Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-11-30


S. c., in the winter of 1864, engaged
in the siege Of Charleston, have not
forgotten the destruction of the steam
gun-boat Housatonic. She was struck
at her anchorage in the outer harbor,
by a torpedo, on the night of the 18th
of February, and completelydestroyed,
with three of her crew. The bottom
was blown out Of her, and she sank in
twenty-eight fathoms of water, The
torpedo was attached TO a small cigar
shaped boat, which was seen to ap-
proach, but could not bo kept off,
What became of the little boat was
not known at the time, and its fate
was a mystery until recently. The
following article gives its history, and
what befcl it and its brave crew in
their attack on the Housatonic:
In 1864, says the Houston Telegraph,
the feet of Admiral Farragut was
blockading Mobile, while heavy land
and naval attack was directed against
Charleston. During our long deien-
sive war a great deal of ingenuity had
been expended by the Confederates
upon torpedocs and torpedo boats
The most remarkable Of these boats
was constructed in Mobile, by Messrs.
Hundley & McClntock, aud launched
in 1864; and nothing which has gone
down into the sea was more wonder
fully or more fearfully contrived TO
wreak destruction aud vengeance up
on friend and foe. She was built of
boiler iron, and impervious to water or
air. Hor extreme length was about
thirty feet, with five or six feet beam,
and about five or six feet depth Of
hold. In general contour she resem
blcd a cigar, sharped at both ends
She was propelled by a screw, the
shaft Of which ran horizontally along
her hold, almost from stem TO stern,
and was turned by the manual force
of eight men, seated along it on either
side. The only hatchway was circu-
lar, about two feet in diameter, with q
low combing around it, which was
placed well forward, and when desired
could be closed by an iron cap work.
ing on hinges and made air-tight. In
the forward part Of the cap was in
serted a clear glass bulls eye, through
which the pilot could sec. She was
provided with water.tight compart-
ments, by filing or emptying which
she could sink or rise, and TO enable
her to rise instantly her ballasting Of
railroad iron was placed on her bot.
tom, outside Of her hull, and by means
of keys accessible to her crew could
be detached in moment, so that she
could rise quickly TO the surface
Besides her rudder, which was of the
usual form, this vessel was equipped
with side paddles or fms, which, like
those of fish, served to guide it up
or down with reference TO the surface
Of the water.
To prepare for action, a floating
torpedo was secured to her stern by a
line more than one hundred feet long,
and her crew having embarked, the
tanks were filled until the boat was
in oquiliJrio, and almost submerged.
Tho hatchway was closed, the men
rcvolved the shaN, the captain or pilot,
standing under the hatch, steerod the
boat, regulating at the same time, by
the action of her lateral fins, the depth
at which She would move. The great.
est speed did not exceed four knots.
She could remain submerged for half
an hour or an hour without any great
inconvenience to her crew-and on one
occasion has been known TO remain
under water two hours without actual
injury to them, although no means
were provided for procuring fresh air,
and from the moment the hatch was
closed the men, thus fastened in their
living tomb, inhaled aud exhaled con
tinuously the atmosphere which was
enclosed with them. The plan Of at
tack proposed by tho inventors was
to dive beneath the keel of an enemy's
ship, hauling the torpedo after her
Its triggers or sensitive primers would
thus press against the ships bottom,
explode tho torpedo, and inevitably
sink the ship.
Not anticipating an carly opportu.
nifty Of using this dangerous vessel
against the fleet of Farragut, General
Maury sent her by rail TO General
Beauregard at Charleston, believing
the waters of that harbor bctter suited
to her peculiar construction, while in
the lronsides or some other gigantic
war ship then attacking Charleston,
might be found an object worth The
great risk TO which her own crow was
exposed in any enterprise they might
undertake in her. General Bcauregard
changed the arrangement Of the tor
pcdo by fastening il to the bow. Its