The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-22
The Torpedo Explosion nj Kiel.

Inc IOrpeuO Explosion nj Mel.
A N eyewitness OF this disaster has
IN written description OF the scene
4" Yesterday august 11,) at IL o'clock
mid day, ] went on board the Eloe,'
small steamer, detached to witness how
our people lay the torpedoes. Three ca
ble's length from the strand lies a pow
der barge, with 5000 pounds of powder
on board. The torpedoes were charged
upon it. The Elbe' ranged herself along
side. On The barge's deck lay fourteen
loaded torpedoes. The long boat which
had followed us, and was carried by four
teen hands laid herself along the other
side OF the barge anG commenced ship
ping the torpedoes. Ai@cer taking three
Of them on board they were 20 start in
order 20 sink them. leaned upon the
boiler OF Che steamboat and watched
them at work, not without sec: ct shud
der at tie carelessuess with which the
sailors hcn6led The hellish machines
There lay in row, shining in the sun,
lccquered iron boilers; upon each glisSen-
ed white Z. Involuntary | thought
to myself that must stand for 'Tod-
death Two torpedoes were deposited in
the long boat the anchor was being rails
ed. Then ruug out fearful detonation
our eyes and our faces were smothered
with hot volume. felt heavy stroke
on my left shoulder I knew not what
had happened. freed my eyesight aud
looked round. | was standing in a rain
OF falling timber, iron, flesh and splinters
of bone; then all was quiet. Shudder-
ing, rubbed my face; it was covered
with fragments OF flesh, so were my
clothes my cap was sprinkled with them
On the deck Of the Elbe' lay countless
specks of flesh and bone splintecings
alongside, burning pieces OF wood and
clothing. The deck of the powder barge
was in like case. Instantly we put ou
the fire burning upon it and looked fur.
ther round. The long boat had vanished
and with her Z men; 3 otherslay wound
ed on the barge, one with fractured les
aud mangled features, another with shat
tered spine, several bleeding from numer
Gus wounds. Some were swimming il
the water. What could be saved wa
saved, and the wounded brought on boarC
the Elbe The seven in the long boa
were literally torn to pieces, the Two YES
sells were strewn with minute fragment
of their bodies. The funnel Of the Elbe
had two holes, and the interior Of th,
, fore cabin was almost demolished, From
the powder barge, pieces Of plankin!
were torn away. Had the 8,0OOlb o
powder but exploded, no boat, no trace o
living soul you'd have remained.
Have you any conception OF our con
tact torpedocs? They consist Of torpe
do iron vessel charged with 100lb. o
powder, which by means Of iron bands i
fastened 10 an umbrella-shaped anchor
T26of0esranQ lead piping are filled witt
lfnaed rnoorpedo swims in the middl
w n-flled space, some ten feet be
], low the surface Of The wa>er, and SO 500
as ship disturbs and strikes it tie charg
: explode8 The torpedoes lie so thick tc
: gether and in so many directions acros
the haven chat no ship can pass uninju,
: cd +; others Of different construction a
: so lie there which can be watched o.
shore and fired by electricity.
The blow l mentioned on my shoulde
lamed also my left arm. On looking Gle
ser found my jacket and shirt pierce
through, wound in the shoulder, an
two splintels OF bone an inch long stick
) ing in it-not my bones. 1t must hav
7 been bone from one of the ill-fate
ones which had struck me.
e Thn Hut,,~n Endv