The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
PLOWDEN HALSEY.
a True Story.
by PROFESSOR PARK.

!.
by PROFESSOR PARK
In the time Of the last war with Great Bri-
tain, when the exertions of the immortal Full
ton and others were directed to the improve
ment Of scientific naval defence, and when
the fleets Of the enemy lowered on our sea-
board, bombarding our cities, pundering our
vessels, and destroying our commerce; a no.
vel and formidable plan was adopted 10 destroy
their ships and drive them from our coast
We refer to the torpedo and other machines
for submarine navigation, by means Of which
the largest man-of-war might be blown to
atoms, by "a magazine deposited under its bot
tom, while not the slightest trace Of an enemy
should be visible. However inhuman or I'M
fair might be this mode Of warfare in itself,
still il was but Just retaliation for the barba-
rites committed by the British and their sa-
wage allies in that bloody war. And although
owing to its imperfectiona and secrecy, Jour coun-
try at that time received but little benefit from
IT, yet the experiments then made prove that,
with longer practice and additional improve
ments, il might be made powerful means Of
sea-board defence. The most approved inyen-
ton for this purpose, was the torpedo, $50
called from its resemblance to the fish Of that
name,) or the sub marine vessel Of Mr.. Bush
nell. 1t consisted Of concave frame, re-
scmbling two boats, one inverted and covering
the other, so that the upper and under surfaces
somewhat resembled the shell Of the tortoise.
1t was large enough to allow man to sit up
right in the cavity, and to contain enough air
to support life considerable time, and when
properly closed was entirely waterproof. 1t
was propelled by means Of spiral oars turning
IL $50. Al al.
reach OF the operator, and acted upon the wa
ter on the principle of the endless screw. One
Of these was placed at each end Of the ma
chine, to propel It forward or backward, and
one at the top and bottom to raise or lower it
in the water. Four keels, uniting at each
end, gave it constant direction; and it was
loaded with weight sufficient to keep it Just
beneath the surface Of The water; but a part
Of this load might be disengaged from the out
side, to raise the torpedo speedily to the sur
face. Attached to one end, was conical
magazine, sufficient to blow up the heaviest
ship, which could be fired at pleasure by the
person in the torpedo, by means Of the con-
Meeting machinery When it was intended to
blow up ship by means Of this machine, it
was first towed as near as could be done with
safety, to the devoted vessel, when the opera
tor was inclosed in its gloomy cavity, provided
with lights, and a compass by which he d.
rected his course, having first calculated the
direction and distance Of the ship, and ascer-
tanned the currents or tides and probable speed
Of the torpedo. The operator might at plea
sure rise to the surface and look out through
a small window, or take in fresh air if necessa-
ny by means of tubes prepared for the pur-
pose. Having arrived directly under the ship,
he would then fasten the magazine to its bot
tom by means of a screw at the vortex Of the
conical chamber ofpowder. This screw was
made so sharp, that by slight exertion il
would pierce the copper bottom of the ship
and penetrate deeply into the timber. The
operator would then disenage the magazine
from the torpedo, set the machine in motion,
which would produce an explosion in given
time, and make his escape as soon as possi
BILE beyond the reach of its effects. Then,
while all was Joy and tranquility on the ships
deck, while officers and men were feasting
and carousing, perhaps imprecating them
selves or profaning the name Of their Maker,
the spectator at distance starts at the vivid
flash, the tremendous report, and sees the
mighty vessel blown to the sky, filling the air
with thousand fragments, cleaving the ocean
TO the bottom, then sinking in the deep, with
all whom. it contained, to rise no more for
ever. Such was the warfare which terrified
the st,utest heart, and would soon have driven
the whole navy of Great Britain away from
the coast of the United States.
It was near the close Of the year 1914, that
British man-of-war was lying at the mouth
Of New London harbor, in Connecticut, caus-
ing great annoyance to the commerce Of that
city and the troops in the vicinity. Mr.. Bush
nell's machine had been invented and some
experiments tried with it at New York, which
augured favorably to its success. A secret
fund was raised at New London, and a large
sum privately offered TO the person who would
blow up this ship by means of the torpedo
At length brave, patriotic and ambitious
young man offered to attempt its execution.-
His name was Plowden Hasey, the youngest
son of a large and honorable family, most of
whom had sunk to the grave by hereditary
consumption, and left his mother nearly child
less. Hazardous as was the enterprise, it was
with much difficulty that the youth could OBJ
tain permission of his parents to venture his
life, so dear to them, till at length that patriot
ic mother with tears in her eyes. devoted her
darling son for the good Of her countryer-
Immediately and secretly the necessary
preparations were made for this hazardous
undertaking, and the most confident hopes Of