The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-29
THE TORPEDO MYSTERY.
A Detailed Statement from Holgate,
Telling All he Knows of the Explosion.
Professor Wingard Called ON for an Ex-
planation-
Boston Globe.l


since the torpedo explosion which destroyed |
the life of Professor McClintock in the har
Dor last week, has written an explanatory
letter concerning the affair, in which he
says: Two months ago Mr.. McClintock
paid me visit at the below address, and
stayed with me for more than a week. This
was the first had seen OF him for more
than two years, but had been IN correspon-
dence with him all the time. Shortly after
the first visit he paid me second one, and
it was then that he first told me of the
intended experiment with torpedoes, and
sked me il would not assist him, as he
was engaged in other business which con-
sumed the most OF his time. 1 told him l
would help him all could, and he said If
successful 1 could retire from the paint
business; that there was . large sum Of
money In 1t, etc, etc. l had the most
implicit confidence in him in everything he
said, especially in torpedo warfare, as he did
such effective service with them in the late
rebellion. got the thing made as he or
dered and paid for is With money furnished
by him. When everything was ready he
ordered some OF the things shipped to Bcs-
ton to Professor Wingsrd, telling me also
that he would explain to me his (the pro-
fessor's) connection with the business at
some future day. In the meantime he had
prevailed upon me TO close up my business
ana take his word that there was more
| money in his invention than in paints. which
1 believed there would have been but for
| this unforeseen accident. Mr.. McClintock
| had been in New York previous to his going
| to Boston, and it was from New York that
received the order to proceed to Boston and
meet him at the Adams House on the 10th
inst. Ileft Philadelphia and on the follow
| ing morning met him in Boston; that day
| we went to Taft's Hotel, and Mr.. McClin-
| took made few inquiries about lobster
| fishing, etc., and the depth of water, and he
| said it would be
JusT THE PLACE FOR rs TO EXPERIMENT.
The next morning. Friday, when 1 came
down stairs, the clerk handed me a note. 1t
was from Mr. McCintock, asking me to take
the cars and go to South Boston, where l would
find boats to hire, TO there hire q boat and q
man to sail it TO Point Shirley, and TO make
the best terms could. / did go, and hired a
boat man and tender of Messrs. Huchiugs
& PTy, OF at least made arrangements with
them In the afternoon OF the same day Mr..
McClintock and myself went again to the
same parties, when We told them what we
wanted and paid them for the boat, etc for
"a hours. On the Saturday morning we went
to Point Shirley, but found the water too
rough, when Mr.. McClintock ordered the
man and boy to return with the boat, telling
them that when we wanted them again one
| OF us would let thea know. On the Sstur-
day afternoon we PAID visit to Messrs,
Hu.chings & Pryor and told them that il the
weather was fine we would want the boat
l rot N
care how often we wanted 1t. Well, on
Sunday we went to the boat house. found
the man (who sfterward lost his life) and
he went with us to the residence of the firm
to have the boat and man leave ut or q
m. on Monday morning, and meet
us at Point ShirIy, saying that
he expected he would have TO give Scout,
for the boat, and IL 50 he could do so The
owner OF the boat remarked that he was Q
good judge of faces and guessed that We had
|, some money to our credit After q few
passing remarks we bade HIM good night
and the man walked to the cars with us
Mr.. McClintock gave the man silver piecs
and told him TO drink his health, but tc
be sure not to get drunk and to be sure tc
ised to do. Monday morning we went tc
Point Shirley again, and on the road going
down Mr.. McClintock informed me how tue
experiment was to work.
WE WERE TO SET THE TORPEDO
with a rope attached, the rope to be buoyed
then another rope, leading from the tor pedo
was to be attached TO our boat. Professor
Wingard was to come down in q steamboat
with rope dragging therefrom, which Mr..
J McClintock was to attach to the rope on tht
torpedo; he then was to come into the sail
boat, and the professor was to steam away
In the meantime the vessel to be destroyed
was to be towed down, the professor was tc
q xL-I Ie~<- - - l.
the rope was to drag the torpedo to her
and 30 blow her up. We found the
boatman and boy at Point Shirley. The
boy brought the tender on the beach, where
Mr.. McCiintock gave him so cents to get his
! breakfast, remsrking that we would be back
in q few hours. Mr.. McChutock and myself
| got into the tender and rowed it to the
sail boat and set sail. In the meantime, Mr.
McCllntock had made arrangements with
the man In the boat to 60 with us. On the
way Mr.. McClintock became Ill and
laughed at him. We sailed around q good
deal. and finally came to anchor, and
, 1t was then that l became i'll
through the unsteady motion Of the
, boat and was laughed at in turn by Mr.
McClintock. wanted Mr.. McChntock moi
to go until could go with him, but he said
be could get along all right with his man to
row him, the man agreeing to do so. and In
fact appearing eager to. Mr.. McClintoch
told me to go and lie down, and l would
feel better, etc., by the time he got back
. | He said that he knew what he was about
| but was too careful, to which replied tha
! We could not be too careful. They had moi
. been gone moro than 10 minutes when
HEARD TERRIFIC AxpLosIos,
and in looking IN the direction my friend
took could see nothing. / weighed anchor
, set sail and went to the wreck, but could ses
} nothing but few splinters. Now, mind
this small steamboat with Professor Wingarc
ON board was considerably nearer to 1t thar
| was, and was at the wreck the same time q
myself. called to him to tow me In, a.
knew nothing of the boat. ETC., to wh,cl
he paid NO attention. How l reached
land ] do not know. Il 10 enough {,
say reached II safely and met th
, boy. whom the reported conversation fol
/: lowed with few exceptions. He asksd m
where the Others were and II they had eon
to Lynn. said, II guess CO." went the