The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-10-20
Death on the Bottom of the Deep.
Discovery of n Buried Torpedo BORt on
CharIesIom-Sfme skeletons Rt the
Wheel-A Dead Captain with n
Candle fAa his Hand-Re-
markable Career OF .
Remarkable Boat.

Coniedcraies upon torpedoeS anu torpedo
boats.
The most remarkable of these boats was
constructed in Mobile by Messrs lIundley &
M.Crntock, and launched in 1864 ; and no.
thing which has gone down into the sea was
more wonderfully more fearfully contrived
to wreak destruction and vengeance upon
friend and foe.
She was built Of boiler iron and was i'm
peryous to water or air. Her extreme
length was about go feet, with or feet
beam and about or feet dt pth Of bold
In general contour she rescmbed a cigar,
sharp at both ends. She was propelled by
a screw, the shaft Of which ran horizontally
along her hold. almost from st,m TO stern,
and was turned by the man-force of men.
seated along it, on either side.
The only hatch way was circular, about 2
feet in diameter, with low combing around
it, which was placed we'll forward, and,
when desired, could be closed by an iron cap
working on hinges and made air-tight. In
the forward part Of this cap was inserted
clear glass bulls eye, through which the Il
lot could see. She was provided with water
tight compartments, by filing or emptying
which she would sink or rise, and To enable
her to rise instantly her ballusting, OF rail-
road bars, was placed on her bottom, outside
OF her hull and, by means Of keys accessible
10 DeT crew. COutl DC NcIdCIiStl III IlIulIfCulJ
so that she would rise quickly to the sur face.
Besides her rudder. which was of the
usual form, this vessel was equipped with
side paddles or fms, which, like those of a
fish, served to guide it up or down with
ference to the surface of the water.
To prepare for action, floating torpedo
was secured to her stern by line more than
one hundred feet long, and her crew having
embarked. the water tanks were lied until
the boat was IN eqmtibrio, and almost sub
merged. The hatchway was closed, the me
revolyed the shaft, the captain or pilot,
standing under the hatch, steered the boat.
regulating, at the same time, by the action
Of her lateral fms, the depth at which she
would move.
Her greatest speed did not exceed four
knots. She would remain submerged for
half an hour without any great incUnveni-
ence to her crew, and, on one occasion, has
been known to remain under water for two
hours without actual injury to them although
20 means were provided for procuring fresh
air, and, from the moment the hatch was
closed. the meE thus fastened in their living
tomb inhaled and exhale0 continuously the
atmosI here which was enclosed with them.
The plan of attack proposed by the iuven-
tors was to dive beneath the enemy'S ship,
hauling the torpedo after her. Its triggers,
the ships bottom, explode the torpedo, and
inevitably sink the ship.
Not anticipating an early opportunity of
using this dangerous vessel against the fleet
of Farragut, Gen. Maury sent her by rail to
Gen. Beauregard, believing the waters of
that harbor better suited to her peculiar
construction, while in the Ironsides, or some
other gigantic ship then attacking
Charleston, might be found an object worth
the great risk to which her own crew were
exposed in any enterprise they might under
take in her.
Beauregard changed the arrangement Of
the torpedo by fastening it to the bow. Its
front was terminated by sharp and barbed
lance-head. so that when the boat was driven
end on against a ships sides, the lance head
would be forced deep into the timbers, below
the water line. and would fasien the torpedo
firmly against the ship. Then the toI pedc
boat would back off and explode it by Ian.
yard.
Beauregard's call upon the Confederate
feet for volunteers to man this dangerous
craft was promptly answered by Lieutenant
Payne. Virginian, and eight sailors. They
were soon ready for ACTION, aud. on the even
ing set for the expedition, the last prepara-
tUn had been made.
The torpedo boat was lying alongside the
She was submerged till the cumbing Of hei
hatch alone was visible above the water -
Her commander. Payne, standing il
the hatchway, in the act Of ordering her t,
be cast off, when the swell of passing steam
er rolled over her and sunk her instantly
with her eight men, in several fathoms O
water. Lieut.. Payne sprang out Of th
hatchway as the boat sank from uuder him
and he alone was left alive.
In few days she was raised, and again
made ready for service. Again Payne vol
unteered, and eight men with him.
The embarkation for their secoud attemp
made from Fort Sumter. and, as before
all having been made ready. Payne, stand
ing at his post in the hatcLway, ordered tn
hawser to be cast off-when the boat ca
reened and sank instantly. Payne spran
out; two of the men followed him tn
other six went down in the boat and pei
ished.
Again the boat was raised and made read
for action. and her owner, Captain Hundley
took her for an experimental trip into Ston
river, where, after going through her usua
evolutions, she dived in deep water, and fc
days The return Of poor Hundiey and hi
crew was locked for in vain.
After nearly a weeks search she wa
found inclining at an angle of 40 degrees
WIN III LAtS tilfeu ueep INTO ID6 SCI
mud of the bottom Her crew of pine dea
were standing, sitting and lying about i
her hold. asphy xiated. Huudley was stand
ing dead at his post. with a candle in on
band. while the other had grown still vit
death in his vain efforts to unclamp tn
hatch. Others had been working at tn
keys of the ballast, but the inclination &
which the boat had gone down had iamme
the keys so that the men could not cast 0
the heavy weight which held them down.
Their deaths bad been hard and lingering.
Again this fateful vessel was made read
for action, aud volunteers being called foI
Lieut.. Dixon, 2lst Alabama volunteers,
native OF Mobile, ahG eight men voiunteere
to take her against the enemy
The new and powerful war ship, Honsa
tonic, was selected for attack, and, on
qniet night, the bravest crew that eve
manned a craft set out from Charleston il
this terrible Dameless torne,Io hoat