The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-01

by means Of this machine, it was first towed
as near as could be done with safety to the
devoted vessel, when the operator was en-
closed in its gloomy cavity, provided with
lights and compass, by which he directed his
course, having first calculated the direction and
distance Of the ship, and ascertaned the cur
rents or tide, and probable speed Of the tor
pedo. The operator might at pleasure rise to
the surface and look out through small win
| dow, or take in fresh all, If necessary, by
means Of tubes prepared for the purpose.
Having arrived directly under the ship, he
would then fast'n the magazine to its bottom
by means Of screw at the vortex of the con-
ical chamber of the powder. The screw was
made so sharp that by a single exertion 1t
would pierce the copper bottom Of the ship,
and penetrate deeply iato the timber. The
operator would then disengage the magazine
from the torpedo, set the machine in motion,
which would produce an explosion in given
time. and make his escape as soon as possible
beyond the reach Of its effects. Then while
all was JOY and tranquility on the ships deck,
while officers and men were feasting and ca
rousing, perhaps imprecating themselves or
profaning the name of their Maker, the spec
tator at a distance starts at the vivid flash, tre-
mendous report. and sees the mighty vessel
blown to the sky, filling the air with thousand
fragments, cleaving the ocean to the bottom
then sinking in the deep, with all whom it
contained to rise no more forever. Such was
the warfare which terrified the stoutest heart
and would soon have driven the whole navy
Of Great Britain away from the coast of the
United States.
1t was near the close of the year 1915. that
British man Of war was lying at the mouth
of New London harbor, in Connecticut, caus.
ing great annoyance TO the commerce of that
city and the troops in that vicinity Mr. Bush
nell's machine had been invented, and some
experiments tried with it at New York, which
argued favorably to it's success A secret
fund was raised at New London, and a large
sum privately offered to the person who would
blow up this ship by means of the torpedo
At length brave, patriotic and ambitious
young man offered to attempt its axetution.-
His name was Plowden Halsey. the Youngest
son Of the large and honorable family, most
of whom bad sunk to the grave by hereditary
consumption, and left his mother nearly child
less. Hazardous as was the enterprise, it was
will. much difficulty the youth could obtain
the permission of his parents to venture his
life, so dear TO them, till at length that patriot
ic mother. with tears in her eyes. devoted her
Il ri, e., e r..
medately and secretly, the necessary prepara-
tions were made for the hazardous undertake
ing, and most confident hopes of success wer.
entertained by all who had any knowledge of
the project. But there was one felt more
deeply interested IN the success of the scheme
than the hero himself, or his aHectionate moth
er-one whose pillow was nightly ba,hed in
tears at the bare apprehension Of the danger
to which her lover would Voluntarily expose
himself, while she esteemed him the more
highly for the courage and bo,dness he evinced
in his noble undertaking. She, the young, the
beautiful, the amiable, who had been scarcely
willing TO make the slightest return for the
passion he had so constantly cherished during
long and intimate acquaintance, now that
danger approached in its most frigltfnl ,rm.
no tonger scrupifd to acknowledge her recip-
rocal affection and beseech him by his love
and regard for her, not to expose himself to
the perils Of his project. But the noble youth
while his eye beamed with tear of tenderness
held more firmly his resolution to make him
self worthy Of so grateful an attachment.
At length an evening arrived suitable to his
fixed purpose. He had given a parting kiss
to the maiden--had wept at his mothers grief.
and melted to tears at her tenderness, and bid
her farewell, perhaps forever. The torpedo
was in readiness and he descended with trem
ulous steps to the shore, having before him
the alternative of death on the one hand, or
affluence and life on the other. The night
chosen as most favorable to success was dark
and gloomy. Not a breath of air was stirring,
and thick clouds covered the heavens, porten-
ding storm slowly approaching. A few
lights still glimmeripg from the shallop scat
tered thinly over the bay, and the hoarse cry
Of the watchman was heard in the deserted
streets of the city, "ten o'clock, and all 9
well" as Halsey reached the place Of rendez-
vous. A boat we'll manned was in readiness
to transport him as near the enemy as could
be done with safety; and having received him,
oars were vigorously applied to the completion
Of this object. When they had arrived at the
distance of eighty rods from the enemy's ship,
its towering masts appeared family in the sur
rounding mist, and their direction was taken
by the help of dark lantern. The torpedo,
with lis appendage magazine, was loosened
from the boat young Halsey took his place
in the fatal machine, its entrance was closed,
its ballast adjusted by the men in the boat,
and it gently sunk beneath the water, nd be-
gan =, move slowly in the direction of the Br-
tish ship. The boats crew hastily, but SILENT
ly, rowed towards the place of rendezvous pre-
viously appointed, and awaited the event.
But hardly hac they proceeded to double their
distance from the enemy's ship when the rain
began to fall in torrents, attended by severe
gust of wind, and the waves lashed the sides of
their boats with increased violence.
Constantly watching the British ship, they
at length saw unusual lights moving upon the
forecastle, anil heard confused noise like the
cry of "ali hands on deck" An alarm gun