Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-05
NEW FOE OF VARSITY
TORPED0Es DIRECTED rRo4 A
PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE SOURCE.
SEMI-SUBMARIHE TORPEDO STATION.
From Ii Explosives of FrfshtfuI
Force Can he Sent at Unsuspectina
kins, of New Zealand.
Correspondence Of the Dlspatch.)


doubt, as much as experiments can, that
genius has given new agent OF death
and destruction to the world, which 4,
likely TO create tremendous havoc In
case OF war In which navies assume a
conspicuous part. 1t is called the Per.
kins semi-submarine torpedo fort, and
the torpedo 1t uses Is one OF tho most
destructive In point OF the elements
which enter into its construction OF airy
which modern invention has produced
The idea OF the invention, II Il eau
be so termed is to construct at some ap.
propriate spot on the seacoast a semi.
submarine fort. This fort would partially
underly a section OF the coast al
the depth Of, say, forty feet. though nG
limit in this regard has been fixed.
Rising from the apparatus used to dis.
charge the torpedo TO a short distance
above the earth's surface is a funnel.
shaped tube OF camera obscura, by
means Of which the man who is nxins
the course which the instrument OF
death he is about TO launch shall take
will have an uninterrupted view OF tho
sea for a long, long distance from land.
With this sight before him IL Is not
hard to understand that his calculations
may be made as perfect as It IS posi-.
Bile for the human mind to cOntrive.
OF course, no vessel will know where
this torpedo station is. Craft Will b.,
totally unsuspicious OF danger until IN,
explosion takes place. There Is no way
which will enable vessels TO locate thu
hidden danger, and their only safe course
will lie in keeping away altogether from
a coast infested with such fearful ana
hidden defences. 1t is about as effective
for a warshp to fire at an object be.
meath the surface OF the water as Il Is
TO lombard the moon.
Electricity is the power which Will
move the torpedo. IL is the power that
will control the action Of the explosive
after it starts upon its journey, The
accompanying Illustration. the first
which has been published OF the new In
vention, gives, better than words possibly
can. a graphic idea OF the method OF
operation. The men who operate tn,
torpedo apparatus perform their dutici
clad in the armor OF divers. The officei
in charge Is, as the picture shows, ia q
turret-like room, which is a portion OF
the camera obscura. for the lens at the
top Of the funnel-shaped pipe that runs
to the surface, throws down upon the
glass in front of the officer a picture Of
sea and craft above and beyond.
To understand this thoroughly, II 10
also necessary TO know the camera OBJ
scura principle, with which any one who
has operated a kodak or camera for
amateurs is familiar. although. perhaps,
not by that name. The principle Is best
Illustrated by the following hypothetical
experiment: Let a small hole be bored
In window shutter and the room
iarkened. II, now. the beam OF light en-
tering the room by this hole be inter-
,epted by sheet of white paper, held
lt small distance from the hole. an
inverted image OF objects without will be
ieen upon the paper. BY placing a small
'onvex lens upon this hole this image Is
much more distinct or sharp.
Moreover, IL will be found that at a
ertain distance from the hole tho image
Ittains a maximum degree Of sharpness,
md that II the paper be removed from
his point TO any position either nearer
o the hole or further from IL, the image
becomes indstlnct and confused. At the
,oint Of greatest distinctness the image
S said to be focused. Such being rho
Principle of the camera, II is evident
hat I'm practice the instrument may as
ume many forms provided always that
{ consists OF darkened box or chamber
Iaying a hole at one end for the inser-
ion OF a lens or combination OF lenses,
nd at the other a screen. generally made
f ground glass, on which to receive thu
mage.
er,st, a., .ho, ,rgocfplo ,tr,on which Nfr
erkins has constructed his camera
bscura apparatus, and by considering
he facts Just stated II Is made clearly
pparent that he has utilized one OF the
reatest principles OF photography In u
,ay which would only have been con-
eived by a man who had studied along
10 lines which. in his regard. others had
eemed OF no use and impossible OF de-
elopment. Thus beneath tho water tho
Iicer who directs the firing OF the tor
edo will have as clear and accurate
lew OF the position OF his enemy as the
lnner aboard ship or the captain In the
onning tower OF cruiser.
Now as to the discharge and direction
: the torpedo. All being ready, the off,
n I'm charge makes q careful calcula-
on as 10 distance and direction. These
NO points must be settled before any
ling else can be successfully accom-
ished. Then the signal is given and
10 operators, in divers costume place
10 torpedo in the curiously formed gun,
nd proceed TO regulate the storage bat
ny which every torpedo contains, so
lat there will be no failure OF the cur
mt at a critical period. Naturally, the
rpedo Is not taken apart for this pur-
use, but two tiny levers inside are
aarafQH hX of "A gaFfga
&c buttons, so that everything may be
aced In readiness. Attached 10 every
rpedo Is a steering apparatus. What
more, this apparatus is controlled by
Itomatic steering gear. which is ope-
ted from within the torpedo by an ar
ngemcnt properly regulated by means
push buttons. not unlike those with
hich the eleetric-bell OF residence Is
Iuipped.
This steering apparatus Is so arranged
lat when the course OF the torpedo is
ice laid IL can be set, as IL were. so
lat 1t is kept upon this course as II the
ost veteran OF helmsmen were IN con-
oil. Now then. the torpedo Is ready
nd its course set. The officer IN th6
irk chamber OF the camera obscure
YES the signal. Almost with absolute
lence the missile starts on its momen.
us journey. The officer watches taS
vessel at which Il has beer
scharged. Suddenly there is the con.
Ission OF tremendous explosion. IL IA
J II monster OF the deep had ariseE
meath the fated cruiser, tearing and
nding her so that presently she goea
'wn. with perhaps, half her crew killed
Then the officer dons the suit Of DIVING
NOR In which he descended 10 his place
lder the sea. With the operators, he
Icends TO the surface and makes his
ay inland. The automatic pumps which