Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-26
DUG FlkOM THE DEEP
A Curious Torpedo Boat Found in the
Canal at the Spanish Fort.

The dredgeboats in the canal at Spanish
| Fort have lately brought to light most Gu
rious monster of tine deep, IN the shape of an
ex-Confederate torpedo-boat. 1t now lies,
right side up, upon the shore of the canal OPP
| posite the fort. A careful examination shows
| that it conforms to the following description ::
| Il is made of one-fourth inch boiler iTon, riv-
tied in plates. Its length Is eighteen feet,
breadth five, and depth seven. In shape it
shape it somewhat resembles a sun-perch,
although it is equally pointed at both ends
A three bladed screw Is attached to the stern,
while at the bow are two species of steering
apparatus, consisting of set fans, which be-
ing set at certain inclinations, force the yes
sci upward OF downward, to the right or to
the left. In the point OF the bow is socket
plugged with wood. From this fact 1t is
seen that the torpedo was suspended from the
bow upon a wooden pole, which, judging
from the diameter of the socket, could not
have been very long, not more than six feet
neither could it have sustained a very heavy
torpedo.
THROUGH THE UPPER DECK
of the boat, Or rather through the back of the
iron fish, rises an iron pipe six inches in dia-
meter. This is broken off at the hight of
four inches above the deck. 1t probably was
several feet In length, and was used doubtless
to permit circuit OF fresh air to pass through
the vessel while passing beneath the surface
of the water. The entrance to the interior Is
through two-foot hole in the deck. An iron
stove lid door closes this aperture. There
are traces of keys, etc., by which this door
was battered down air tight. Entering the
little ship, one finds oneself in very narrow
quarters indeed. In the bow is an air pump,
with pipe piercing the starboard side of the
boat above the water line. This pump is
worked by a straight driving crank, about
three feet long. 1t was intended to be used
in far sailing upon the surface of the water.
When found necessary to go beneath the
waves the pump would be vigorously worked,
and as much air forced in as possible. For
the rest, the occupants of the vessel would
have to depend upon what air they could ob-
tain through the supply-chimney above men
toned.
STILL FURTHER TOWARD
the bow is the mechanism for the working of
the elevating fans and the rudder. This con-
slsts of a series of hand cranks, of limited
movement, but sufficient, doubtless, to give
the fans and the rudder the necessary incli-
nation. A little back of inidships is the cog
wheel aud rotary crank arrangement for tie
working of the screw. From the size of SAID
screws it seems that it must have required
two men to work it effectively. One man
could handle the steering gear. Total crew:
three men. The DOduS 0peTaRdi was prob
ably as follows: OF dark night the three
QafuV adventures would enUer Jn6 iron QSn,
and set themselves severally to their partic-
lar work. The two engineers would grind
away at their crank. while the head and
shoulders projected through the hatch way:
Reaching downward he could easily manipu-
late the steering apparatus and guide the de-
structive machine toward the neighboring
ship of war. Having come within thirty
yards of the victim, lie would set the steering
and descending fans at the proper angle,
Withdraw into his boat, close the hatch, and
batten the same. All three men would then
apply all powers to the driving crank, and
shoot the boat through the water until some
thing happened. A hundred to one that the
explosion Of the torpedo would sink both de-
stroyer and victim at one and the same time.
This is one of those cases where the end is
said to justify the means.
THE OFFICIAL HISTORY
of this little instrument of war Is PROBABLY
embraced in the archives of the Confederacy
now in Washington. What is here to be
discovered about it is mere conjecture. 1t
was made probably in 1862 and never took
any active part in the civil war. This last
fact is evident because the vessel was found
in port and unoccupied. Had it gone out to
action in the lake it would never have re-
turned, and had it sunk fighting in the canal
it would have had the bones of the crew with
In it. Very likely it never made even its
trial trip, but was sunk as measure of pre-
cation by the Confederates when the city was
captured by the United States troops.