Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-29
fIorpedoes again I!

VoRFoLK, JHfy 27.
- When we have savage enemy at our threshold,
who is waging mont brutal aud bloody war, not
only upon those wt9 are fflrayed in arms against
him, but upon the aged apt Mtlm, upon innocence
and virtue il beboyes us t0ad0pt measure for me:,-
sure, and retaliate upoHhinAhis crueties--
This sentiment cannOtsuppress, Notwithstanding
our horrors OF multiplying the evils and Caiamtics OF
war And exut that IT is within the scope of our
ingenuity, il not within the power OF our arms,
deal a more deadly blow upon the enemy than lac
can possibly iniiict us.rhe discovery of subna-
rne ex plosion adapted to the destruction of ship
ping, has been Tong treated with ridicue and
TEMPT by many.--Possibly wish to discounte-
Dance any effort to discovers means of rendering
the naval power oil England less formidable and less
difficult TO encounter with success, may have nlu-
cncedt he decisions OF many people respecting or
peocs however this may be, yet certcin il is, that
Congress did attract an unusual quantum ofccnsure
abuse and ridcule because it voted OF money
towards ascertaining the efficacy On mpracticaby
of using them against naval aryhamcnt
1hc,eeftan.ty that TorpedDes are competent to
effect all TINT tletrinvento1bas promised begins TO
be estabiithed by eNperipfnt-by PrGcfice. That
they may be rendered s1snost formidable engine a.
g,nst the enem, slpI5hg tfesubsequentf facts will
show; and make qgdoubt with proper encsu-
ragcment from sc> ey6nent, enterprises oihe same
Kind will multiply While waters arc infested witli
single British nlfn OF war. Rerenge for the bar
barous the liendefke conduc tVf the enemy 1t HdDb
tor aud along our shores, willimpe many adventure
ers to the attempt even II Interest did not hold out
"a GulAeient excitement.
Mr.. r. Mix Of the Navy, q gentleman Of ingenuity
and enterprize, has been for several weeks past pre-
pairing TorpeLocs to attempt the explosion OF some
Of the enemys shipping III LynBhaven bay----1'he
British "a gun ship Pautaecuet, that has for nonl
past been laying abreast of Cape Henry hight house
and has rarely had he company Of any other vessel
s,leared TO MIR. Mix the most favorable object
tortrying iis experiment on.
Accordingly on the night OF the lSIh July, accom-.
pancd by Capt. Bowman OF Salem aud Ahdslnpmau
MeGowan, eftle u. S. Navy, who volunteered uiei
assistance during thc whole Of the enterprise, lie
left his place of rendezvous aud proco odcd down tC
She Pantageuct, ~, in large open boat, which h'
calls tie " CicsapeGke's RtJenge," aud from pre-
Vious observations found difficulty in stcrtainp,
the position Of the slip. Wien lie had got to with
IA 40 lsthom Of her, lac dropped tic torpedo 0N en-
ip lie very instant of doing heh lac was hailed bl
me OF tie enemy guard boats. The machine wa
speedily taken into the boat again, and lie Iaadc III
way eft in safety. On tie night OF the I9th lie made
tnotlier attempt, and was asaG disco, crcd ere h,
could accomplish his purlnsRrf -Cn the night Q
the Q0ui hc succeeded ia getl9< thin 5 yards o
The shi,Ss bow, AID directly k4'ier her jib-6oom-
4 here lie contiuued mixing W preparations for 1
minutes, hen a eeniinetrcnJ tie IUreeastle halle,
q bost alloy p and be had 90 decsmp. The cent
rel not bciug answered, fred his mGskei, which wa
followed By a rapid dsehai &c Of small arms--Blu
Irbts rx16Adc, 20 ind out the Loaf, but failed
hey hedthtew rockets in different directions " lIic
iCuria,d ths water for considerable width as fa
~ they we're thrown, and succeeted IN dsceverin
te uostion Vi the nocturnal visitor; when the sii
commenced RAPID Gire d heavy guns, Slipped he
cables, and made saiJ while her boats en-
Sygr' escaped unhur1,s -. <.0rsits we're repeate
ON the nights OF the 49, spGud z3rd, witho,
success, Us the ship, ha,' taken tue alarm. chan
gsd Lsi' position every nigNt. GA lho night Of tn