The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1868-01-09

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driving would also answer the same pur.
pose; when the wood screw was firmly
hxed, 1t could be cast off by unscrewing
the rod, which fastened i, upon the top
Of the tube.
Behind the submarine vessel was a
place above the rudder for carrying a large
powder magazine; this WAS made Of two
pieces OF oak timber, large enough, " hen
followed out, to contain one hundred and
hfty pounds ofpowder, with the appara
tus used iu firing it, and was secured in
its place by screw, turred by the operar
tor A strong piece Of rope extended
from the magazine 10 the wood screw a,
bove mentioned, aad vas fastene ed to both.
When the wood screw was fixed, and to
be cast off from its tube, the magazine
was to be cast off likewise by uuscrew:ng
1t, leaving it hanging to the wood screw
it was Lighter than the water, that it
might rise up against the object, to which
the wood screw and itself were fastened.
Within the magazine was an apparatus,
constructed to run any proposed length Of
time, under twelve hours when it had
run out its time, it unpinioned strong
lock resembling a gun lock, which gave
fire to the powder. This apparatus was
pinioned, that it could not possibly move,
till, by casting of the magazine from the
vessel, it was set in motion.
The skilful operator could swim so low
on the surface Of the water as to approach
very near ship in the night, without fear
ofbeing discovered, and might, II he chose.
approach the stem or stern above water,
with very little danger. lie could sink
very quickly, keep at any depth he pleas
ed, and row great distance in any direc
ton he desired, without coming to the
surface, and when he rose to the surface.
he could soon obtain fresh supply ofair,
when, II necessary, he might de3ceud A.
81" ohN luisuc MS course.
EXPERIMENTS.
In the first essays with tie subm arine
vessel | took care TO prove lis strength to
sustain the great pressure of the incum
bent water, when sunk deep before
trusted any person to descend much be,
low the surface and never suffered any
person to 90 under water without having
strong piece Of rigging made fast to it,
until found him well acquainted with
the operations necessatr for his safety
After that | made him descend, and con.
'inne at particular depths, without rising
or sinking, row by the compass, approach
a vessel, go under her. and fix the wood
screw mentioned before into fer bottom,
ETC., until thought him sufficiently ex.
pert to put my design into execution.
found, agreeably to my expectations,
that it required many trials to make n
person of common ingenuity a skilful
operator the first employed was very
ingenious, and made himself master Of the
business, but was taken sick in the cam.
paign Of l77G, at New York, before he
bad an opportunity TO make use Of his
skill, and never recovered his health sufff
ciently afterward.
ATTEMPT TO SINK BRITISH SHIP OF WAR.
After various attempts to find An ope.
rator to my wish, | sent one, who appear
ed more expert than the rest, from New
York, to a fifty gun ship, lying not far
from Governors Island. lie went under
the ship, and attempted to fix the wooden
screw into her bottom, but struck, as be
supposes, bar of iron, which passes from
the rudder hinge, and is spiked under the
ships quarter. Had he moved few
inches, which he might have done, with.
out rowing, have no doubt but he would
have found wood where he might have
fixed the screw: or, IL the ship were
sheathed with copper, he might easily
have pierced it; but not being we'll skill
ed in the management of the vessel, in
attempting to move to another place. he
lost the ship; after seeking her in vain.
for some time, he rowed some distance,
and rose to the surface of the water, hu,
found daylight had advanced SO far, tha,
he burst not renew the attempt. He saws
that he could easily have fastened the
magazine under the stern OF the ship, a,
bove water, as he rowed up to the sterp,
and touched IL before he descended. Had
he fastened il there, the explosion Of one
hundred and fifty pounds Of powder (tbe
quantity contained in the magazine) must
have been fatal to the ship. In his return
from The ship TO New York he passed
near Governors Island, and thought be