The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1839-11-14
PIOWDEN HALSEY.


PLOWDEN HALSEY.
| TRUE STORMY PROFESSOR PARK.
n the time Of our last war with
,,,,at Britain, when the exertions Of
hin 4, immortal Fulton and others were
fr,cted to the Improvement ofscien-
,,iac naval defence, and when the
s,e,s Of the enemy lowered on our
aa.bosrd, bombarding our cities, plum
ldsrjng our vessels, and destroying our
eom,nerce; a novel and formidable
| Man was adopted to destroy their ships
and drive them from our coast. We.
refer 10 the torpedo and other subma-
rine navigation, by means Of which the
largest man Of war might be blown to
atoms, by a magazine deposited under
lis bottom, while not the slightest
trace Of an enemy should be visible.
However inhuman or unfair might be
lhs mode Of warfare in itself, still it
was but a just retaliation for the bar
|hrities committed by the British and
Their savage allies in that bloody war.
And although owing to its imperfec-
lion and secrecy, our country at that
time received but little benefit from
/, yet the experiments then made
Prove that, with longer practice and
|ddillonal improvements, it might be
made powerful means Of sea board
|eisnce. The most approved inven-
|ion for this purpose, was the torpedo
$50 called from its resemblance to the
fish Of thst name,) or the submarine
vessel Of Mr.. Bushnell. 1t consisted
ola concave frame, resembling two
boats one inverted and covering the
other, so that the upper and under sur
aces somewhat resembled the she'll of
the, tortoise. 1t was large enough to
allow man to sit upright in its cavi-
ty, and to contain enough air to sup
pert life for a considerable time, and
sbsn properly closed was entirely
ra proof. 1t was propelled by
mems OF spiral oars turning on axes,
which passed into the cavity within
zach Of the operator. and acted upon
be water on the principle Of the end
Is screw! One of these was placed
Feach end of the machine, to propel
l forward or backward, and one at
DE top and bottom, to raise OF. low
cit in the water. Four keels, unit
las at each end, gave it a constant
erection; and it was loaded with a
Weight sufficient to keep it just be-
heath the surface Of the water; but a
part Of this load might be disengaged
lam the outside, to raise the torpedo
speedily to the surface. Attached to
one end was a conical magazine sufi-
cent to blow up the heaviest ship,
which could be fired at pleasure by
The person in the topedo, by means
q the connecting machinery. When
was intended to blow up ship by
Means OF this machine, it was first
owed as near as could be done
'ilh safety, to the devoted vessel,
ahen the operator was inclosed in its
9aomy cavity, provided with lights,
lad a compass by which he directed
Us course, having first calculated the
lfectIon and distance Of the ship, and
sseertalned the currents or tides and
Improbable speed Of the topedo. The
'perator might at pleasure rise to the
'aflace and look out through a small,
window, or take in fresh air if neces-
: ary, BY means of tubes. prepared for
ae purpose. Having arrived direct
y. under the ship, he would then fas-
vi ~ Inc magazine to it's bottom BY
aassls OF a screw at the vortex of the
~. .Oleal chamber of powder. This
s NlsW was made SO sharp that bya
y ras1l exertion it would pierce the cop
d sa. So't1om Of the ship, and penetrate
asep \ INTO the timber. The operator
. y. then disengage the magazine
IVA, .oa. the torpedo, set the machine in
\, l1Io'!on, which would produce an ex-.
I, IN a given time; and make his
, s.s as soon as possible beyond the
. saca Of Its effects. Then, while all
- ~ Joy and !, tranquility on the ships
!sck, while officers and men were
'sast'ng and carousing, perhaps i'm
'llecating. themselves or profaning the
'a =! Of their Maker, the spectator at
Instance starts at the vivid flash, the
,slnendous report, and sees the NIGH
\. vessel s blown to the sky, filing the
y with With a thousand fragments, cleav-
* Inc ocean to the bottom, then sink
II IN the deep, with all whom it con-
' y. to rise nomore for ever. Such
ny ,,s'' the warfare which terrified the
ll .;'' heart, and would soon have
\, ,','en the whole navy of Great Brit
i, i s sWay from the coast Of the Unit
10 : was Hear the close of the year
' :. that British man-of-war was
& az the mouth of New London
,ana IN Connecticut, causing great
'4p0yance to the commerce Of that