p. 414 | A New Torpedo

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 16, 1868

A New Torpedo.

Letters from Brest mention the extraordinary effects produced by a new kind of torpedo tried in the river of Landerneau, which flows into the bay. The vessel selected for destruction was an old ship, the Wagram, of 100 guns, the first tier of which had been cut down. The new torpedo, it is stated, is far superior to either the English or American and Russian one. The former is only efficacious when the vessel is passing over it; the latter are so contrived as to stick to a vessel and cause a shock. But the new French torpedo produced its effect at a distance of 12 metres from the hull, and six metres below water. There were four torpedoes thus placed around the vessel, and connected by wires with an electric battery on shore. On the signals being given, three immense sheaves of water were seen rising to the height of a sixth story; the wire of the fourth torpedo being broken, it did not go off. Nevertheless, the effect was astounding; the ribs and planks of the vessel were shivered, and there was barely time, owing moreover to the precautions taken, to run the vessel on shore. Such torpedoes will henceforth prove excellent safeguards to ports in time of war.