THE TORPEDO VESSEL LIGHTNING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2620, 1 June 1877, Page 3

THE TORPEDO VESSEL LIGHTNING.

This little vessel made one of her rapid voyages down the river on Saturday, with a view of giving the Naval Lords of the Admiralty an opportunity of inspecting her under steam, and of experiencing the somewhat novel sensa-ion of being carried through the water at the rate of 19 knots per hour. The party on board consisted "of Admiral Sir Hastings Telverton, Admiral Lerd Grilford, Sir Massey Lopes, Sir Charles Adderley (President of the Board of Trade), Mr Egerton. M.P., Admiral Stewart (Controller of the Navy), Admiral Boyes (Director of Naval Ordnance), Mr \V .H. White, Chief Engineer, E.N., the engineer of the vessel, Mr John J. Thorneycroft, Mr J. Donaldson, and several other . gentlemen. Owing to the crowded" state of the river, it was found impossible to .go ■at more than half speed until nearly opposite Woolwich, when full steam was turned on and a speed of about 19 knots per hour maintained for half an hour. The vessel was ; then put about and brought back to London. During the run an ample supply of steam was kept up, arid the engines worked perfectly. Sir Hastings Telverton and the other visitors expressed their entire satisfaction with, the working of the little vessel, which will now receive the finishing touches at the hands of the builders and be despatched to Portsmouth without delay.—Home paper.