The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-18

York. This boat is the sixth one invent
ed and built by John p. Holland, of New
York. since 1877. The first of these
vessels was only IA feet long; the sec
Ond, built in 1879, was 81 feet long
and feet in diameter; the third was a
working model, 16i feet long by 30
Zalinski boat, built at Fort Lafayette,
and 40 feet long by eight feet in di-
ameter; the fifth is now under con-
struction for the Government at Bal
timore, Nd, and is 50 feet long by
Ia feet in diameter, and has 169 tons
displacement; and the sixth is the one
here illustrated. This last boat is 80
feet long, 10 feet inches in diameter,
and has displacement of 10 tons.
The hull, as will be seen from the
illustration, is cigar shaped and is
made Of 4-inch to a-inch steel plates
riveted to steel frames. The top is
fat, with two matches and central
telescopic coming tower 2 feet in di-
ameter and three feet high. Steering
is done by two sets of rudders, one
vertical for steering on the surface and
the other horizontal for regulating
the depth of submersion. There are
three sources of power for propelling
the boat above and below the water,
expelling water, discharging torpedoes
and dynamite guns, and lighting the
ship internally and externally, name
ly: compressed air, gasoline and cleo
tricity. The most important agent is
compressed air, without which it would
be impossible to operate the boat un
der the sea.
The most important use Of the CON-
pressed DIR is for the respiration Of
the crew. The boat is quickly sub
merged by admitting sea water to q
series Of steel tanks connected with
the compressed air system. To bring
the boat to the surface air is forced
into the water tanks under high pres
sure, and as the water is expelled the
boat rises swiftly to the surface. The
air tanks have been tested to stand
pressure Of 5000 pounds per square
inch, and are calculated to hold out
for submergence lasting ten hours,
but If the supply should fail after nine
or ten hours, the tanks can be
replenished by means of tube pro-
jected to the surface as suction pipe.
The armament Of the boat consists
first Of an aerial torpedo ejector, at
the bow, capable Of throwing to o
distance of one mile, projectile |
Weighing $50 pounds and carrying 100
pounds of high explosive. Immedia-
tely under this is an expulsive tube
for Whitehead torpedo, with the
usual charge of 200 pounds of gun
cotton; and pointing to the rear is
dynamite gun capable of throwing 100
pounds of high explosive 100 yards
or more through the water. When
equipped for service the HOLLAND"
would carry three Whitehead tor
pedoes, six shots for the forward gun
and five for the after gun.
The most important test the boat
has undergone was when she made
four dives Of mile each, went through
q series Of surface evolutions, tried
her aerial dynamite gun and expelled
o dummy torpedo from her submarine
tube in Raritan Bay.
The experiments were conducted for
the benefit of the board appointed by
the Secretary of the Navy TO witness
the Hollands trials and report upon
her efficiency. Lieutenant Commander
@. s. 6perry, Chief of the Bureau of
Equipment; Lieutenant-Co Commander
Swift, Chief of the Bureau Of Ordi-
/. nance, and Lieutenant Rock, Naval
Constructor, who comprise that board,
witnessed them from tug provided
BY the Holland Company. Elihu B.