The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-10-27
IDAHO WOLRD.
A BURIED TORPEDO.

of late date, the fleet of Admiral Farragut wa
bIockading Mobile, while heavy land and M
val attack was directed against Charleston
During our long defensive war great deal oil
ingenuity had been expended by the Confeder
ates upon torpedoes aud torpedo boats. The
most remarkable of these boats was construct
ed In Mobile by Messrs. Hundley e. McClin
took, and launched in 1864; and Rothing which
has gone down into the sea was more wonder
fully or more fearfully contrived to wreak des-
tructiun and vengeance upon friend and foe.
She was built Of boiler iron and impervious 10
water or air. Her extreme length was about
thirty feet, with Eve or six feet beam, and an
equal depth OF hold. In general contour she
resembled cigar--sharp at both ends. She
was propelled by q screw, the shaft OF which
ran horizontally along her hold. almost from
stem 10 stern, and was turned by the manual
force Of eight men. seated along il on either
side. The only hatchway was circular. about
two feet in diameter, with low combing around
it. which was placed well forward. and when
desired could be closed with IN iron cap work
ing on hinges and made alright. In the for.
ward part Of this cap was inserted clear
glass bull's-eye. through which the pilot could
see. She was provided with water-tight CON-
partments, by filing or emptyIng which she
could sink or rise, and 10 enable her 10 rise in
ns8Htsf hGA oaAAacAsN& w AaHioda huh NNs last
ened on her bottom, outside Of her hull, and by
means Of keys accessible TO her crew could be
detached in q moment, ID that she would rise
quickly 20 the surface. Besides her radder,
which was Of the usual form. this vessel was
equipped with side paddles or fms. which, like
those of fish, served 20 guide t up or down |
with reference to the surface Of the water |
To prepare for actor. floating torpedo was |
secured 10 her stern by line more than one /
hundred feet long. and her crew having been
embarked, the tanks were filed until the boat |
was In eqailibrio, and almost submerged The
hatchway was closed. the men reyolyed the
shaft. the captain or pilot. standing under the
hatch. steerrd the boat, regulating at the same
time, BY the action OF her lateral fms. the depth
ut which she would move Her greatest speed
did not exceed four knots She could remain
submerged for half m hour or an hour without
any great Inconvenience % her crew, aud on |,
one occasion was known 10 remain under wa
ter two hours without actual injury On them,
although no means were provided for procur.
ing fresh air. and from the moment the hatch
was closed the men. thus fastened in their liv.
ing tomb, inhaled and exhaled continuously the
atmosphere which was enclosed with them
The plan Of attack proposed BY the inventors
was % dive beneath tho heel Of an enemy's :
weasel. hauling the torpedo after her Its trig.
gers. or sensitive primers. would thus press {
against the sasps bottom. explode the torpedo, :
and Inevitably sink the ship. h
Not anticipating an early opportunity Of using |,
this dangerous vessel against the feet Of Far. :
ragut. Gen. Maury sent her by rail 10 General .
Beauregard at Charleston. believing the waters Il
II the harbor better suited 10 her peculiar con- !.
'trucfioa. while in the fronsides. or some other
gigantic war ship thea attacking Charleston, !,
night be found an object worth the great risk !.
70 which her own crew was exposed In any en-. /,
erprise they might undertake in her Gen :
Beaur-gsrd changed the arrangement OF the .
Orpedo by fastening 10 TO the bow II. iron, /.
vas terminated by sharp and barbed lance
lead, % that when the boat was driven end on
Igainst y ships sides the lance-head would be q.
orced deep into the timbers. below the water.
Inc, and would iasten the torpedo firmly Ia the ~
hip. The boat would then back out and CT
lode the torpedo by ballard. :;
Gen. Beuregard's call upon the Confederate
eet Tor volunteers to man his dangerous craft ,o
vas promptly answered By Lieut. Payne, a yir. !.
inian, and eight sailors. They were soon in
rider for action; and on the evening set for II
heir expedition the last preparation had been
,ade. The torpedo boat was lying alop g.ide
hc steamer from which the crew had en- "
arked; she was Submerged till the combing of y,
er hatch alone was visible above the water a.
Ter commander, Payne, was standing in the
atchway, in the act VI ordering her to be cast rs
!. when the swell Of passing steamer rolled
Ter her aud sunk her instantly. with her eigh, a.,
en, in several fathoms Of water. Lieutenant a.
ayne sprang out OF the hatchway as the boat he
INK from under him, and he alone was Ieft a.,
i've. In q few days she was raised and again a.,
ads ready for service. Again Payne yolun.
cred, and eight men with him.
Their embarkation for their second attempt h..
~ made from Fort Sumter. and, ne before. ~
having been made ready, Payne. standing do
bis post in the hatchway. ordered the haw. :.
= b be cut of-when the boat careened and -,
M instantly. Payne sprang out; two of the o.,
en followed him; tho other six went down in -.
0 boat and perished. ""
Again the boat was raised and made ready
action. and her owner. Captain Hundley, do,
d Der for IN experimental trip into the az
one river. where, after going through her =;
nal evolutions, she Owed In deep water and sas -.
hours, and for days. the return of poor e.,
lndley, and his crew was watched for and 49,
'ked for IN vain. After near a weeks search ~
was found inclining at an angle of forty do ,,,
ses; her nozzle was driven deep into the r..
: mud Of the bottom. Her crew of nine az
ID men were standing, sitting, lying about In sao
bold asphyxiated. Hundley was standing ~ ~
I'd ut his post. candle in one hand while o
other had grown stiff with death in hi. ~
In eforts TO unclamp the hatch. Others - he .
l.. =