The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
THE FIRST ToRPEDOES
EIGHTY YEARS AGO INVENTORS or
DEsTRoYERs RIDICULED.
Congress, After Refusing to Hear
perimeBter, Appropriated $4,000.

Brooklyn Eagle
Tho early history OF torpedo invention in
the United States began in the first of the
century, and, far from being encouraged, it
was a popular subject for ridicule, both in
social circles and in the press. From sew
eraI copies of the New York Herald, not
Mr.. Benefits paper, in possession of the
Eagle, and extending from 1907 to 1914, have
been CLEANED some interesting facts con-
corning the struggles of the inventors OF
these Robert Fulton was foremost. In the
New York Herald OF Aug. 26, 1907, printed at
No. 40 Pine street, being issue No. 5SS, is Il
long letter written in whimsical vein, de-
riding the notion of torpedoes, either
defensive or an attacking measure in war
The editor gives column and half to the
author with the pen name Salmagundi, and
writes a preface to it, declaring that it hits
off admirably some of the late philosoph-
ical, economical plans which our phiiosoph-
ical and economical administration seems to
be intent upon adopting for the defense of
our harbor And which is certainly very
kind of them, as they mean we shall do it
at our own expense, because they can't af-
ford to do it, having only a surplus in the
treasury of five times as much money as
would complete an effectual defense, both
floating and stationary, and because the
city of New York is not entitled to any
share of this money as she has herself only
paid into the treasury within ten years
more than double the sum it now contains,
and which lies there idle" The letter writer
alludes to the attempt of a North river So
ciety, through new invention, 'cunningly
yclept torpedo to destroy an old brig
This is the description of the event. accord
ing to the author
1T may be readily supposed that our cit
liens did not refuse the invitation of the
society to blow up-it was the first naval
action ever exhibited in our port; and the
good people all crowded to see the British
navy blown up in effigy. The young ladies
were delighted with the novelty of the show
and declared that if war could be conducted
in this manner it would become fashion
able amusement and the destruction of
fleet be pleasant a ball or tea party
The old folk were signally pleased with the
spectacle-because it cost them nothing.
Dear souls. how hard was it they should be
disappointed The brig most obstinately
refused to be decomposed-the dinners grew
cold and the buildings were overlooked
through the renowned City of Gotham, and
its sapient inhabitants. like the honest
Strasburghers (from whom most of them
are doubtless descended), who went out to
see the courteous stranger and his nose, all
returned home after having threatened to
pull down the Flagstaff, by way of taking
satisfaction for their disappointment" The
arts at "Hoggs" over "cygarrs," in which
great merriment is made over the notion of
torpedoes as a means of naval warfare.
The letter is headed plans for Defend
ing Our Harbor by William Wizard, Esq"
and these alleged quotations are in verse
form:
Fudgew s : NJ ''11 20 CoNFuCIUs.
Well blow the villains all sky high,
But do it with ec0no my. LINK FID.
In the same issue is a letter from Robert
Fulton announcing the successful trip of his
steamboat from Albany to New York city.
CONGRESS REFUSED FULTON.
A debate took place in the House of Rep
resentatives on Feb IA, 1870 on the ques-
ton whether the House should adjourn
from Friday until Monday following in or
der that Robert Fulton should sit in the
speakers chair and from the speakers
chair deliver lecture on the use OF tor
pedoes. The system of torpedoes was to
take the place of "the exploded system of
sunboats dry docks, embargoes, etc.
There was a good deal of merriment dur
ing the debate, and the House by a large
majority decided tC. adjourn unt'- Monday,
but without taking any notice of the tor
pedo question. Two days later the House
decided by vote of 81 to So not to hear
Mr.. Fulton. On March 10, however, Con-
gress passed an act appropriating $1,000 for
experiments at the Brooklyn navy yard.
The result appears in a subsequent issue
in a statement by the United States naval
officers. The statement is as follows:
Statement of facts and observations in
relation to experiments exhibited by Mr..
Robert Fulton explanatory of his system
of torpedo war in and near the city of New
York from Sept q to Nov. l. 1910.
ION the 21st of September a majority of
the persons named in the letter of the sec
rotary of the navy, dated May 4. 1910, con-
vened at the City Hall, where they were
attended by Commodore Rodgers and
Captain Chauncey. of the navy, and Mr.
Robert Fulton. The object of this meeting
was to agree on a mode of exhibiting the
erfrN ota4e I'D hxr Mr. TNyrlf
planatory of his system of torpedo war in
such manner would enable the commits
sioners to report their opinion of the merits
of said system far satisfactory opin-
ions could be formed from observations of
said experiments.
AT this meeting Mr.. Fulton exhibited a
torpedo lock, also model of a torpedo,
which he proposed to launch under the bot
tom of a ship by means of a spur projected
from the bow of a boat or vessel; for which
purpose he requested that the frigate Pres
ident be removed from the North into the
East river.
ITO this proposal of Mr. Fulton Commo-
dore Rodgers replied that the removal of
the frigate President would be attended
with inconvenience, but that the proposed
experiments might be made either on the
frigate in the North river or on the brig
Argus. then at anchor near the navy yard,
in the East river. 1t then agreed that
the experiments should be made on the brig
Argus, with blank torpedoes. and that such
defense be made against them a vessel
of war could exert. without having re-
course to her guns or the employment of
active force.
owing to unfavorable weather and other
causes the commissioners could not con-
vene at the navy yard until the 18th of Sep
TENDER, at which time they ordered the brig
Argus prepared for defense against the APP
plication of torpedoes on the mode which
had been previously suggested by Mr.. Full
ton. This defense consisted of a net sus-
pended from the bow of the brig and reach
ing 10 the bottom: also Of spars dashed to-
gether and suspended from the bowsprt
and yards in such manner as would
prevent boats from coming in con
tact with the brig. The studding
sail booms were armed with kentlidge
and heavy shot aud provided with grapnels
for the purpose of sinking or taking pos
session of any boat or torpedo that might
come within reach Ii WAS stated by officers
of the navy yard that these means of de-
Tense were such are usually possessed by
ships OF war and that after the prepara-
tons were made all the defenSes could be
disposed in proper order. or replaced in
A ship. in the term of fifteen minutes. After
hearing the observations of Commodore
Rodgers. Captain Chauncey and Lieutenant
Lawrence commander of the Argus Mr..
Fulton canddly admitted that Ola the sup
position that the net before the brig
reached the bottom he was then unpre-
pared for an attack by any means which he
CABLE CUTTING MACHINE
'sThe commissioners viewed the navy yard
specimens of different torpedoes. with the
means proposed of securing them under