A TORPEDO AFTER A MAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2489, 12 March 1881, Page 4

A TORPEDO AFTER A MAN.

The inventor has constructed a selfpropelling torpedo which possesses the peculiarity of being able to be used on land as well as in water —a result which was obtained by fitting it with wheels. He undertook to exhibit this torpedo to a committee of naval officers at Lyme, last August. A canal boat to be blown up had been anchored some distance from the shore, and it was understood that the torpedo would start form the beach, pioceed to the canal boat, blow it to pieces, and return to the shore, where a subsequent experiment would demonstrate its efficiency on land. Whether the inventor had been guilty of ill-treating the torpedo, or whether it was a peculiarly vicious one, we have no means of knowing. We do know, however, that after it had gone a few roods in the direction of the canal boat it turned round and came rapidly and with undue ferocity towards the group on the beach. The naval officers hastily retreated, but the torpedo paid no attention to them. On landing it made for the inventor, who fled with every symptom of extreme terror. In vain did he seek to outstrip his pursuer. The torpedo followed him across the country, jumping ditches, climbing fences, and steadily gaining on him. Happily he recollected that the torpedo could not turn quickly, and so when he was nearly overtaken he suddenly doubled on his pursuer and ran towards the village. The torpedo turned and followed him, gaining so long as the inventor kept straight on, but losing at every turn. He was nearly exhausted when he finally reached his own workshop, the door of which stood open. He dashed in shut the door, and dashed out again through a rear window, just as the ferocious and baffled torpedo flung itself against the door, and, exploding, blew the workshop into small pieces. No account of this incident has hitherto been published, for the obvious reason that the inventor was interested in keeping it secret. It is, however, every bit as true as many of the stories which have been told of the wonderful feats accomplished by other and tamer torpedoes, and it gives us a glimpse of the terrible consequences which may follow if our torpedoes should become rebellious and devastate our cities and towns, instead of annihilating the ships of the enemy.—“ New York Times.”