The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-08
CAN SINK SHIPS.
New Submarine Boat a Deadly
Engine of War.
Inventor Dunlap Claims for it
Great Efficiency.

Chicago. June s.-Torpedoes can be
placed beneath the huIls of warships
or at the base of fortress-crowned cliffs
and exploded with deadly effect by a
new submarine boat, if the claims made
by c. E. Dunlap, the inventor, are re-
allied. Experiments have been secretly
conducted on a f1fteen-foot model of the
craft In the unfrequented waters of
Lake Calumet for two weeks. and Mr..
Dunlap declares that he will be able
to submit to Secretary Long of the
navy department conclusive proof that
the problem of submarine navigation
and warfare has been solved. He
makes the assertion that if Admiral
Sampson holds Cervera's fleet i'm
prisoned long enough in Santiago bay
to admit of the construction of a war
vessel Of his type he will find his way
past the sunken Merrimac and convert
the powerful cruisers of the donS into
"reminiscences of the Maine.
Mr.. Dunlap came to Lake Calumet
two weeks ago. He had carefully con-
cealed his movements and experiments
on the pretext that John NJ Holland
and other inventors might attempt to
interfere with his work through the
medium Of the law Mr.. Dunlap was
supplied with cOnical sections of alum
mum. which have since assumed the
shape of an enlarged perfectO cigar,
and has nearly all the characteristics
of the larger craft which the inventor
States and Spain have called truce to
the struggle.
In the construction of the model Mr..
Dunlap has spared neither time nor
expense. The craft has depth of four
and one-haIf feet and permits the in
ventor to lie in the interior and direct
the movements of the vessel, even when
it is submerged. In the after part or
the boat is placed a storage battery,
which supplies the miniature propeller
with power The rudder is controlled
by ropes, which the inventor holds.
Entrance is had TO the submarine
ship through hatchway which opens
IN the center. When this is closed the
oblong chamber is to all practical pur-
poses Theoretically sealed. In a boat
of full size the hatchWay Will be re-
placed by a cOnical tower which can be
lowered at will into the interior, so
that the enemy will not have the
slightest target for the fire of their
guns. The interior of the vessel is
illuminated by single incandeScent
bulb, which depends on the storage
battery used in prOpelling the craft.
The apparatus for submerging the
boat is said to be simple, but original.
1t constitutes an important part of Mr..
Dunlop's invention and is not as yet
made public. A remarka BILE buoyancy
is impaired to the craft and it can be
quickly submerged or brought to the
surface. The action of the wheel. even
for the hastily constructed model, is
said to be remarkably even and a
puzzle to expert mechanics.
Mr.. Dunlap claims that his craft can
be sent below the surface twice as
quickly Hollands boat. He wit
messed several experiments with the
latter in the Atlantic and has aimed to
avoid the diving motion of the former
submarine vessels. He asserts that his
craft will gradually settle, stern anCs
stem disappearing at the same instant.
The danger of careening is avoided by
reservoirs on the sides of the boat
It is the intention of Mr.. Dunlap to
have battery of two rapid fire guns
adjusted in the top of the cOnical tower
TO ward off a boarding party should
the machinery of the vessel be suddenly
crippled. Apparatus can be adjusted
for the manufacture of air should any
extended trip below the surface be at
tempted
Captain Memo, Jules Verne's hero
of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under
the Sea- is not the only man to explore
the depths of the sea and place ex-
plosives under the huIls of vessels
said Mr.. Dunlap. 4 don't claim my
boat can make a 4,000-mile trip from
New York to Cadiz under water and
destroy the shipping and Notifications,
but 1 believe I am going to revolution
lie the science of war vessel cOnstruc-