A WONDERFUL TORPEDO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 244, 5 October 1876, Page 2

A WONDERFUL TORPEDO.

The American correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes :—

The experiment with a torpedo was witnessed by a number of Congressmen, and was a wonderful success. As soon as the signal to start was given through the proper knob, the torpedo rushed through the water at eight-knot gait, her black back just visible above the water. She was obedient to the slightest touch, backing and then going ahead and running a close shave round a buoy- with marvellous delicacy. After she had been thus navigated all round the harbor, she was headed with full steam, at a twelve or fourteen-knot gait, for an old raft, loaded with barrels, aud as soon as she had fairly bolted into it, Captain Lay touched the exploding knob, and in an instant there was a, terrific explosion and the air was filled with ten thousand fragments of the wreck. The most curious part of the scene was the unconcerned manner in which the little monster emerged from amid the destruction she had wrought, absolutely unharmed, and still obedient to control. The revolution which will be effected by this wonderful torpedo will certainly mark a new era in naval warfare. It will create greater changes by far than John Ericsson's ironclads and monitors, and will enable lands, such as Australia and America, with lines of coast and a comparatively sparse population to defend themselves from invasion at a reasonable slight expense. Captain Lay says he could sink a vessel like the English ironclad Temeraire, which cost a million sterling, in twenty minutes. It has been suggested that the ironclad could protect herself with chain nettings held out on long spars. But, if necessary, half a dozen torpedoes could be sent out, each in another's wake, aud they would soon reach the main objective poiut of attack. The cost of these marvellous little devil fishes is about 20,000 dollars each. It may be noted, by the way, too, that a vessel steered in this way can be made very useful in saving life by carrying life-lines to vessels in distress. The torpedo can be steered from the shore with unfailing precision through the very heaviest surf.