Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-01
70 san uMDea the OCEAN.
The Holland subasrias Icfpsdo Boar
Launched Il elizabeth. n J.

pedo boat was launeneu q. ~ Ss.,,,
shpyards at ElzaDt. n, rah,, = Ho,.
lnnd was nresent The vessel was named
the Holland bv Mrs. Nixon, wife OF
Lieut.. Lewis Nixon, tne cvns,. 49, ~.
There were few present ~ lne ="
Inventor Holland says .ne'e ,ssi,',,', "a,
any tempt at submarih'
several weeks. ,o.l
The Holland boat, though but tribe
over 30 feet long, Is capaDie p.oDiDty ~
sinking the largest iroh-cH'u a''a.. y ','as
nation will own this sup SUP, U,,,, '',,.'r,,
Is question. The United states sovein ~.
ment will not. This Is an assured TACT
for there are two dynamite boats, some
what similar TO this one now pcihs cor
structed at Baltimore unuer orneIs from
the naval department; l his e, ,,,, r Mas
company Of New york city, and Will cost.
when complete, exclusive OF dynamo and
pneumatic tubes. in the neighborhood OF
$4,000. 1T is beinE built to be placed
on the market" MT, Hoiiand ms sala
"and whoever has thc price can hhve the
boat" What Mr. Hollands valuation Is
was not given by him. but 1t l. under
stood that 500 600 Is about the hgure. IL
has been limited at that the 1upahs nave
promised to give Aa.uv LOT the Doat u IL
proves a success. but this cannot be COM
frmed.
AS soon as the trial trip takes place
around me sound on top or the water
test descension will be mace. ana IL
everything Is found to be IN working or
der b, 800 mile trip il 10 be taken. While
those engaged in the construction OF II
are loud in their assurances that the boat
| is safe. not one Outsider has yet been
found willing to take the trip under wa
ter. Mr.. Holland. the inventor VIII go
himself. An engineer and assistant Will
go a representative of Mr.. Nixon may
GO ana 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. Inc boat ~
ii cigar shaped hcrmetfcstlly sealed
tube. Her steel frames are covered with
| a steel plating which Is half an inch thick
in the center. and tapers OF 10 an eighth
of an inch at either end The coming
tower u TWO feet In diameter ana so ar
ranged that a lookout may be stationed
m il while the boat is on the surface a
| supersfructure extends from end to end
broad enough for man to Walk on.
Four ruaders control the boat when on
the surface or submerged She Is driven
by Il throe-h blade propeller, four feet nine
inches in diameter
The Interior gives no accommodation
whatever for sleeping or cooking. IL Is
built for business. rot pleasure, and when
10 men are crowded in the boat has re-
eeiyed its crew. The measurements are
| 30 feet 5 inches long from the forward
end of the Whitehead torpedo tube 10 the
after end of the sternpost. Its diameter
amidships is 10 feet ; inches. The gum
ner's room win hold four or five men. and
the firing Is all done by pneumatic pres
sure. AT the forward end OF the craft
are two torpedo tubes. one little above
the water line and the other set at an an
gle Al the stern another tube Is Also AT
an angle The oil, engine room and the
dynamo quarters are crampcd, and the
rest Of the interior is taken up by a tor
pedo room and water tanks.
These water tanks are used In submerg
ing and raising the vessel They are con-
troled both fore and amidships by large
kingstone valves and when the boat Is
below water and Is to be raised, instead
of pumping out the water a button Is
pushed. which releases the valves. turns
on the compressed air, and the wafer Is
blown out with terrific force. When sub
merging Is necessary the water * let in
by opening the valves. These tanks are
capabie of standing charge of 5000
pounds to the sanare inch, and VIII sup
ply air to the crew or 10 hours below
the surface OF the water. The dynamite
tubes are covered outside by a steel
shield which fits into sockets. coneealing
the tubes and preventing the water from
getting In When about ready to IRE. a
button at the side of the tube Is pressed
releasing the shield which instantaneous
ly flies back from the mouth and after
the torpedo passes out closes again.
Both oil and electricity may be used as
! motive power. and IL the boat Is run
ming by oil and II Is desired 10 change II
TO electricity clutch is thrown back.
and the other power controls the boat
nj once. The oil engine is intended to
run the boat when II is on top of water.
II has IS horse power. The dynamo.
when the storage batteries are fully
charged. develop 80 horse power. There
are ca battery cells of two volts each. or
4 total Of l26 volts. which run the boat
when submerged for eight knots fer eight
hours. or for III Knots when on the sur
face. All through the boats are electrical
bells. flooding tubes. speaking tubes and
lights. on the top of the boat outside
are electric dead lights
of destruction it sails on the surface un-
til the enemy is sighted by the lookout in
the coming tower. Approaching near
enough. a torpedo Is fired from the bot
tom tube in the forward end. A button
Is pushed. the coming tower telescopes
the electric water valves are opened and
powerful air pumps suck up water
enough to sink the boat 70 or 30 feet in
a few seconds. Having taken the bear
ings when on the surface. the command
er sends his boat on at an eight knot
rate until within striking distance of the
ship which is floating on the surface,
some yards ahead. Then the next shot
is fired upward. Passing beneath the
ship. the third shot fired from the stern
tube. About 80 of these dynamite torpe-
does are stored on the boat when it starts
mt