Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-02
The war spirit has directed inventive

The war spirit has directed inventive
genius to the production of all sorts CT en-
gincs of Death. For wholesale havoc moth
Ing exceeds modern rams Of the Katahdin
type. Tho most peculiar feature Of the Ka-
tahdin is her corcealmenG under water.
Only her smooth turtle back, covered with
armor plate and surInounted simply By
small coming tower and q smokestack,
Is visible. The tower is made of steel, Is
Inches thick, and unless squarely hit by
heavy shot at close range, is proof against
any attack. Aside from her dangerous
sharp beal1 of steel and her covering of
arllor plate, tho katahdin is equipped with
slight means Of offensive or defensive char
acter. She carries four FOUNDER rapid
fire guns, which are intended as defense
against torpedo boats and boarders. Her
speed is low. hardly higher than that of q
batticship; but with her tremendous mo-
mentum and powerful propelling force be-
hind a sharp steel Prov tho katahdn is
calculated to do lot of mischief among
tho enemy's fleet. Tho ram being situated
below tho water line, is directed at the
most vulnerable part of u battleship or
cruiser, where armOr is either thin or al
together wanting.
Congressman Joseph c. Sibley of Penn
sylvania has a plan for annihilating hos
tile fleets should they approach ono of our
harboTs. He will submit it to the war and
navy departments. MIR. Sibley, who is in
tho Oil business, says that if benzine is
conducted through pipes under the water
ana released the subtle Guid will rise to
the surface and permeate the atmosphere
to height Of 20 feet above the water.
With the air thus charged any hostile ship
aHoat would be rent into II thousand pieces,
Mr.. Sibley says. lie adds that the fumes of
benzine would DO certain to penetrate to
the fires aboard ship, and no believes that
no powder magazine is tight enough to
exclude this vapor. Tho benZine he ey-
plains, should DO released on the ebb tide
so that it would be carried outward, and
he suggests that wooden bOomS be con-
strUcted at the entrance to Il harbor to pre-
! vent the benzinc flowing back on tho food
| tiGc. SO volatile and easily eyaporated is
| benzine, says Mr.. Sibley, that its work
| would be accomplished in n very few min
utes after tho vessel reached tho danger
| spot, and tie atmosphere and the water
| would be cleared Of 10 the moment the ex-
| plosion occurred. All Of the enemy not
killed by tho explosion, no says, would be
stiiled by the fumes. Mr.. Sibloy cites the
| accident ut Oil Greek, in Pennsylvania,
in 1892, when benzino tank tilted, re-
leased Il quantity Of its contents and a
| sheet of flame swept through tho valley,
consuming everything in its path and kill
| ing 80 persons.
| A Hobokon (N. - Inventor submits
| plans for an air warship which he thinks
would be most seryiccable in tho event of
| war. 1t is $50 feet long and 80 feet in di-
| ametcr. Above it Is attached horizontally
an egg shaped balloon Of the same diinen-
sions, capable OF holding 295, coo cubic feet
OF gas, which is manufactured from coal
Foil by an apparatus in the ship. At either
side and On the top of the ship are propcl-
lers operated by Il gas engine These arc
controlled by wheel. To assist the pro-
pellers in steering, adjustable fans arc at
tached on each side. Tho ship is made of