New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-15
THE ADDER'S TORPEDO BLEW Up THE
IMAGINARY BATTLESHIP.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Cutchogue, N Y, Nov. 14.-If enemy's
battleship cruiser had been lying broadside
on the course of the submerged Holland sub
marine boat Adder this morning while she sped
swiftly to the northward in Peconic Bay she
would surely have been blown up by the tor
pedo that the Adder fired. The test, which
was very successful, was one of the most diff
cult and decidedly the most sensational of all
the trials witnessed so far. It was agreed by
all that, while the torpedo was fired a matter
OF ten feet to the right of the desired spot, if
vessel had been there she would have surely
been hit between the engine room and the stern
o. between the bow and the engine ROOM accord
ing to the direction in which she heading.
Two nags on poles anchored one hundred and
hfty feet apart marked the start and finish OF
the mile course over which the Adder was to
run under the water. They also represented
the length of the vital part of a battleship or
cruiser According to the rules the Adder was
TO make two mile run straightaway under
water, with the privilege of rising three times
for observation. and not more than minute
each time. This mornings test. however, was
much more severe one. for by the consent of the
board the Adder travelled mile under water,
turned IN remarkably quick time without rising
TO the surface. and then ran back over the
course and fired her torpedo at the end of the
mile. She made a speed Of seven and one
half knots the entire course and only
rose TO the surface twice, occupying forty sec
onds the first time and thirty-five seconds the
later. At the request of the board periscope
was attached to the boat before leaving her
dock, not for use in the submerged rum but for
the board to inspect afterward This device. used
for ascertaining the position Of objects on the
surface when the boat carrying it is submerged,
consists Of mirror at the top of iron tn be
about fifteen feet above the deck amidships.
its lower end being in the hold of the boat
where the observer stands. The reflection OF
objects the surface is conveyed to him by
a system of lenses. This iron tube interfered
with the trial, for its local attraction threw the
compass out of adjustment, and it also retarded
the speed of the boat sufficiently to upset slight
~ the calculations of Captain Gable while steer
ing under water.
The Adder came out of the basin at New
Suffolk at $50 a. m. and half an hour later she
began preliminary surface over the two
mile test her compass. There were
on board. besides Captain Frank I. Gable, CHIEF
Electrician Harry Morrell Lieutenant White
u. S. N: Naval Constructor J. J. Woodward,
L. S. N: Manager Lawrence Spear, and six
men to the engine and handle the torpedo
which was to be launched from tube in the
bow. about three feet below the surface All
1t had taken just eight minutes from the time
all hands disappeared below to sink the boat
until only her coming tower and mast were
visible This time could be cut down half. the
submarine experts say. IN actual service. The
Adder going a full speed, made her first dive
almost Immediately, sinking until only about
eight feet of her periscope mast was out OF the
water. Straight an arrow she sped Tor the
little white fags futtering in the southwest
breeze a mile away. The mast and The stays
supporting it made a little fuss where they cut
the water. leaving narrow, white wake In
actual war service, however, II is said, win
no mast in, nos ripple is seen. SO that war
ship would have absolutely no warning OF the
approach of one of these submarine terroTs
Eight minutes and thirty-hVe seconds after the
start the little mast was passing the haSs marx
ing the mile, and almost Immediately the helm
was put hard a-starboard The boat turned
faster under the water than she had ever done
on the surface. In one minute and twenty-five
seconds she had described complete circle ana
passing the flags, beginning her second mile
when two minutes had elapsed Her coming
tower shot into sight like the hump OF whale
coming UP to blow. Soon down she went, not
coming TO the surface again until within
eighth of a mile of the finish Dangerously
near to what would have been battleshp she
steered, when suddenly her bow shot high out
of the water and the torpedo was launched: AT
a speed of twenty-eight knots an hour the dead
~ missile sped away to the northward' until It's
energy was exhausted Then II was picked up
and towed into the basin. What would nave
been the fate of a warship struck by this tor
pedo with its warhead charged with guncotton.
one can best imagine by recalling the disaster
TO the Maine
The Adder and the Moccasin went out this
afternoon about > o'clock for their awash test
over the half mile course. The weather was
breezy throughout the run of the Moccasin,
making it difficult for the observer on shore TO
distinguish the boat when she crossed the
ranges. Both boats made the run considerably
under their required time. and ii is said that
the speed of both exceeded that called for in
the contract which was seven knots When
the Moccasin's trial was finished a heavy fog
hung over the bay but the crew succeeded in
safely docking her. The Adder was not so
fortunate Owing to the fog, she was run
aground near MindOra. Foreman Wilson had
charge of her and f. 3. Frost and several of
the board OF inspection were on board. They
were marooned for several hours, while those
on shore grew anxious about them Not until
after the tide they able TO float the
Adder. She due at the New Suffolk dock
at p.
If il is clear tomorrow the ten-mile test of
the Adder will be made.