The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-09
Has Discovered q Means Whereby
Vessels May Be Controlled
alta Great Distance.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Was the Intention Of the Inventor TO
Use II In the Late War. but He
Had No Opportunity.


tho electrician. describes an application
OF electricity whereby. without tho inter.
position of any Artfui medium OF commu.
Blcation, one can control ana direct.
with absolute exantllude. the movements
" any type OF vessel. balloon or land
vehicle. at any distance that may be
desired From n station on shore. or
from tho deck of a vessel under way
torDedo boat equipped with hr. Tesla =
controlling device may be- propelled,
either on or below rhs surface. manocu-
ycred NJ Will In any direction. ana finally
brought into contact and exploded
against tho side OF a hostile vessel at
any point within the range OF tho vision
Of the operator. More than this. aAaum-
Ink that II were possible TO accurately To-
cate the position Of the vessel which Il
ln desired 10 destroy. tho torpedo boat
could DO directed 10 II, even n the ship
lay IN tho hhrbor u Southampton and
the operator was stationed at Sandy
Hook.
Mr.. Tesla said that some months had
elapsed since he had fully developed his
device for which he has applied for a
patent.
When II was learned that Admiral Ger
vera was bottled up at Santiago. Il was
his intention 20 apply his machine 10 sew
cral launches and hImiltr craft loaded
with hiEh explosives and annihilate the
feet az anchor. Admiral ccryera. how
ever camo out and met his fate under the
- h..
necessary arrangements could be made.
Then SIR. Tesla planned a raid on the
Spanish vessels In Havana harbor. only
10 be lhwarted by the proclamation OF
the suspension OF hostilitiea.
Hitherto said Mr. Tesla, The only
means OF controlling a vessel from a
distance have been applied through the
medium Of a flexible conductor such hs
an electric cable. but this system IL sub
iect 10 obvious limitations such a. are
imposed by the length. weight and
strength Of the conductor which can be
used. by the dlhiculty OF
with safety. the speed OF o
vessel or changing the direction Of her
with rapidly. the necessity
OF efteoting the control from point
am enabled by the use Of my Invention 20
which In practically fxed. and from
many other drawbacks which are in-
separately connected with such a system
The plan which ! have perfected m
wolves none OF these objections. for I
employ any means OF propulsion, 90 Inn
part TO the moving body OF vessel the
highest possible speed. to control the op-
Grafton OF its machinery and 70 oirect its
from either fixed point or
from a body moving and changing It's
directions. however rapidly. ana TO main
tain this control over great distances.
without any artificial connection between
the vessel and the apparatus governing
rs movements, and without such rcstric-
lions aS these must necessarily Impose.
In a broad sense. then. my invention
ilHers from all OF those systems which
provide for the control OF the mechanism
carried my a moving object and govern
ng It's motion. In that require no in
iermcdiale wires. cables or other form
ot electrical or mechanical connection
with the object save the natural media
N space, accomplish. nevertheless.
similar results In a much more practical
manner by producing waves. impulses or
radlailons which arc received through
the earth. water OF atmosphere by suit
bic apparatus on the moving body and
,auses the desired actions. so long as
he body remains within the active re-
s.on or effective range Of such currents,
waves, impulses or radiations.
Having explained TO you some OF the
OF the device. will now
give you practical example OF the
workings OF the model before going into
1 detailed description OF how l am able
o proOuce these results"
Elevated on stocks on table In the
enter OF the laboratory stoo~ model
" n screw propelled craft about four
Get long and somewhat dlsproporton-
.tely wide and deep. Mr.. Tesla explained
hat II was merely working model that
10 had made in order TO exhibit 10 Presi-
lent Mckinley and that no attempt had
,een made to follow the usual sharp lines
u q torpedo boat. The deck was slightly
.rehed and surmounted by three slender
tahdnrds. the center one being consider
Ibly higher than the other two, which
arrled small incandescent bulbs, third !
'ulb being fixed at the bow.
The keel consisted OF massive cop
'er plate. tho propeller and rudder be-
ng In the usual positions, Mr Tesla
Explained that the boat contained the !
'ropclllng machinery, consisting OF an
lectrlo motor aotuated by storage bat
cry In the hold, another motor to actu-
to the rudder and the delicate mechan-
sm which performs the function OF re- I
Giving Through the central standard |
he electric impulses sent through the
tmosphere from the distant operating |
tation, which set In motion the propel-
Ing and storing motors and through |
hem light or extlnguish the electric |
Nlbs and fire the exploding charge In
chamber In the bow In response to sig
als sent by the operator,
'Now watch" said the Inventor, and
ding to a table on the other side OF the
-. ,,,l,lnh lou N llttla switch hDN