New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-29
THE ROCKET TORPEDO.
GUN-COTTON SAFELY THROWN MORE THAN
MILE FROM A SMALL GUN-COUNTER-
MINING A HOSTILE HARBOR.
From Golfers Weekly.


Rear-Admiral Howell argued that accuracy and
range would be attained only when tn, the [otKe,
powder gun imparts to a steel projectile. To pro-
duce this in an ordinary gun requires pressure
so great that IT Would detone any mass Of high
explosive at the instant OF discharge the IN
ventor. therefore. conceived the novel IDEA Oh re-
The projectile, CONSISTING in the lo-inch calibre
metal envelope, the rear end Of which contains
rocket composition, and the head percussion fuse
cpntrvonne ' fSas been spun up to
tWenyve hEndred reyoutions s per- mnnte rc-
tion cap igntcs the rocket composition ana me
6ankedup pressure at the base starts tne @
ton corresponding TO that Of the gun. The fact
that this motion due to neither the resistance OF
the atmosphere against Yanes nor TO the escape OF
a par, Of the propelinS gas from number Oh
s H.'' perfect Hy' accsracywhe the absence of any
initial shock of discharge renders II absolutely safe
Howell gun Will weigh 800 pounds. the range will
be about three thousand yards, and its accuracy
p1ce though sh it cannot T be called led
gun. nor one of pontbank range. Is between the
The enemy is supposed 10 have been one Of a
large feet that has engaged the Sandy HOOK bat
fusion of battle other chance of war, mas
succeeded In passing the fort clearing the channel
OF torpedoes by countermining, and Is speeding Tor
the Narrows, from which point she expects to make
of New, York mass OF smoking ruins He has
not reckoned well, however. for, owing TO great
draught of water the bate-ship Is c9mpelledi 10
follow the tortuOus main snip CHANNEL WHIcn piHss
her within range Of the new weapons of destruc-
ton mounted on the point Of Coney Island
A report. little louder than that OF toy pistol,
however at last attracts his attontion-and before
he has time TO reply with even one OF his rapid
fire guns. number of steel cylinders are Kissing
and sputtering through the smoky atmosphere.
With acceerating velocity they rise as high as
ward, and with unerring aim, one Of them crashes
into his starboard side forward. tearing away the
armOr plates and leaving a hole. through which
astern. too far away to do It's work Of destruction.
though the conclusion shakes the ponderous fight
ing machine from stem to stern. disables her steer
| ing gear and puts her engines out of line. The
at long range. and after few Well-directed shots.
| a white flag Is floating at the masthead-and New
| York Is saved
| or suppose a flagship is forcing an entrance
| into hostile harbor planted with submarine tor
| pedoes. Knowing that the conclusion produced by
any high explosive will detonate all others within
circle whose radius is fifty feet. the starboard
| rocket-gun IS brought into action. Five hundred
yards ahead there is a mufied explosion, followed
| by rising column of water that sparkles in the
tropic sunlight This is Immediately succeeded by
| knows that she may proceed in safety. followed by
| the other vessels Of the fleet The port gun also
! throws her torpedo-destroying projecte. with a
like result, until the entire channel Is clear and
the fleet Is ready 10 engage the batteries OF the
| inner harbOr
The firing OF the gun IL accomplished as follows:
| The breechbock is first opened and the pro-
jectile inserted. 1t is then closed and the primer
attached. The gun is then spun up. and when re-
vOlving rapidly enough. and pointed at the target,
| the lanyard Is pulled. the primer fired. and the
| the end Of the projecte. A certain amount of the
gas Is allowed TO escape around the rocket. so that
no more pressure will be banked up than is sufil-
Client to give the projectile a good start. After
position increases the density of the gas thus i'm
| parting an accelerating velocity.