Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-03-29
GREAT TORPEDO BOAT.
THE W0EDERFJLIwAR CRAFT
INVENTED BY HOLLAND FOR
SUBMARINE SERVICE.
LETTER FROM MRS. LIEUT.. JOHNSON.
Former Mexico Lady Gives a Graphic
Description Of the Trial of the
Boat on the Potomac Near
Fort Hunt, Where
She Resides.
LETTER FROM MRS. LIEUT.. jOHNSOI


Correspondencs Of the Isodror,
Fl. Hunt, Va, March 1s.-A land
scape clad with SNOW, q north wind
that howls wildly around our DWELL
Ing, seems little as though we are to-
day In the land Of Dixie, and we need
well the food Of sunlight which, with
an indescribable beauty, touches the
snow-covered hills and plain and
dancing waters OF the old Potomac, to
remind rs that the "sunny south''
exists in reality, not In song alone.
Our winter since the new year has
been quite severe and now manifests
stubborn reluctance to yield TO the
approaching spring which, like
"Tommy Atkins" against the Burgh-
ess OF Kruger-land now advancing,
now receding, gains slowly, but sure
ly, and ere many days are past, will
have the stubborn, yet gallant foe
subdued, and the white dove Of peace
will, for time at least, rest over the
closed doors of the Temple of Janus.
Speaking Of war, we had the pleas
ure Wednesday Of witnessing the trial
exhibition of one Of the most wonder
ful inventions of this age-the SUBJ
marine torpedo boat, Holland. The
exhibition wae given on the Potomac
between Mt. Vernon and Fl. Hunt.
The Holland was commanded by
Capt. +. 7. Gable, with crew of
seven men. Lieut.. Caldwell, aid to
Admiral Dewey, was also on board.
Quite q crowd of invited and inter-
ested spectators witnessed the event.
The Presidents yacht, 6ylph, had on
board large party, consisting Of Ad-
miral Dewey, Assistant Secretary of
the Navy Allen, Rear Admiral Rodg-
ers, Commander Kimball, under
whose command the torpedo boat
iotillas was during our late war.
Other prominent officers of the navy,
Mr.. John G. Holland, the inventor Of
the boat, the President and Secretary
Of the Holland Co., United States
Senatorsiand, on both the Bylph and
the Holland Company's yacht, jose
pnIne, many prominent representa-
tiyos, principally members OF the
House Naval Committee, while the
Navy Department tug, Tecumseh,
carried tho newspaper men. They
reached the scene OF the exhibition
shortly after noon and we, having
been informed OF their arrival, has
tened to an adjoining hillside where
we we're directly opposite the vessels
aud where, with the aid Of our blnoc-
ulars, we were able to obtain an ex-
cellent view of the trial.
Our interest, of course, centered In
the Holland of which we could ct the
distance of half q mile, through the
glasses, see nothing but slight gray
line the steering tower, and the Union
Jack at the bow, the Stars and Stripes
at the stern, each supported by q
slender steel mast some 10 feet long.
About 1880 the whistle of the Holland
sounded note of warning that the
test was about to begin and immedi-
atsIy afterward we saw the bow sub
siding below the water and In 9
moment more nothing could be seen
Of tbs strange craft but the two flags
which etreamed bravely out just above
the water, marking the course the
little vessel was taking, Straight and
true as an arrow to the mark she
sped along on her course with good,
even rate of speed, the other vessels
lowering close In her wake. For
about ten minutes she continued her
submerged course when, suddenly, q
shaft Of white foam announced to the
spectators that q torpedo had been
sent on the way and ones heart
almost stood still at the thought Of
death and destruction that might have
followed had the hour been night and
those friendly ships those OF an un-
suspecting foe. Immediat ely the
Holland appeared on the surface and
turned toward the starting point, on
the way giving an exhibition of her
diving powers In Eve dlves each of
one half a minute duration, In each
case disappearing, bow first, and
every move being executed with
amazing celebrity. These ended the
exhibition which had been eminently
satisfactory to all concerned. We
then hastsned to the end of the dock,
which extends out into the river
nearly half Q mile, and waited the
coming OF the Holland, which came
up under the tow Of q tug which,
happily for us, was the James o. Oar
ter, which had conveyed our troops
TO and fro during last fall's target
practice and in whose pilot house
had spent many an hour. The cap
tain, recognizing Us, courteously steer