Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — WHALEBACK WAR VESSELS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHALEBACK WAR VESSELS.

The New and Novel Invention oI Captain McDougall. The French built war ships of the McDougall barge battern as early as 1868. One of them is shown afloat in the accompanying engraving. The sectional view of the engraving shows the plan of boat patented by Captain Dennison 0. Pierce. Captain McDougall is figuring on applying the whaleback to war service, and, although it is not gene-

rally known, he has had made of late a large number of photographs showing the proposed war vessels and the plan of operating them. His idea Is to adapt the barges to coast defense service. They are to be so constructed that by means of water ballast they can be submerged, leaving only a small turret fora lookout forward and the bow, or “snout” as it is termed, above water. In the bow, which is of great strength, two heavy guns will be stationed on an incline, and they will be so operated that while one is being fired the other is being charged below in the vessel. McDougall is said to have taken out patents on this style" of war vessels here as well as in several European countries.

M’DOUGALL’S WAR VESSEL.