The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-04-17
THAT TORPEDO.
A South Boston Man Who Claims
to Know ALI About Who Blew
Up the Ram Albermarle.

Boston Globe.
"r:.s man who got up in fremont
Temple last Tuesday night and claim
ed to have been the individual who
blew up the rebel Albermarle,i if he Gid
claim it, as the papers stated, uttered
that which was not true. | know
what l am talking about, because |
was there" said Timothy j. Burns,
Yesterday. Mr.. Burns is tall sharp
featured man of fifty-seyen, whose
weather-beaten and SCARED features
hear evidence of former bardships and
exposure. He is q boiler-maker by
trade and an old resident of Boston.
He lives on Locust St., South Boston,
and has a son on the police force. His
neighbors and acquaintance speak
we'll of him, and there is no doubt
whatever of his having served his
country IN the rebellion.
have no respect for any man who
would attempt to appropriate the
glory of another person to himself.
The blowing up Of the rebel ram AL
bermarle was the work of the late
brave Lieut.. Gushing. He and he
only pulled the cord which dropped
the torpedo upon the doomed vessel.
and / stood by his side and saw it
done.
Il was i'm the secret service during
IL no Of To-
Kelly, and was constantly associated
with Lieut.. Gushing. imothy j.
Burnes, company III. second regiment,
Massachusetts, heavy artillery, can be
found upon the records by anybody
who will take the trouble to look over
them. [ was with Mr.. Gushing in
North Carolina on the Roanoke river,
where [ was engaged in putting the
last sheets Oh the bottom of the Os-
sipee. noticed the position of the
Albemarle in October, and in Novem-
her / told Mr., Gushing of the fact.
The plan for its destruction, which
WAS SO successfully carried out. was
the immediate result. Acting under
Lieut.. Cusbing's orders, we procured
a small steam launch some twelve or
thirteen feet long. A torpedo about
thirteen inches in thickness fastened
to the end of pole, projected from
the bow. The end of the pole, and
as consequence, the torpedo, was
kept suspended in the air by means
of stout cord. Thus equipped
Lieut.. Gushing and some thirteen
men, among whom was myself, start
ed from little Washington, a point
some little distance above the vessel,
about 6 80. 1t was a dark night,
and We Rugged the north shore so
as to have the additional obscurity
afforded by The Overhanging trees.
The launch proceeded at slow rate
of speed until We came In front of
Plymouth town. After that We came
closer than ever to the bank, but ran
at full speed. As the Albemarle lay
in the stream che was protected by a
hoom of timbers ACROSS the river.
When the launch struck this. going
at full speed, she jumped clear over
it. The black hull of the Albemarle
doomed up formidabIy' before US.
Without an instant's delay, Lieut..
Gushing, who was forward cut the
cord which held up the torpedo
The stick dropped upon the vessel.
and with a terrible noise. the machine
exploded. Just previous to the xeplo-
sion We could hear the voice of Lieut..
Gushing crying out: Jump, boys
jump !" Al most simultaneously with
the explosion a shot from the vessel
tore the launch to pieces. killing
many of our men. The Albermarle
went down almost Immediately.
Three only of our men. besides Lieut.
Gushing. wot safely to shore OF those
three, Mr.. Houghton, who was after
wards shot in Norfolk, was one, was
another. Whether or not Mr.. George
was the other / do not know. But /
do know that If he claims tina, he
exploded the torpedo, or originated
or took leading part in the enterprise.
that he states more than he can
prove"