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Experiments with torpedo-shells at Chatham: explosion of a 440-pounder, 1865. Creator: Unknown
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Experiments with torpedo-shells at Chatham: explosion of a 440-pounder, 1865. Creator: Unknown
Experiments with torpedo-shells at Chatham: explosion of a 440-pounder, 1865. '...Mr. Donald M'Kay, the extensive shipowner, of Boston,...has undertaken to help in introducing the contrivance of Messrs. Wood and Beardslee to the Governments and public of Europe. Mr. Beardslee...had sunk a torpedo charged with 440 lb. of powder in the mud and sand off Gillingham Point, at the entrance to Chatham Harbour... A boat's crew was dispatched from the operator's barge to establish electrical communication with the sunken shell, which was to be fired through a length of two miles of wire. This preliminary completed and the train all ready for firing...in an instant there rose from the placid bosom of the river high into the air a huge column of water, in shape and action much resembling those great waterspouts occasionally witnessed by sailors in mid-ocean...The splendid volumes of snow-white feathery spray soared quickly to a height of little less than 200 ft., and then fell gently again in exquisitely graceful curves into the vortex whence they had risen, leaving no trace of themselves behind, save a slowly-expanding circle of bubbling, foaming water, the muddy, yeasty aspect of which showed that the river had been stirred to its lowest depths'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865
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EDITORS COMMENTS
**Captivating Moment in Maritime History: Torpedo-Shell Experiment at Chatham, 1865**
This striking photograph captures a pivotal moment in the development of torpedo-shells during the mid-19th century. In this experiment conducted off Gillingham Point, near Chatham Harbour, inventor Mr. Beardslee successfully sank a shell charged with an impressive 440 pounds of powder into the mud and sand at a depth of two miles. The subsequent electrical connection established by boat's crew allowed for remote firing through a length of wire.
As the torpedo-shell was activated, it unleashed an astonishing display of power: a towering column of water rose from the river's surface, soaring to nearly 200 feet before gently falling back into the vortex in delicate curves. This ephemeral spectacle left behind only a slowly expanding circle of foamy water, revealing the depth at which the experiment had stirred up the muddy sediment.
This image was first published in "Illustrated London News" in 1865 and offers a unique glimpse into the early days of torpedo-shell technology. Its significance lies not only in its historical context but also as an artistic representation of human ingenuity and innovation, showcasing the power to shape our understanding of the world around us.
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