The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-07

periments for destroying a brig OF 200 tons
shall commence on Saturday next at II
be anchored between Governor and Ellis S
island.
The operations OF Saturday will be to
exhibit with dumb torpedoes the various
and destroyed. while at anchor or under
SAIL and on Monday next. between the hours
of l. and ?. IL will be shown how an enc
my's vessel or vessels, on entering our
ports, may be annihiated. 10 prove which
the brig shall be blown up.
"As the success Of such experiment may
become or Importance TO those WAC are
interested in the safety of New York. beg
leave, through you, TO invite the Governor,
Mayor and members of the corporation.
with such other persons as you may think
proper. Those gentlemen who may think
proper TO attend will have the goodness
10 provide themselves with good row boats
urday morning, between the hours or 10
and IL. that 1 may exhibit to them the ma
chinery before the engines are put into
the water.
II am. sir. your most obedient and very
humble servant. ROBERT FULTON"
On July p 1t was announced that on Sat-
urday last a great .concourse of people at
tended on the Battery TO witness the ex-
plosions announced by Mr.. Fulton. But, as
usual in such exhibitions, the fire lock was
placed on the under side. Of the torpedo,
and when 1t was sprung the powder dropped
out before the spark OF fire reached it and
no explosion occurred. He made a change.
and after several trials the explosion was
accomplished. but not till most Of the spec
tators had gone home. Mr.. Fulton then
wrote long letter to the Governor, Mayor
and members OF the corporation, explain
ing the cause of the several failures and
expressing great regret therefor, went on TO
give the great advantages that would result
from his invention. But the war did actually
come a few years later, and Mr.. Fultons
torpedoes were not used TO any great ex-
tent IL at all. It will most likely be the
same with Mr.. Edison's proposed electric
torpedoes. No man can make and set
trap that some other man can't discover
and spring without being caught in it. Ev-
cry war engine OF the past has been obliged
to have brave man behind 1t to work 1t
and push 1t. 1t will in all probability be
the same in the future. Mr.. Edison's tor,
by the touch OF ship against wire, may
catch one or two ships, but after that
dummy with a, deep drag will be sent
the coast will be clear for the ships. I
saw these explosives and other projections
fully tried and exploded when Farragut's
fleet ran past Forts Jackson and Philip In
April, 1862 The Confederates felt 30 Sc
cure against attack that they spoke OF
proposed expedition to New Orleans with
across the Mississippi was cut. their Gre
RATS tied up to the shore, the forts run
past by our fleet and their iron-clad gun
never be made without brave men; and who
ever has the most and best OF these will
win. 1t will be easier for the enemy's war
ships to hit our seaboard cities than II
will for our torpedoes to reach their ships.
was surprised that SO little was said in
these two old papers Of Napoleon Bona
parte, who was then big. active and all
important figure in the world. The only
reference to him was in describing the mill
tary operations in Hayti, when II was said
the natives under Touissaint were terrifying
the island so we'll that with their 10000
soldiers Bonaparte could not subdue them
with any force he could spare for that pur-
pose
In the news taken from the French pa
pers one item is as follows:
AT the moment when the two Emperors
and the King of Prussia were together at
Tilsit, the wife of NJ. Stancovitz, a public
functionary at Gumbinnen, was delivered OF
three male children, which were baptized on
the 10th of July by the names OF Napoleon,
Alexander and Frederick"
Stocks were quoted, and the receptions
race courses were reported. with the many
winnings and losings.
Great remedies were advertised and as
sured to cure stone in the bladder and
gravel, with certificates of patients who
had been cured, then now. Yet all the
people then cured by those great and in
fallible remedies are dead, and their great
grandchildren are advertising still differ
ent and better remedies for the same all
ments, and certificates of patients to the
efficacy of the remedies are still given now
as then. JOHN 7. CAMPBELL
Rockville, Ind, Jan. g.