The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-01-28
.NESCEEE.4.7'EOES.
INTERESTING REVOLT TIoNARY ~
CIDENT.


CIDENT.
DIED-At Lyme Conn on the ooh
u!i. Captain Ezra Lee, aged 20, reyolU
tionary officer. When Tue British feet lay
IN the North river, opposite The city Of n.
York, and while Gen. Washington had pos
session Of the city, he was very DESTROYS TO
BE- rid Of such ueignoors. Sir. Bushnell
Of Say brook, Conu., who had The genics Ct
a Fulton, constructed such marine ma
chine Of coucal form, bound together with
iron bands, within which a person might
sit, and with cranks aud skulls could naYi.
gate to any depth under water. 10 the up
per pari was affixed vertical screw for the
purpose Of penetrating ships bottoms, and
to this was attached a magazine Of powder,
within which was clock, which, on being
sci TO run any given time, would, when run
down, spring gun lock, and au explosion
would follow. THIS Marine Turtle, SO call
ed, was examined By Gen. Washington and
approved; to preserve secrecy, il was ex.
perlmen,ed within an enclosed yard, over
twenty to thirty feet water ard hep, during
daylight locked up l vessels hold. The
brother Of the inyeu,or vas 10 be The per.
son to navigate the machine into action, but
% sinking il the frs! Tins, tie declined the
service.
Gen. Washington, unwilling 10 relinqaisb
the object, requested Major Gen. Parson 10
select a person 10 whom be could coufJe,
voluntarily, TO engage 10 the enterprise; the
latter being vel acquainted With the be
Ioic spirit, The patriotism, and The firm and
steady courage Of the deceased above men.
toned. Immediately communicated the plau
AMI the offer, which lie accepted, observing
tia. bis life was al Gen. WayLingtoa's ser
vice. AGer practising the machine, uoli
he understood rs powers Of balancing and
moving under water, night was fixed upon
ior the attempt. Gen. Washington and his
associates il The secret, took their station
upon the roof q house in Broadway, aux
lousiy awaiting the result. Morning came
and 20 Intelligence could be had Of the in.
trepd Submarine navigator, nor could the
boat Which attended hun, give account Of
him after parting with him the frs! part Of
The night
Whje these anxious spectators we're
about to give htm up as lost, several bar2es
were seen to start suddenly from Govern.
or's Island, Chen 10 possession Of the Brit,
!sh,) and proceed towards some object near
the ASIA ship Of the lIne-as suddenly they
were seen to put about and steer for the Is.
land with springiBg oars. 10 two or three
minutes an explosion took place, from the
surface Of tie water, resembling water
spout, which aroused ile whole city and re.
gion the enemy's ships lo,k the alarm sig.
nails we're rapidly given The SHIPS Gu, their
cables and proceeded to the Hook with all
possible despatch, sweeping theIr bottoms
with chains, and wlih difficulty prevented
their crews from leapIng overheard.
During this scene Of cons. ernation, the
deceased came 10 the surface, opened the
brass head Of ms aquatic machine ; rose and
gave signal lor the boa, to come to him,
but they could not reach hip, until he again
descended under water, 10 avoid the enemy's
shot from the Island, who had discovered
Aitb uilu IOiUHISiltrJ t4iii-E IA 1853 wilt
Having forced himself against strong cur
rent under water until without the reach Of
shot, be sas taken 10 tow and landed al
the Battery, amidst great crowd, aud re-
ported himself 10 Gen. Washington, who
expressed bis entire satisfaction that the
object was effected without the loss Of llyes.
The deceased was under the Asla's bottom
more than two hours, endeayofng to pebe
irate her copper, but 70 VAIN. IIe frequent
" came up under her stern gallery, search
ing COR exposed planks, and could hear the
sentinel's cry. Once he was discovered Dy
the watch on deck, and heard them specu
late upon hin, but concluded drihed tog
had paid them a ylsit--he returned 70 Me
bottom and examined il fore aud at, and
then proceeded to other ships but the 100
possibility Of penetrating the copper, for
want of resisting power, saved the lives
Of hundreds. The longest space Of ume b.
coold remain under water was two hours.
For particular description gfqhis sub ma
rae curiosity, see S.l.Han's journal ol Arts
cad Sciences.--Phi Sat Colr.