The Portland daily press., 1897-05-20
TO SAIL UNDER THE OCEAN.
The Holland Submarine Torpedo Boat
Launched at Elizabeth, N. j.

The Holland submarine dynamite tor
pedo boat was launched at the Crescent
shipyards at Elizabeth, N. j., Monday
The inventor of the boat, John P. Hol-
land, was present. The vessel was named
the Holland by Mrs. Nixon, wife of
Lieut.. Lewis Nixon, the constructor.
There were few present at the launching.
Inventor Holland says there will not be
any attempt at submarine evolution for
several weeks.
The Holland boat, though but a trif1e
over So feet long, is capable probably of
sinking the largest iron-clad afoat. What
nation will own this submarine monster
Is question The United States govern
| ment will not. This is an assured fact,
for there are two dynamite boats, some
what similar to this one, now being con-
| structed at Baltimore under orders from
| the naval department. This craft was
constructed by the Holland submarine
company of New York city, and will cost,
when complete, exclusive of dynamo and
pneumatic tubes, in the neighborhood of
$50, COO st is being built to be placed
on the market Mr.. Holland has said
Yand whoever has the price can have the
boat" What Mr.. Hollands valuation is
was not given by him, but it is under
stood that $780, 600 is about the figure. 1t
has been limited at that the Cubans have
promised to give sS5, OO) for the boat if it
proves a success, but this cannot be con-
firmed
As soon as the trial trip takes place
around the Sound on top of the water a
test descension will be made, and if
everything is found to be in working or
der a 500 mile trip is to be taken. While
those engaged in the construction of it
are loud in their assurances that the boat
is safe, not one outsider has yet been
found willing to take the trip under wat
er. Mr.. Holland, the inventor, will go
himself. An engineer and assistant will
go, a representative of Mr.. Nixon may
go, and two naval officers. These are all
who will be allowed to enter the boat
after the machinery is put in place,
which will be very soon now. The boat
is cigar shaped, Theoretically sealed
tube. Her steel frames are covered with
a steel plating which is half an inch thick
in the center, and tapers off to an eight
vi dl HUI ttU SllIlcI cDNl. IHt COlllll;S
tower is two feet in diameter and SO ar
ranged that a lookout may be stationed
in it while the boat is on the surface. A
superstructure extends from end to end
broad enough for d man to walk on.
Four rudders control the boat when on
the surface or submerged. She is driven
by q three-blade propeller, four feet nine
inches in diameter.
The interior gives no accumulation
whatever for sleeping or cooking. 1t is
built for business, no. pleasure, and
when 10 men are crowded in the boat has
received it's crew. The measurements are
90 feet inches long from the forward
end of the Whitehead torpedo tube to the
after end of the sternpost. Its diameter
amidships is 10 feet inches. The gun
ner's room will hold four or five men,
and the firing is all done by pneumatic
pressure. AT the forward end of the
craft are two torpedo tubes, one a little
above the water line and the other set at
an angle. AT the stern another tube is
also at an angle. The oil, engine room
and the dynamo quarters are cramped,
and the rest of the interior is taken W
by a torpedo room and water tanks.
These water tanks are used in submerg.
ing and raising the vessel. They are con
trolled both fore and amidships by large
livingstone valves, and when the boat is
below water and is to be raised, instead
of pumping out the water button is