New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-28
CAN SHOOT AS WE'LL AS DIVE.
THE HOLLANDS FORWARD DYNAMITE
GUN PROVES A SUCCESS.
IN AN OFFICIAL TEST SHE REPEATS ALL HER
MANc1,vREs AND DISCHARGES An IMrTA-
TON TORPEDO WITHOUT A HITCH
LIEUTENANT SARGENT WIT
NEsSEs HER PER
FORMANCE.

/ FORMANCE.
Tho submarine boat Holland had another trial
Yesterday afternoon at Perth Amboy II was 10
all in,ents and purposes Official trial. being made
Al the request OF the Naval Auxiliary Board. which
will make report as to the advisaoiity OF the
Government adding the boat 10 the Navy
Tho test. which was Witnessed by Lieutenant
Nathan Sargent. Or the Naval Auxiliary Board was
a complete success. It included trip under me
water and tire firing OF one OF the vessels dynamite
Guns Lieutenant Sargent went down 70 Perth
Anbov on the tug Erie and soon as he arrived
the Holland put ou from her pier into the XIII Won
Kull and went through tho manpuVres when she
had successfully accomplished on several otneI
trips
she had on board her inventor and FIVE other
men She proceeded slowly into the Sound. and
when clear OF the low-water line sank until Only
the flags al her bow and stern were above me
surface She proceeded some distance at this 1eptN
and then arose A:'er short trip on the surface
sae once more disappeared. and went further down
than ever before Her nagstaffs and flags COM
rletely disappeared under the water and she left
nothing 10 indicate where she Lieutenant
Sargent had taken position in the ptot-house OF
the tug. and he watched every move made by the
Holland long she visible
After the trial Of her diving ability had been
completed the Holland was taken back to her
pier and for the first time test OF her forward
dynamite gun was made This gun is 70 be used
when she Is on the surface OF the wdater. and Is 50
arranged that she can throw large dynamite
cartridge or other projectIe on the deck Of vessel
wit lin range OF her The trial was made with ~
imitation torpedo shell Of wood Weighing ABOUT
nfty pounds This placed IN the breach of ths
gu1 and fired out into the Sound a distance "
seven hundred yards
Tn gun is a combination affair. Il has two bar
rels in one OF which Is placed the shell The
other barre! is filed with condensed air, Which Is
let !;.o the barrel containing N" sh7ll when - Is
desired to fire shot. The second barrel Is so ar
RANGED tuat the condensed air = reinforced by a
discharge OF gunpowder after the shell has been
forced forward In the main barrel. The pressure
OF air used is 200 pounds. and The projecting
power IS greatly increased by the explosion OF The
powder. which = fred automatically when the
Shell has travelled certain distance IN tne gun
In the experiment yesterday only "N pounds ar
pressure was used. and the powder was omitted
Mr. Holland greatly pleased with the result u
the test c.: the gun.
Lieutenant Sargent stood close 10 the l!.tle boat
during this experiment and as soon as D. Was
completed he left Perth Amboy. All he would say
atoI, the tests were. The eXDer.0.,rf- appar-
entity were successful" He expressed a belief that
the boat should have had more sea room 20 travel
in IN order to show what she could actually go.
He will make his report Of the ira - the auX.l-
lar yboard to-day.
Il was expected that the Holland would ba sent
10 Washington on Tuesday for further tests. but
her trip may be delayed by reason OF The trial yes
terday