The age-herald., 1902-02-09

ems, dogs and sheep were placed alive in a steel shell and sunk, while a charge of twenty pounds of wet gunpowder was ex- ploded under water. The experiments proved most gratifying, as the charge finally was put off within 100 yards, with out injuring the animals in the least, their hearing not even DeIng affected. Whether they finally got so close as to kill the martyrs in the steel shell the Captain would not say, but it is certain that the experiments gave great confi- dence to all the men in the submarines. protected as they are by most rigid steel shell, offering a target too small to hit when awash and protection against shock when submerged. The probabili- ties are that a torpedo would scarcely cause a tremor if fired within fifty yards of the Fulton, as the water acts as a cushion to ward off the blow.
 A Laymans Trip on the Fulton.
 Through the courtesy of Captain Cable. a correspondent of the Tribune was en- abled to make a fifteen mile and return trip on the Fult ton. The boat was but half submerged during the trip, as the desire was to test it's surface speed and ice-breaking capacities.
 As the queer-looking craft sped by in- different scallop fishermen, there was hardly a tremor from the great wheel, while the action of the motor was noise less. Wild ducks, of which there are focks of thousands wintering in the bay, permitted the Fulton 10 approach close ly when in twos or threes. The larger hocks got up further away because of some timid members, but it got closer to most of them than any sailboat could. Occasionally a pair of coots, or perhaps the racier black ducks would quarter away within beautiful range. That would make a great ducking boat, that Fulton, with a few branches of trees to cover the small coming tower and a concealed gunner. With about one-third speed on to prevent ripples it could run over the whole duck family before they would know what it was all about.
 But the men on deck weren't thinking of ducks, and it is possible they didn t even glance at them. The power sudden ly was changed to gasoline and the speed increased instantly, the Fulton sprang away under the stronger force. The elec- tric motor is for use when submerged, and gives a speed of about six knots. The more powerful gasoline engine can't be used long when the boat is under wa ter. as 1t consumes about ten parts of air to one part of gasoline with every ex- plosion in the cylinders. Gasoline is cheap enough, but air is most precious when submerged, as the men need little of 1t for themselves.
 e Result a Government Secret.
 The speed had increased so rapidly that the deck was awash with vengeance. and the men in dry rubber boots glanced inquiringly at the Captain. He didn't say what the speed was. nor did Captain Mac Arthur as they aren't making public their reports One of the men, however, said that the old propeller had given a speed of S1s knots awash, but he thought the new one was pushing the Fulton ahead at an easy 10 knots
 The Fultons success at ice-breaking ev- idently was a source of amazement to the men, and of the keenest delight to Captain Cable and the interested and ob- serving government expert, though they said little, except that the Fulton's per formance was wonderful. But that part, of course, will be contained in long and