Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1893 — The Electric Launch in Australia. [ARTICLE]

The Electric Launch in Australia.

Australia is following the English lead of the electric launch to its waters. An Australian correspondent gives a de--scription of a handsome model of this class of craft, 45 feet long, with a capacity of carrying over forty passengers. When going at full speed the launch travels at from ten to eleven knots. She is also constructed to carry sail and has already created considerable wonder and excitement among Sidney boat* ingmen, especially when she has been sailing along dead before a northeaster in company with some of the crack 24-foot half deckers, which carry an enormous spread of canvas and have very little draught, and which travel almost as fast as the wind itself. On occasions like these the Haidee, as she is called, has a way of hoisting sail and pretending that she is an innocent sailing craft with none too much speed. The half deckers come sailing after her, picking her up hand over hand, and as they get along side perhaps commence to throw out sarcastic hints as to towing, etc. This is the skipper’s opportunity. He reaches forward and gently and almost imperceptibly puts on the switch. Very shortly there is a change in the state of affairs and the crew of the halfdecker stare in wonder at this new forni of the Flying Dutchman which is propelled by an invisible power.