a hose attached to n float and of suffi-
Gent length to permit the vessel to
drop long distance under water
The operator observes the goings on
above the water surface through a tel
Scope. with mirror attachment, which
may be pulled out to any length or
turned in any direction. Let us imagine
that this boat is going to affix a tor
pedo TO the hull Of the hostile battle
ship. Enough air is taken into the
chamber to supply the crew for given
time and the hose and float are reeled
in. a register above the mechanism of
the operator indicates how far below
the surface he sinks. The journey is
carefully made until the hostile hull is
reached. One of the crew dons div
ing suit and passes through the various
water-tight doors, reaching the deck
Of the boat. He afiiXes the torpedo to
the hostile hull. His errand accom-
plished. he re-enters and the submarine
boat then moves off. leaving the tor
pedo to do its deadly work at set
time.
Nirissimo Barboza De SouZa of Per-
nambuco. Brazil. has patented in this
country novel submarine boat which.
like a fishworm, can be separated in
PARTS each part remaining alive and
intact. When put together this sec
tional boat is long cylinder. like a
lead pencil. sharpened at both ends.
There are altogether three sections, the
first and third having each, on the in
ner side. a concave. into which the con-
ical end of the middle section fits. An
armored coming tower, with lenticular
windows. rises above the center of each
section. Air and water tanks inside
each part affect the rise and fall of the
vessel or of the three vessels, if they
are separated. The middle and rear
sections have independent motors and
the front section is strongly braced &c
resist shock This long vessel darts
along beneath the water. launching
torpedoes and doing all possible dam
age to the hulls of the enemys battle
ships. Should a projectile strike one
section the crew within would imme-
diately don diving suits. escape to tbs
upper deck and enter one of the Other
sections by means of a safety door
The injured part would then be cut Off
! the remaining sections continuing Il
retreat. The crew would thus have
two chances of escape before the whole
/ vessel could be demolished.
DESTROYS SELF AND FOE.
! a patent given to Samuel Barton i:
! ertan l1,,,o riV iqh
| destroy itself as well as hostile yes
sci, upon contact with the latter. 1t:
cabin accommodates crew of severa
men. necessary to navigate the tor
pedo. The whole resembles hug,
shuttle, .tapering to q sharp point a
the bow, but With a, large slice cut on
] of the upper part of the rear half. {,
1 afford an after deck. The forepart i.
heavily armored. and by reason of III
shape will easily defect heavy pro
| iectile. A shell chamber in the poin
Of the bow contains heavy charge q
explosive. which ignites when the oh
! ject of attack is struck. On the afte
deck. protected by the fore part. hang
4 lifeboat or launch. ready to be de
| tached ct any moment.
/ On starting to attack n vessel tn
great torpedo is sunk. On approachin:
! firing distance the crew excepting. TIL
>engineer and pilot. leave the cabin ar,
escape in the life boat. The enginee
then puts the vessel under full steam
and the pilot, venturing near enough
| to the enemy's ship. lashes his steerin:
gear tightly. so that the torpedo vii
continue toward the objective point il
Ia straight path. The pilot and engi
| neer then put on buoyant suits. havin,
water-tight lamps in their helmets. an,
! jump overheard. being afterward re
| covered by the escaped crew.
! A very late patent was granted t,
| Johnson. s,lacke 4 Lacy of Pennsylya