Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-01
TO SAIL uNDsa rns OCEAN.
THE HOLLAND SUBMARINE TORPEDO
BOAT LAUNCHED AT ELIZABETH, MI.

shipysrds ct 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 tho launching. |
Inventor Holland says there will not be |
any attempt at submarine evolution for |
several weeks.
The Holland boat, though but triAe |
over 30 feet long, 10 capable probably Of
sinking the largest iron-clad afoat.
What nation will own this submarine |
monster 10 Queatiou. The United States |
government viii not. This Il an assured |
TACT, for there are two dynamite boats,
somewhat similar 10 this one, now being |
at Baltimore under orders |
from the naval department. This craft |
was constructed by the Holland subma- |
rine company Of New York city, and
will cost, when complete, exclusive OF
dynamo and pneumatic tubes, Ia the
neighborhood Of $4,000. at 10 being
built TO be placed on the Market" Mr..
Holland has said, ''and whoever has the
price can have the boat" What Mr..
Hollands valuation Is was not given by
him, but It Is understood that el00. 600 Is
about the figure. II has been limited ut
that the Cubans have promised to give
sS5, 900 for the boat II It proves sue
cess, but this cannot DO confirmed.
As soon rs the trial trip takes place
around the Sound on top Of the water a
test descension will be made, AMI II
everything Is found to be ln working
order . 500 mile trip Ia TO be taken.
While those engaged 10 the construction
OF IL are loud In their assurances that the
boat 10 safe, not one outsider has yet
been found willing to take the trip under
water. Mr.. Holland, the inventor, will
20 himself. An engineer and assistant
will 20, n representative OF Mr.. Nixon
may 20, 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
ls u clgar-shsped, Theoretically sealed
tube. Her steel frames are covered with
n steel plating which Is half an inch
thick In the center, and tapers of to an
eight OF an inch at either end. The con-
ming tower Is two feet In diameter and
so arranged that a lookout may be sta
TONED In 1t while the boat Is on the sur
face. A superstructure extends from
eud TO end broad enough for man 10
walk on. Four rudders control the boat
hen on the surface or submerged. Size
Is driven by three blade propeller, four
feet niue inches In diameter.
The interior gives no accommodation
whstever for sleeping or cooking. II Ia
built for business, not pleasure, and
when 10 men are crowded In the boat hss
received its crew. The measurement.
are 80 feet inches long from the for
ward end Of the Whitehead torpedo tube
to the after end Of the sternpost. It,
diameter amidships IL 10 feet inches.
The gunner's room will hold four or five
men, and the firing Is all done by pneu-
matte pressure. At the forward end OF
the craft are two torpedo tubes, one n
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 cramp-
ed, and the rest Of the interior Is taken
up by a torpedo room and water tanks.
These water tanks are used Ia sub
merging and raising the vessel. They
are controlled 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 but
ton Is pushed, which releases the valves,
turns on the compressed air, and the
water Is blown out with terrific force.
When submerging Is necessary the water
Is let In by opening the valves. These
tanks are capable Of standing q charge
Of 5000 pounds to the square inch, and
will supply air TO the crew or 10 hours
below the surface Of the water. The
dynamite tubes are covered outside by
steel shield which fits into sockets, con-
cealing the tubes and preventing the
water from getting In. When about
ready TO fire, u button mt the side OF the
tube Is pressed, releasing the shield,
which instantaneously flies back from
the mouth and after the torpedo passes
out closes again.
Both oil and electricity may be used
as motive power, and II the boat Is
running by oil and II Is desired to change
1t TO electricity clutch Is thrown back,
and the other power controls the boat At
once. The oil engine Is intended to run
the boat when IL Is on top OF water. 1t
has 4s horse power. The dynamo, when
the storage batteries are fully charged,
develops $50 horse power. There are GO
battery cells Of two volts each, or total
of l20 volts, which run the boat when
submerged for eight knots for eight
hours, or for 10 knots when on the sur
face. All through the boats are electri-
cal bells. flooding tubes, speaking tubes
and lights. On the top OF the boat out
side are electric dead lights.
When the boat starts out on its mission
of destruction 1t sails on the surface until
the enemy is sighted by the lookout on
the coming tower. Approaching near
enough. torpedo Is fired from the bot.
tom tube In the forward end. \ 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 20 or 80 feet In a
few seconds. Having taken the bear
ings when on the surface, the COM
msnder sends his boat on ut an eight
knot rate until within striking distance
Of the ship which Is floating on the sur
face, some yards ahead. Then the next
shot Is fired upward. Passing beneath
the ship, the third shot is fired from the
stern tube. About 80 Of these dynamite
torpedoes are stored on the boat when 1t
starts out.