New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-07
AGAINST THE GARNET'S SIDE.
WHERE CAPT. BoYToN PLACED A TORPEDO.
HARMLESS WEAPON, HowEvER-GREAT ALARM
ON THE WAR VESSEL

Paul Boyton that ship at anchor safe from certain
methods of torpedo warfare. He has boasted that by
his swimming suit he approach any vessel however
well guarded, and can fasten torpedo to her bot
and get away a distance from which to view
her destruction. He believes hardly possible to detect
him, and possible only after the work has
been done. Torpedo warfare conducted by
the regular torpedo-boat, is confess
edly hazardous and costly. Several lives are ex-
posed and several thousand dollars rsked in each at
tempt. But Boytons method of swimming out to YES
sell sinking underneath her. rising at the end that cuts
the tide and fastening his deadly and timed machine to
her anchor chain, exposes only life, risks only few
dollars of value and accomplshes with fifty times the
certainty any other scheme destruction sure, ter
rible and complete.
At r. m. Tuesday Captain Boyton hurried around
among few chosen and discreet friends and told them
10 be him mt his place in Twenty ninth
st., at O'clock to view adaring experiment. His
friends promptly on hand. He explained that it
his purpose to attach torpedo, such
as would carry 125 pounds OF explosive,
10 the bottom OF the British man-of-
war Garnet II the torpedo charged with that
amount OF dynamite would be enough to blow the Gar
net out OF the water with such force to leave no two
panks together He chose this vessel especially because
It being guarded with special reference to the pos
sibc attacks dyn amiters The Garnet lay at anchor
of Tompkinsve, S. l. The strelok was lying In the
North River at tho foot Of Twentynlnthst l., but the
sreok felt entirely safe in this port while the Brtsher
believed TO bo sensible Of possible danger and In
constant anticipation OF It, He wished to give his ex-
pertinent thorough a test swas practicable. Inc
10 o'clock ferryboat from the battery took down
Captain Boyton James Haggard his rght-hand
man. who has accompanied him on most
OF his recent voyages; Benjamin Mullincr Peter
Maitland, james A. Deehey, all his assistants and SIX
invited guests. The party picked mp boatman at the
Battery them TO the man-of-war. His boat
was fastened asern OF the erryboat When Tompkins-
Vile was reached, 1t necessary to wait couple OF
the tide and for man to go out into
the bay and ascertain which OF the vessels whose lights
nekered goomily the black waters was the Garnet
preparations inspired the none too sober boatnan
with sentiments OF the profound respect for tho
entire party.
"whishi +" he sald taking Boyton aside. It's con-
spracy, isitr
The syimmer assumed a dramatic manner. Right,
man." no finally said in q hollow tone, What OF 1t Y
am yer man." answered the bOatman, not whit dis
turbcd. Death 10 'om -
Tompkinsyilo was evidently not used to the impress
sve sight OF eleven solemn strangers intenty bent on
some werd midnight erraud. Policemen I'm uniform
began to assemble and eyed the party with searching
glances local constable displayed silver shield in
sight OF the seeming marauders, and staked In stately
dignity up and down the wharf In the meanwhile Cap
tain Boyton scqucstered behind pile OF rocks with
a couple OF his assistants assuming HIS weil-knowh
marine dress Il was the ott-descrbed dress of imper-
NlOu1 af-tlSut Iuouet, lhttch VhVNh" =" Wv ~ ''
supplied with tubes expo the air and sink the swim,
mer and initiate It again pleasure lie propels himself
through the water by means OF paddle OF the same
general pattern that which propels a canoe
Just about the time these arrangements were COM
pleod a call was heard on the wharf, aud four English
nidshlpmcn appeared They had bcca ashore upon
social and eouylyal crrand aud wanted boatman to
tax, thom ont 70 the Garnet ono presented himset ana
hey dropped into his boat not six feet away from the
spot where Captain Boyton aud his mght-be deadly
torpedo were hid. few moments after they lett shore
poyton dropped into the water The torpedo was OF the
usual pattern about feet long with cioekwork at one
end so arranged as to set II OF Ave minutes after
tho machinery was started It was Io'ded
with little cracked stones Instead OF explosive
material IL contained ar-chanbers OF snihcieht
size TO noat II easily. and supplied with about ten
yards OF rope with which 1t aud to tieit up against
the shin The rope was slipped around the swimmers
foot and ne started on The night was not favorable Tor
the experiment. II after o'clock aud the moon
had got enough above the horizon 10 cast danger
Gus yht over the water. The beautiful bay was hed
with vessels OF every class displaying at their bows ana
asthcad red blue aud white signals that spread path
WAYS Of light across the choppy waves. About third
Of a mile off lay the Garnet Her black hull sat heavily
In the water aud her gloomy smodcstack rose ABOVE
ike a spectral arm. Only one light was visible. Ihat
was placed In her bow, which pointed up toward tue
city
C,ptaln Boyton swan hurriolly ont lie mistook a
s,eamshp called the Elle4vor the Garnet ani rs he
WA pad lling around II wondered at its apparent want
OF guard aud preolutioa. satisfied that there was
mistake somewhere, he swan -a'teru ant read her
name in the feeble II sht OF the moon Dropping uo"h
into the water again he male Tor the right vessel whch
Law stones thro above In particular he feared two
possibilities wire apparatus is usually carried now
adays by warshp which sunk all around them when
they lie at anchor to keep oil torpedo attackS
II tho Garnet had this defence he must cut
his way through II with knife. This would not DO an
easy thing do The greater peril by far arose from tae
lately invented electrical which Is lowered In the
,yater in freouent circles all around the ship. When
touched IL not only rings alarm aboard ship, but IL
holds whoever whatever touches 1t prisoner until
tue electric current is diverted
Asthe swimrner approached the Garnet he expelled
the air from his suit aud sank deep into the water uft
ing with the tide under ship and reappearing near
her anchor ohaius at the stArbOard bow lio recon-
notercd gngcrly about this pcrous spot II he was de
tected the probability that they would shoot hfst
and inquire afterward fully Impressed on MS mlu
He had disposition TO submit himself 10 'his r'A
lie could hear the men IN the po"S
whispering family and the heavy plod, plod OF the
watches on the decks Finally he touched the ahchor
chain. He nearer and nearer ana graspeu " WIN
his hand Drawing his foot up, he undid the knot "hch
had held the torpedo in tow, and carefully threw 'he
rome over tho anchOr-chaln He drew its ehu to""ru
him and tied 1t securely In three knots Iheh nc swa
down to the torpedo and placed against the VeSse On
the sarboard side just amldshlps' ho suo''" ~
of In five minutes more, had the torpedo oeeh ohi"e"
the Garnet would have been blown TO atoms ,. ,,o
laying made "a thorough success OF his eNperueh. .o
captain became little careless. aud as nc snSu s ,h
he used his paddle The sounds caught Tue eil Va .no
watch on the deck o TO the side anu e@uhS o'oi
| caught "A glimpse of the doughty swimmer; #,
| !" Who's thatf he cried :" Call out or III ut9 r.,
Don't shoot" said Boyton. I'm only hsh'"s' i'S
| all right"
| - No, II isn't" cried the watch. .
30, yes. II is; I'm only trolling ~, ,r,
nv this time Boyton had entirely recovered ms sell
Laying hands on the arppes OF ms nyedo s
he called out loudly: Gentlemen! There's toiPeeo
right AGAINST your starboard sidow and pressing the
tubes he exhausted the air and sank out or sght. .
| Boytons friends and assistants, about nan uh I
/ ,I..rln nH