The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-12
NORFOLK, July 27.
TORPEDO.

When we have a savage enemy at threshold,
who is waging most brutal and bloody war, not
only upon those who arrayed in arms against
him, but upon the aged and nfirm, upon innocence
and virtue, it hehoves Us to adopt measure for
sure and retaiiate upon his cruelties. This
tment we cannot suppress, Notwithstanding our alb.
horrcnce OF multiplying the evils and calamies OF
war. And We exut that ii is within the scope of
our ingenuity, if within the power of our arms,
to deal a more deadly blow upon the enemy than he
can possibly infict upon us-The discovery OF sub
marine explosion, as adapted TO the destruction of
shipping, has been long treated with rdicnle and
contempt By many Possibly wish to dscounten.
snse any efforts TO discover ameans of rendering
the naval powero England less formidable and less
difficult to encounter with success, may have infu-
enced the decisions Of many people respecting TOR
PEDOES however this may be, yet certain 1t IS,
that Congress did attract an unusual quantum ofcen.
sure, abuse and ridcule because it voted sum OF
money towards. .ascer,aning the efficacy or mprac.
ticability Of using them against naval armament
The certainty that Torpedoes competent to ef-
feet all that their inventor has promised, begins to
be established by experlment--by practice That
they may be rendered most Formidable engine n
ganst the enemy's shipping, the subsequent facts
will shew and We make. no doubt that with proper
encouragement from government, enterprises OF the
same kind will multiply while waters are infested
with single British NAH Of war. Revenge tor the
barbarous, the 6eiid like conduct Of the enemy at
Hampton, and along our shores, will impel many
adventurers to The attempt even IT interest dld nos
hold out n sufficient excitement.
Mt. b. Mix, of the Navy. gentleman OF inge.
nuity and enterprise, has been for several weeks
past preparing Torpedoes, to attempt the explosion
OF some of the enemys shipping in Lynnhssen bay.
The British "a gun slip Plaptagenet. that has for
month past been laying abreast OF Cape Henry ight
house. and has rarely had the company OF any other
vessel. appeared Mr.. Mix as the most favorable
objee, for trying his experiment on
Accordingly, on the night OF the 18th July, &C.
companed by Capt. Bowmsn Of Salem, and Mid
shpman Mc'Gowan of the United States Navy, who
volunteered their assistance during the whole OF the
enteprize he left his place Of rendezvous and pro-
ceeded down to the Rantagenet, "a. in large open
boat, which he calls the I" Chesapeake's Rerenge."
and from previous observations found no difficulty
in ascct.aning the position Of the ship.-When he
gotto within forty hthoms Of her, he dropped the
Torpedo over. in the very instant OF dong which he
was hailed by one Of the enemy's guard boats The
machine was speedily taken into the boat again, and
he made his way off in safety. On The night OF the
10Th he made another attempt, and was again dis
covered ere he could accomplish his purpose. On
the night cf the 10th he succeededu getting within
fifteen Yards Of the ships bows and directly under
her ii5 boom There he continued moking his pre-
para,ons for fifteen minutes, when ceninei from
the forecastIe hailed, boat ahoy " and &c had TO
slccamp --rhe cen,inel not being answered. fred
his musket, which was followed oy rapid dis
charge of small arms. Blue Igh,s ve'e ma,le, TO
find out tho boat, but failed; ,hts iLcp threw rOck
cts in different directions, which Illuminated ,lr
ter for.a considerable width Car az they we're
thrown, and succeeded in discovering he noc'c al
visitor; when tue ship conInenosdS rapid fife q
heavy guns slipped her cables srd mr,e some s.l
while her Bo.,s we're despatched ~ fuFsas Tie