The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-17
VIDE AND SEEK AT SEA.
Torpedo Bont Practice with the Great
4 White Cruisers.

AVt EuCttt6 WtNu tnc fECnN
White Cruisers.
Mt. Ernest lngersoll describes 'sThe
Tricks OF torpedo Boats" in st. Mich
olas. After telling what the boats are
like. and what they can accomplish,
Mr.. 1ngersoll says: But to insure all
these fine results, both officers and men
must be taught how to manage and
maneuver theiu to best advantage. as
well as how to discharge the torpedoes
they carry. Constant drilling ls neces.
sary; and lately one of these boats In
our navy. the Gushing" $50 suitably
named after the young hero of the civil
war who destroyed the rebel ram al.
bemarle" by means of n rude torpedo
hoat-onc of the first actually used
has been attached to the naval station
at Newport. Rhode Island. In order to
carry on this practice. One set of OH.
cers and men after another is instruct.
ed in handling her. and in the making
and firing of her torpedocs; and they
have plenty of fun along with the
schooling.
The headquarters Of this work Is Goat
Island. which separates Newport har.
Dor from the outer waters Of Nara.
gansett Bay.
There Is scrchlight which cam.
mnnds the hgrlor entrances and wide
circle of the bay. one or more war
ships are always there. Those search.
lights also can I've swung I'm any dircc.
tion. Yet the Gushing arrived one night
and first announced herself by sudden.
~ blowing her whistle within pistol.
shot OF The inner wharf of the island
and II was not dark night. either. A
few afternoons later she went down
the bay. aul challenged every eye To be
alert 90 soc hci return I'm the evening
II was bright muonlight-a time In
which no Sucl boat would attempt a
serious attack-yct Lieutenant Flctch.
Cr. the Cushlug's commander. crcpt
within q third of n mile of the shore
before hc was detected. II would have
plea ,cd YOU To see her that night. as
she came plainly into view long. low
streak gliding silently and swiftly
nthwIrt tile muutlt sea. rolling n sill
very furrow back from her plow.llko
bow. and seeming more like some great
fish with It's uack fins out of water than
any sort oi steamship.
lut il IS on datk ana stormy nights
that the practice becomes exciting.
Groups of officers stand upon the ram.
part If Fort Wolcott. or upon the bridge
Of each monitor or cruiser, and strain
eyes and ,ats 10 obtain some iukliug
oC the torpcdo.huat's presence. the long
white beam ot the electric scarchliglt
sweeping ri-ut aud left, up and down,
nuj ,yory man gazing along the path Il
Eliminates for some glimpse of the lit
tie enemy. y swing of the beam south.
Warl hriugs out the grim walls and
numerous cannon OF Fort Adams. and
shows cy"ry yacht and fishing boat ut
anchor inside of Brcutou's Point. The
main channel. the bumplings. the far
away shore Of Couanicut Island. Rose
Island and its ruined old fortiilcatiOns,
the upper bay dotted with lazy sloops
and schooncrs slipping down with the
tide. are revealed one after another, as
the powerful rays are turned slowly
westward and norihward until at last
they are shining again in the Naval
War College and Training School, and
pu the clustered shipping and wharyes
yl the picturesque old town.