THE BRENNAN TORPEDO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6593, 29 October 1889, Page 2

THE BRENNAN TORPEDO.

The terribly destructive capabilities of the Brennan torpedo have been practically demonstrated at last. The inventor haß long been anixoua to demonstrate 7 what a " live torpedo" could accomplish, but the naval; and military authorities have not shown] any alacrity to engage in costly experiments. However, it was at last agreed that on the 26th an old huik should be destroyed in the Solent, under conditions, whioh would fairly display the extraordinary powers of the travelling torpedo. Mr Brennan and his staff were stationed atlfhe" Cliff End Battery, Isle of Wight. Torpedo boats pattrolled the field that the Brennan torpedo would travel, in order to prevent injury to life and property at sea. The weather was de'lghtfully fine. A strong old hulk, 160 ft. in length, was started in the direction of the battery, travelling at a speed of about five knots an hour. When the hulk was within a mile of the battery, Mr Brennan launched his torpedo, steering it by guiding lines for the 1 doomed vessel. Befored a minute had elapsed' it was evident the hulk had been struck amidship, for.it suddenly pitched forward,, and simultaneously a high column of water 200 ! t. was thrown Into the air. The hulk at once sank stem first, in mid-channel The experiment was made in the presence of the Secretary for War, Viscount Wolseley, General.'Sir Lothian Nicholson, and many other distinguished naval and military officers.