The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-01
THE CIGAR TORPEDO BOAT.
Disabling the Irnnsidcs ia ChnrIeston Itnrbor
The sinking ~ the New Corvette Itousa-
tonic Lieut.. Dxon's Desperate ENyioit.

Eo,p As RtAD.od VIVA,
Tho recent gallant exploit Of the young
Russian who sunk the Turkish monitor ON the
Danube recalls IA .ldcnis Of Ike daring which
occurred during the 'iNil war betwccn the states.
Among th So recall tine follow uE:
Tnc Ironsiles was an cnormou. Federal iron-
clad-the heaviest and most fofmiilahle arm a
ship cvcrthcn built. She WAS sent to Charl ston
AMI lay in the bay constant menace 10 that
A cigar torpedo buat had been constr ted in
Chgrlcston Tor harlor j fence, Lieut. olarrcn
of Virginia yuluut "orrd, with two sitlOls OF tho
Coniederate navy, 70 tax" mus iittie p9iu AMI 20
against the lronsides ANA sink her. II WINS "vl-
dent that almost certain death awaited tnen.
whltevcr might tho runs lu ms t. the IRON
sides. Thcy cirricd out thnir rn orprs" IN mo
most resoutc manner, struck the snip WIN mo
tprpelO which was fixed on the end 81 spar
running out from the bow of tue little boat, and
which exploded with such effect as to forever
disable that great snip from further servi'c.
The torpedo boat itsolf WIS wrecked, the two
sailors were killed, and Sarrcl badly hurt. was
picked M by Il boat from the Irons dies floating
on n portion OF his own wreck. H. WIS clrrlcd
aboard the ship a pr soner, but his daring
courage secured Tor him the respect and kind
treatment OF his ruuOis.
Not long after thus event n similar cigar
boat was built at selma and brought down by
Lieut. Walker Of South Carolina applied for
permission to take her out and att!S the Meta
comet gunbuat. tho largest ol the IL 'ct 'kad-
Ing tho city OF Mobile. lie sclet u dark,
rainy night for has expedition. The Mcta'ome
lay about five miles from the mouth of Appal-
la'hc river. About midnight the officer on
watch dis ovcrei curious looking oip"ct AZ;
proaehing the ship and hailed. Boat ahoyl'
Wllkor replied with Intentional indistin tncss.
" What boat IS That y qule ky again hailed tho
officer The Confederate states stn4m.r sung
his arms dcspairingly in the air, the unhappy
OH cr oil the deck cried out Torpedo. ny
- ~ At Tho same instant tIr torp ,do stru k
the Mracomci fairly ahait thu win hous', and
unfortunately the cap alone exploded
In an instant All was cuhlus.oh on W., pls
and men sprung from ttrU hcr'hs, thr guns
were manned. AMI througho4t o. ship pre-
.Nf4. oh ktHIt.
tend su n a surprS. to "a man oi war.
To add to Walkers disappointment and cha-
That The Jar OF the collision had thrown sorIe of
his own machinery ont " gear. unH hc rould
uoi hn'. OIL Seeing min is Tx thus helpless.
two young uiiris spthS "v + III @niV 7rlo
and rndeavorrd ~ captur tu' torn h. Malk4r
was standing mt tn, lulr round iHt; AWAY "luh
only lls hend AMI shoulders HhlN' the lie X.
while the two Fed ra- Were cuiiiug at him " IN
thor swords Inc had neither sword nor pistol
and could only Ola l aud doig" TIA ar ruts
until. to his great relief the boat began To- back
oil, and the hpnrsiin- parry had to'W'h py th9
Tngn cycnthns was turned looscupon Wal;
krr and his rat ROM shot ana crap" and
bus way homeW ri II Was naturally and
deeply mort Heed that an cni rpri-" +.iNri
aLd tNetut"i With SO ma ~ nautical SElil aui
sirpn--ull courage should NaNr iull through
h~ IL. lleu to have AiS torpedo and primer in
But Of all tn boats in al the tide u time. and
Of ail tho daring df IL Of all nmuhu 10 $40
0r-t Nuhnnln Sonutopr- IN the .uhninrino
tIrta'io hnrt in tuallrsteu huralr, in 1854.
stands unparalleled.
This hn't urnritrd uni.r ,yafnr She could
tat.tb.. hn,rils OF her enemy moro ti.iun.le
away. thnn s.ttln down uu,r,' In. surface of tho
water. head for the i,,-tli -hip. uu strlk uar
M t,ti, ,lsith h.lnW f wat r liuo Slt l,utiIrad
IL cr'y Of NM. mon Hll inld-a captain or plot.
An EIGHT mon To- ur,prl her.
Shntr.,s nnfii n NJ klr. ht Uuudl.y a NrClin-
fn.. yIn. Took hrr hy r.lil To- l. .aurc.urd ut
Chlr sion. lie cnlIr.l for volunt nrs from tao
n ia lltaT III "a. .
silns Lieut. Pawn. Confederate navy Ga Nir-
glnilnl. volunteered ioL4ke horout Sun wils
't.,,,., + ., ~ WI, NH n IA ,,r no.f, IN
s,l.tUr. 'at. PIyilcM as stand na lu H. rYund
hat .nWav Ill~t about t,atlop down iulllls place
ana fastrn the HAT 10 down when tine wave of II