The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-09-27
SINKING OF A eDIvING SHIP

An experiment OF a new means Of dcstrpy-
Ing ahlps-0f-wAr, which wits prepared during
the late HoIafein diliiuultes terminated dis-
Ansrously. and almost trRgicAliy, near Kiel, in
Danish TIostein. We translate from tho
H,striie Zeifung. published at Leipsic Tho
following account Of the enterprise, and its
results b,
Tho machine was invented by an under
officer in the Sehleswig liolrtein ar1ny,by the
nAmo OF Bauer, and was intended 10 be nscd
in blowing mp tho Danish Ships,which. during
the late war wero operating against Schleswig
IIolstein. Having perfected his plan. Bauer
laid IL before tile government of Schles-
wig IIolstein and asked for their AID in build.
ing biA vessel. Bat they, not having faith in
the practicability of the plan, he was compel-
led 10 turn for assistance ~ rich individuals,
AMI succccdcd IN obtaining by subscription in
the Schleswig Ilolstein a sufficient SUM IN
enable him 10 undertake tho building OF hi
ship. frrt I'D.
Ia this way tho vessel was built in Kiol,
and completed In December of that year
This wonderful ship was launched in presence
Of Froat pumhcr OF spcrtahfs ~ the part
OF SaPel. In form Il rssrn'bles n coniib0a
yacht, eNeept that IL is much narrower a
tubs " placed in the foro part of ia. which IL
provided with very thick Window. md n trap
door for the cntrnnc0 and cSit of the mcn
necessary to work the ship; the evlsii'i- srp~-
ratus CONSISTS Of pump lor lifting and sinking
thc ship,aRd = screw by which IL IL propelled.
There are nlso in the fore part two gloves Of
guttA percha, protected by which the director
OF iha lisiAe chip a,tA.ea- tie -,ss-set F,egs-
zine 90 tho vessel intended 10 be blown up.--A
This Is iQnited from distance by means Of
n ralvanic wire. The sides NJ we'll m tho
deck of the vessel are of iron. An exact de-
Scription of the machinery cannot ba givcn.a<
the inventor very naturally does not wish
IN make IL public.
On the first trial, the sides az Uho ship, ~
we'll n, the pumps, proved quito too weak
difficulty which was early discovered, hnt
which was caused by tho want of funds. Tho
first trial was AncccaAhIr -herrrTrr, zz-baHcF
took caro- not 10 let his vessel sink too deep,
hcing Awatc that NJ the depth of thirty feet
his shin wonld inevitably be destroyed bv the
pressure of the water. The particular object
of the invcutor--the blowing MP of the Dan
ish ships of war--was prevented at that time.
as their ships had len the harbor on the Rp-
psoach Of frost. H.a
| Con the irst of February last, fSapcr fnatlr
another trial Of vessel, and this time lc
Nns not 80 fortunate Ms hclorc. lie dcsccnd-
cd. accompanied by two volunteers from tho
, Schlcswig IIolstcin navy. at nine o'clock in
tho mnrniur under water aud did not appear
ngain with his chip. Afler the boats which
had accompanied him had waited n long Tins
for the rc-appeaNnee Of the ship, cannon
were fired. IN the hope Of causing Il to rise
( Its plaee was fonntl after some search by drop
ping a lead. and the cries for help of the sub
merged men were heard from the depths of
tho water. tHs,
All possiblr attempts were mhde to lit tho
diving-ship, but they provcd vain. Strong
iron chains and cables were sunk in the water
and after long labor, some of them were actu-
ally made fast 10y Baner, bnt tho heavy ship
conld not be lifted upwards. and the multi
tudcs from the city, who had assembled in
boats, considered the rcscnc of the three un-
fortunate men MS impossible. What Bauer
had dreaded had taken place. The pumps,
when the vessel had reached tho depth Of 30
feet, worked badly. and ID was foresccn that
rs IL sank deeper they would he DESTROYED hy
the pressure of the water, or at least become
useless. What was dreaded, WINS not long
dclaycd--a crash followed, and the three snb-
merged mon looked upon their fate rs certain.
This was the most fearful moment, according
To Baucr'S Rcrount, Of the whole six hours
which he and his companions spent under wa
ter
Fortunately tho deck of the ship and tho
sidewalks remained lunininred, although nm
opening was mado in the lower part, by which
the water slowly entcrcd--a circumstance
which saved the three mon from certain death,
Tho attempts to liff -thc slAlP Ivy mems ~
cIains and cables were, ms VIC have remarked
given up after long and vain cxertions, and
nothing remained 20 Bauer and his rompan-
ions but their own efforts. The two strong-
est men tried TO open tho upper trap door,
but in win the pressure Of tho water was
too strong 10 allow them ioIiit II as much hs
IN inch and there remained but ono hoftr ~
salvation, and this was aleo severe trial of-
4 their paiicnec. II wis with difficulty that
Bauer persuaded his cohlInniohs 10 keep G,ni-
Ct aid avuid all useless waste OF their strrugth.
IIc could not make them satisfied viii, his
plan, which was to RwSIt quietly tho rising
of the water. till the pr'%surc of the air raus-
cd hy this rising wonld be strong enough tg
opcn tho trapslonE .5Jf K. ar+
H. With the greatest coolficss, 1lancr wfap-
ped himself in his cloak. and remained seated
in the upper part uf the sliip, chat nc might
noa 10 chilled bv tho cold water When the
ship ssii ~ far fled with water HAT tho thrr,r
differs stutal IN u MP % their weeks, and it
was nlninst impn~ibic Tor them a. breathe The
condensed air, Bauor gave TIM strongest NJ his
comr1niong the signal N make All aftcmp ~
open the door ffc ,eRs nhlc nSNx 20 li(l il
with o1sr. nnd waH carried IN tn, eaInsSnlo
Iuent -hv the prrSyhrc ID thCAit IN mil A llt,'
npcninE and thrown n, ,Inn the aurfaeA a. tl.tL
wntcr ligucr and his two ronpanions, wbo
wcrc almost iaintinR, naturally folIowtd. apd
Lall thEpe rearhud tho surface cf the water in