Sujet

Experiments with torpedo-shells at Chatham: explosion of a 440-pounder, 1865. Creator: Unknown.

Légende

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.

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Notre référence

HRM24A26_402

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

26,5Mo (2,0Mo) / 22,8cm x 29,2cm / 2691 x 3444 (300dpi)

Mots clés

transport transportation river water spray England people male looking technology man men boat boats arts art electricity guy test watching research British weapon weapons geography color dramatic electric explosion electrical war exploding experiment century rowing boat Kent explosive Britain experimental testing newspapers press print concept Navy explosives blowing up B&W rowboat warfare engraved engraving research and development Colour Chatham naval warfare 19th century detonator water transport torpedo black & white black and white B W weaponry white and black r&d nineteenth century Royal Navy The Print Collector geographical feature Illustrated London News River Medway TGN ILN newspaper Unknown George Medway 19th-century G.W. George Beardslee Beardslee G.W. Beardslee