The evening times., 1896-08-20

4 - S'hSo W poSscsS many OF the clefHcHts
that have heretofore been striven after il
vain by torpedo builders. will be given d
! trial in the Potomac, Off the lower wharriug
district, this evening.
Inc experiment will be made before and
Tor The benefit Of u number of wealthy in
dividuais, and II the torpedo proves sue
cess, II Is probable 4 factory for the manu-
facture OF the weapons will be built in
washington. Lieut.. j. A. Hemphine, a re-
tired naval officer and the inventor OF tie
torpedo, will superintend the trials.
While Lieut.. Hcmphine' e'sinventionis called
torpedo 1t is in reality a torpedo boat.
constructed So that it will carry a heavy
charge of combustibles to any point the
manipulation may wish to send It, For more
than week 1t has been In ono of the
sheds OF Conrad F. BENEFITS shipbuiiding
yards at the foot OF Eleventh street.
1t was here Times reporter saw the
craft. The inventor was absent and no
better description of the boat could be
gained than a casual observation of its
exterior would give.
The affair is fashioned after the manner
OF most other torpedoes, with long snont
to the fore and ending in screw pro-
fS-- $50 "f'ciS hAAAb 10 ouhe VI NOppeE
and painted Jet black From the tip of
the snout to the end of the rudder that
rides behind the propeller, and outdis-
tances 1t in the rear by few inches, 1t
is eighteen feet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TORPEDO.
The snout itself is about rour feet in
length. From its tip runs out a spear
that will touch an object Ell ght feet
ahead Of the boat, and which may be so
arranged as to discharge the cargo OF
explosives. The torpedo in is widest
part is two and a half feet in diameter,
and this thickness is uniform from the
beginning OF the snout To the propeller
end OF the object.
Just aft the snout is a large lid on
the upper. or deck, side of the torpedo
that fits in place with watertight nicety
While the torpedo is aboard the fireiDg
vessel this lid Is removed and into
movable cylinder is placed the charge OF
explosives of which the deadly work is
expected.
The compartment into which the loaded
cylinder is replaced runs dia gonally through
the boat toward the bottom, until 1t
emerges in an opening in the under side
OF the snout. This is the point at which
the load leaves the craft and proceeds in
u downward course until the explosion
occurs.
The center Of the croft, from the rear OF
the opening on deck back to within two
or three feet of the rear of the machine.
is constructed into the necessary air cham
bers. At their rear, in a neat compartment
h-,r ~.
powerful but small dynamo that furnishes
power for the propeller. The reel that
holds the coil Of electric wire that IN winds
from the firing ship. is located imm edia,ely
beneath the ticht-fitting lid in the deck
mentioned before.
When preparations are made for an attack
on the enemy the torpedo is loaded with its
deadly charge while 1t lies on the deck
OF the ship Its swung do wn into the water
on davits after the manner in which life-
boats are lowered. Nothing shows but the
little red flag that protrudes foot and
half above the deck by day, and is sup
planted at night by a small red lantern.
This Is the only guiding star the operator
has by which to direct his strange craft.
The torpedo itself weighs ZOO pounds.
but this is increased considerably when it is
fitted out with its cargo of destruction.
As it makes for the cneniy's ship the chances
are that the little red flag or the small
lantern will never be detected.
CAPABLE OF HIGH SPEED.
When in proper working order, 1t is be-
lieved that a speed of thirty or even more
miles an hour can be made by the machine.
The speed is regulated from the ship where
the guiding, too, OF course, is done. On
board the ship the appliances are simple
enough. Outside the batteries and the
reel, that let's the boat travel on
its course, there is nothing to be seen but the
small manipulating board.
This isIan nnocent-looking, small white
board, about ten inches square. A dial
OF figures and numbers, understood by the
operator alone is centered by key that.
with turn, causes the torpedo to obey the
will of the man on the ship. Itoan be STOP
ped suddenly, can be made to raise or lower.
VIII pass to port or starboard or retreat
as the operator deems lest.
At a distance OF Que mile, 1t is claimed,
the torpedo can he brought within ten
feet of any objective point. Two man.
ncrs of bringing about an explosion are
possible. The long spear may be allowed
to touch an object and cause the pro-
lection of the great loaded cartridge. or
the shot may be fired from the boat. The
cartridge, as in other submarine boats.
is exploded upon its contact with solid
object
After the little vessel has done its
duty and sent its death-deahng missive
TO its destination, 1t is made to return
to the ship in the same mauner in which
it was sent forth. There it Is ready for
reloading and another trial. The num-
ber of discharges 1t is capable of In q
given length of time is measured by the
distance of the object, the condition of
the water, and other Incidental points.
The trial TO be made this evening Is
intended solely to prove the ability of
tire operator to guide his torpedo from the
ship. 1t will not be loaded with its cargo
of explosives.
Though Lieut.. HemphiDe has succeeded
in keeping the ne ws Of his invention from
the public to a considerable extent. still
this Is by no means the first time the boat
has heen experimental with. Several trials
were made in New England waters, where
the steering apparatus and discharge Ca 4
pabihties were both tried.
The torpedo proved itself an unqualified
success. 1t answered faithfully every move
of the operator, and threw it's lead Of ex-
pIosives within a remarkable nearness to
the mark aim ed at.
Lieut.. HemphiDe has been devoting the
major part Of his time for the past eight
years to the invention. and his success viii
doubtless proye a revolution in the history
of torpedo construction.
Lynched for Assaulting Girl.