TORPEDOES. 
187 
attacked by boats or small steamers having torpedoes rigged 
out on a spar or pole projecting from their bows. These at- 
tacks were, however, often complete failures ; and it appears at 
times to have been very difficult to get men to volunteer for 
them. There is a very simple drifting torpedo, which seems 
well adapted for military use, as it would be comparatively easy 
to destroy a bridge of boats, pontoons, or barrel-piers on a river, 
by letting a few of these drifters go down the stream. A wooden 
buoy floats on the surface, and to this the torpedo is suspended 
by a metal rod. The charge is in an iron case with a conical top, 
at the apex of which is a firing apparatus, connected with a small 
paddle-wheel, so arranged that by a few turns it looses the 
firing-bolt and ignites the charge. Suppose a bridge is at- 
tacked, the torpedo is dropped into the water and floats on 
until it strikes against the bridge. As long as the whole appa- 
ratus is in motion, the current has no effect on the little paddle- 
wheel ; but as soon as the torpedo is stopped by the obstacle, 
the current acting on its broad blades makes it revolve, and 
the charge is fired. 
Such is a brief account of what has been done up to the 
present time in torpedo warfare. The subject is one of the 
best illustrations of the way in which science every day puts 
new weapons into our hands ; and we cannot help wondering, 
when we see the peaceful researches of scientific men, directed 
to far different ends, adding these powerful engines of destruc- 
tion to our means of attack and defence. To a greater extent 
than any other country, Grreat Britain has a deep interest in 
all that is done in this branch of engineering science ; for in 
time of war it would afford us an easy means of guarding the 
coasts and harbours of our wide extended colonies, as well as 
our own ; and thus our ships, instead of being forced to act on 
the defensive, and await attack, would be free to go boldly 
out to protect our commerce and destroy the naval armaments 
of our foes. 
Note. — It has been lately discovered that, by means of the 
detonating fuze, gun-cotton can be exploded even when it is 
wet. Grovernment experiments are now in progress, with a 
view to fully developing this discovery. It adds another to the 
many advantages possessed by gun-cotton for torpedo-warfare, 
as it will now be possible to fire it even in cases the tightness 
of which is very defective. 
