TRIAL OF A TORPEDO BOAT IN SYDNEY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 3

TRIAL OF A TORPEDO BOAT IN SYDNEY.

On Tuesday forenoon (says the “ Town and Country Journal”) there was another trial in the harbor of the torpedo boat, Acheron, This wonderful craft, it will bo remembered, was built to the order of tho Government by tho Atlas Company, Darling Harbor, on plans prepared by Mr Norman Selfe, and the trial on Tuesday, though in no way demanded by contract stipulations, was decided upon as final, and prior to her passing from the builders’ hands. With the engineers and one deck hand, there wore altogether thirteen persons on board, ten above tho ordinary number, and this, with two extra tons of water in tho tanks, added at least 10 per cent, on the total weight of the boat, and was reckoned to make a difference of at least one knot in the speed. Tho little steamer left her moorings in Darling Harbor just upon eleven o’clock, and steered round Millar’s Point and towards Fort Denison. Syen at half-speed she ran past tho

fastest- steam launches and ferry-boats, the passengers aboard which gazed upon her with evident bewilderment. At a distance of 400 or 500 yards she is hardly perceptible, and it was a surprise to all the spectators afloat and , ashore to And the craft come suddenly upon them and pass away as quickly, leaving nothing but a disturbed and foamy track behind her. Iso alteration whatever had been made in the vessel since she left the slip, but the engineers were somewhat more acquainted with their work, and as she approached Pinchgut to do the mile, it was matter for speculation whether she would improve on her first performances. After passing Fort Macquarie the order “ full speed ” was given, and the little craft nearly jumped out of the water. The equilibrium of the unwary was immediately disturbed, and the vessel, now pushed on by 200 horse power, darted through the water like a fish. The wind was right ahead, and the water lumpy, but the vessel passed through rough and smooth alike, (cl - ing aboard occasionally a little of the dump element for the entertainment of the principal electrician. The measured mile between Pinchgut and Bradley’s Head was run in 4 36. This was not Twice the engines bad to be lowered, owing to some oversight below, and the vessel was fetched back. In the next trial the engineers were better prepared, and she did the mile in a trifle under four minutes thirteen seconds. This was the quickest run in Australia. It meant seventeen miles an hour, the average of our railway trains, and this wonderful result was accomplished against a strong head wind, and a heavy handicap in the shape of extra weight. As no alteration of propeller, expected to secure an advantage of two knots, had been made, the trial was considered very satisfactory. The distance having been run, the steamer’s head was turned, and at easy steaming overtook the fast passenger boat, the Fairlight, and then heading up the Parramefta river, she ran round Cockatoo. She flew past the dock under a good head of steam, and in passing the American mail boat, her rapid movement caused a sensation aboard. The trials over the mile were afterwards repeated with varying but most satisfactory results, and at the close Major Orackncll expressed the greatest satisfaction at the performances. Ho also, with the other gentlemen aboard, complimented Mr Selfe and the Atlas Company for the distinguished success that had attended their first, effort with this description of boats. Considerable surprise was expressed at the statement that the Acheron cost £BOO or £OOO less than Thorneyeroft’s celebrated torpedo boats, whose speed is but a trifle above that which the Sydney built boat attained on Tuesday. The Acheron, it may again be mentioned, is 80ft. long, 10ft. beam ; has surfuc > condensing engines llin. and 19in. diameter, and 14in. stroke ; the pressure on trial was an average of 1001 b ; the vacuum, 26£ ; and the revolutions 280 to 300. With further experience it is expected that 350 revolutions will be obtained.