The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-25

to his visitors the one out of its case and
its workings were thus more easily under
stood 1t is fired from the case by n small
charge OF gunpowder and as soon as 1t
strikes the water its internal mechanism
is put in motion and IL is forced through
the water by its own propeller, the direc~
ton IL is to take and the distance under
the surface it Is TO travel being regulated
by horizontal and vertical rudders. Accu-
racy in firing can only be secured by long
observation and experience, but once the
torpedo, when equipped with it's war
nose" strikes an object. the result is in
evitable destruction.
The war nose is an ingenious appli-
ance which is attached to the head of tho
torpedo, directly in front OF the destructive
charge of gun cotton 1t contains, and
through which the decoration which eS-
podes the charge passes on coming in con-
tact with any object.
lii case the vessel aimed at is not hit the
torpedo is arranged so that it will sink to
the bottom and thus provide against the
danger of sinking friendly craft by coming
In contact with them. The engine which
propels the torpedo has an appliance whore
by the distance 1t is to travel can lie reg
ulated, and altogether the projectile. aside
from the fact that exact accuracy in aiming
CAR not be obtained, is as complete q de-
structive agent as even the most blood
thirsty warrior can ask for.
AS soon as the supply of four torpedoes
is exhausted the vessel must retire 10 some
OF the attending battleships and secure
others Fer this reason. and for others,
such boats as the Porter are seldom used
except under cover of darkness.
After being aboard the Porter one can
readily understand the utter folly Of such a
vessel as the Wirslow, which, b. the way
is smaller than the Porter, vcnturns into q
storm of shot and shell ike that encoun-
tered al Cardenas when Ensign BaGiey and
his brave fellows lost their lives
An of the torpedo boats in the navy are
fragile things compared with the big battle
ships. and are built for speed and WORK I'M
der cover rather than active participation
In the bombardment Of any port.
In this connection it may be stated 'ha'
Ensign Giles, in discussing the matter
told me that the Winslow Went into inc
hart or at Cardenas merely Tor the pun pose
NJ taking souudlugs, and that her oiliceIs
were not aware of the fact thal any pa'
teries existed there lie saw the Ntesei VI
her return to Key West anu uespitpeu nr
as being literally rddled with shot III Ger
| tain places. ,aor,,1a
| The Porter herself has seen consideraple
service during the past few weeks IN 'he
way of coast ekirmishes, and also tooh in
activ@ mart in the bombardment OF san
Iuan Porto Rico. She was fired at sew
eral times by the spaniards. but their gun
norn we're poor marksmen and all OF tae
shots went wild. -.
lieutenant ]. c. Fremont in command OF
The Porter. was not on beard, having gone
out to the camp to visit his brother lieu
/ tenant in the Third infantry Major leN
! Twver,s Old command. They are sons OF
( General Fremont one Of the noblest ana
brayest officers this country has ever
known. r,, .
Tho Porter left Key West last THURSDAY
n,rht and Ensign ellis hopes to be able y
return there by the end OF the week. IL Is
thought that the necessary repairs WIZ De
completed by tomorrow night CAV