Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-11-05
INR PRINTING.
Easy Method of Capturing the Castle
of SAN Juan D'UlIOa, at Vera CrnZ.


Mr.. Wise, the aronaui, has come before The
public. in the columns OF The Lancaster, Pa. J
Republican, with plan for taking the business
out of The hands of Generals Taylor, WORTH
and Patterson, and dong up the Mexicans al
,hor, notice We do not think our readers
would be satisfied with less than the whole ar
licle:
Mr. d. s. fier:-The present condition
Of the war with Mexico, will require our forces
10 reduce Vera Cruz And il is acknowledged
on all sides TO be an extraordinarily well fortl-
fed point OF defence, almost impregnable TO the
common mode of warfare, and at bes, cannot
be Iaken IN that way, without great sacrifice
Of lie and ammunition. | will suggest plan 10
our War Department, that will render the cap
Iure of The Castle of San Juan D'Ulloa as fea-
sble and easy as the launching of frigale.
Although the plan shall propose may seem
novel 10 many, sulI brlef detail of it, think,
will satisfy the most incrcdulous of lis efficacy.
In The first place, it will require the construc-
ilon OF a balloon Of common Iwilled muslin, of
about one hundred feet diameter This ma
chine, properly coated with varnish. will retain
ils buoyancy for many days or weeks. 1t will
be capable, whea inflated, TO raise over $4,000
p,unds-say 10000 independent of its own
weight, net work, car and cable 1t can be in
laied in day, or less time, if necessary. The
process of initiation may be accomplished on
land, or on board man of war at sea, as cir-
cumslances may require-lhe car TO be loaded
with percussioned bomb shells and iorpedoes
10 the amount of $4,000 pounds, which will
leave 1000 pounds for ballast and men. Thus
will be ready 10 be placed in position for
deadly action, IN very shori time. The cable
hy which il is 10 be maneuvred may be al
least five miles long, so that The balloon, at
mile of elevation, would leave The vessel, OF
land position, which act as the retaining point,
oui Of The reach Of the Castle guns, and under
The cover OF our own batteries. The man o.
war balloon, horerng mile above The Castle
like a cloud of destruction, would be entirely
out OF danger OF the enemies guns, since they
could not be made 10 bear al an object imme-
dialely above them. The position of the bal
loon as 10 heighrh and distance from the retain
Ing point, could be easily maintained by keep
lng propel eye 10 lis baasring As it would
become lighiened By The discharge of shells
Hud iorpedoes, an adequate quantity of gas can
also be discharged
IL gun from the Castle could be ever made
10 bear upon the war balloon, II would soon be
slienced by The rapldny, precision, and certain
". with which the deadly missiles could be
ehowefed down upon them.
With this eral war ship hanging mile
above The fort, supplied with thousand per-
could be taken without the loss Of single life
d" Tue army. and al an expense thai would be
comparatively nohing TO v hat it will be TO take
II by The common mode of Attack
Through The medium of your journal would
most respectfully suggest ,hIs plan To our gov
erument, and will tender nv services for lis
construction, and when constructed will, if ne.
cessary. most cheeffuy undertake its direc-
torship into actual service, a, moments warn
ing. Very respectfully, your friend and fellow
eIazen, J. WISE.
LANCASTER, Oct %, 1916.