The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-15
/ OCAL N q W 9,

The SUB-M ARiEE BATTERY.-An immense
concourse of people of both sexes and Of all
colors and descriptions-in carriages, on horse-
back, and on foot-were attracted to the Eastern
Branch on Saturday afternoon, to witness CoLrs
experiments with his Submarine Battery. The
bank of the Branch, from the Navy Yard to the
extreme end of Wind Mill or Buzzard Point, was
literally crowded with human beings. About
half mile below the Navy Yard was seen the
fated vessel, under the command of Lieut.. BOYLE,
of the Navy. She was barque Of 500 tons
burthen, full-rigged her sails partially SET with
al blood-red flag from her manmast and the U.
s. flag from her stern. A melancholy sensation
seemedto pervade all present, that ship pre-
senting SO fine an appearance, was SO shorty,
ings were frequently expressed by the multitude.
At half past o'clock, the arrival OF the Presi-
dent of the United States at the Navy Yard was
announced by the discharge ofartllery, and short
ly after sound resembling the far-off discharge
Of cannon notified the spectators that the anx-
ously-looked-for experiments had commenced
Every eye was turned towards the Branch, from
which an immense body Of water was seen to
arise in the air about an hundred and fifty feet,
resembling gigantic and magnificent jet d'eau
The crew of the barque were Immediately in
motion, the U. S. flag was lowered, the cable
slipped, and the vessel slowly and gracefully mo-
we'd towards the submerged battery. When
within an hundred yards of the battery, the COM
mander and crew left the barque in a boat, and
rocket was sent up from the latter as a signal
that they were in safety. Almost immediately
two batteries were discharged, in quick success
sion, few yards before the vessel, which agita-
ted the water tremendously, and threw up great
quantities of mud from the bottom. The vessel,
however, kept steadily on her course, and, on
arriving at the designated spot, another bate
ry exploded, and the graceful ship, which had
moment before " walked the water like thing
of life," was huge il-shapen wreck.
The battery had struck her directly under her
foremost, tearing her bow to atoms-what re-
manned of the wreck Immediately settled on the
bottom of the Branch. She was then boarded by
Lieut.. BOYLE, and the U. S. flag again raised,
probably to indicate to the occupants of the nu-
merous boats in the vicinity that the wreck was
not literally public property With another explo-
sion, such as we have attempted first to describe,
the experiments were completed, and the crowd
dispersed in every direction, all appearing fully
satisfied with their entire success.
fA*
TEMPERANcE.-On last Friday night, the fol-
lowing persons were elected officers of the Free
mems Vigilant Total Abstinence Society, for the
ensuing six months:
George Savage, President; Darius Clagett,
First Vice Presidents Joseph Whipple, Second
Vice President; James E. w. Thompson, Trea-
surer and Financial Secretary E. Brooke, Re-
cording Secretary and an Executive Committee
of FIVE members.
Col. Brooke, of Detroit, and Mr.. Holbrook, Of
Boston, first President of the Boston Washingto-
Man Society, addressed the meeting giving an
ani,nating account of the progress of the cause
in their sections of the country.
The LAST NIGHT-The Ethiopian Serenaders
will give their last entertainment in Washington,
this evening, at Apollo Hall, being for the benefit