The record-union., 1897-09-26


of the inventor was to be the person
to navigate the machine into action,
but on sinking IT the first time he de-
clined the service.
General Washington, unwilling to
relinquish the object, requested Major
General Parsons to select a person in
whom he could confide voluntarily to
engage in the enterprise. The latter
being well acquainted with the heroic
spirit the patriotism and the firm and
steady courage of the deceased above
mentioned, Immediately communicated
the plan and the offer, which he ac-
cepted observing that his %fe was at
General Washington's service. After
pracdcing the machIne.4until he under
stood its power of balancing and NOV
ing under water, night was fixed upon
for the attempt. General Washington
and his associates in the secret took
their stations upon the roof of house
in Broadway, anxiously waiting the
result. Morning came and no intell1-
gence could be had of the intrepid sub
marine navigator, nor could the boat
which attended him give any account
of him after parting with him the first
part Of the night While these anxious
spectators were about to give him up
as lost, several barges We're seen to
start suddenly from Governors Island
(then in possession of the British) and
proceed toward some object near the
Asia. ship of the line; as suddenly
they were seen to put about and steer
for the island with springing oars. In
two or three minutes an explosion
took place from the surface of the wa
ter resembling a water spout; which
aroused the whole city and region; the
enemy's ships took the alarm, signals
were rapidly given, the ships cut their
cables and proceeded to the Hook with
all possible dispatch, sweeping their
bottoms with chains, and with difficulty
prevented their affrighted crews from
leaping overheard.
During this scene of Consideration
the deceased came to the surface,
opened the brass head OF his aquatic
machine and gave a signal for the boat
to come to him, but they could not
reach him until he again descended
under water, to avoid the enemy's shot
from the island who had discovered
him and commenced firing in his wake.
Having forced himself against strong
current under water until without the
reach of shot, he was taken in tow and
landed at the Battery amid a great
crowd and reported himself to General
washington. who expressed his entire
satisfaction that the object was ef-
fected without loss of lives. The de-
ceased was under the Asia's bottom
more than tws hours, endeavor1ng 10
penetrate her Topper. but in vain. He
frequently came up under her stern
galleries searching for exposed plank
and could hear the sentinel's cry. once
he was discovered by the watch on
deck. and heard them speculate upon
him and conclude that a drlfted log
had paid them a visit. He returned TO
her. keel and examined it fore and ait,
and then proceeded to some other ships
but to the impossibility of penetrating
their copper, for want of a resisting
mower. hundreds owed the safety OF
their lives. The longest space of time
he could remain under water was two
hours"
The second descent made in the
American Turtle was by Phineas Pratt,
also a native of Saybrook. He had
served in the capacity of soldier un-
Ill SD1lCIIGQ Dy Law ~ DSAASNAAA~N-'
or of the American Turtle, to aid HIM
in the construction of that machine.
For his services in it's construction he
was released by the Commander-1n-
Chief and subsequently with Sergeant
Lee made a like successful descent III
the East River, near New YORK. MT.
Pratt. being a skillful mechanic, after
ward used the metallic portions OF the
torpedo in the construction OF CLOCKS
some Of which, in addition to the usual
qualities. would also indicate the day or
the month, age and appearance OF the
moon. etc. One of these clocks is now
in good repair, and has been running
for more than fifty years.
THE BRITISH WE'RE PUZZLED.
Other attempts were afterward made
on the Hudson. In 1777, while the frlg-
ate Cerebus was lying at anchor OIL
New London. Mr.. Bushnell made an
effort to blow her up from whale
boat but the torpedo came in contact
with a schooner in the rear of the fr1g-
ate and demolished the former.
Commodore Simmons of the Cerebus
addressed a communication to Sir Peter
Parker in which he alludes to this
strange occurrence:
sReing at anchor to the westward of
the town with a schooner which we
had taken about II o'clock in the
evening the Captain of the schooner
discovered a line thrown astern from
the bows. He believed that some per-
son had veered away by it, and imme-
diately began to haul in. A sailor be-
longing to the schooner, taking it for a
1oiI IF if and drew in
about fifteen fathoms. 1t was buoyed
up by small pieces tied to it at regular
distances. At the end of the rope a
machine was fastened, too heavy for
one man to pull up, for it exceeded 200
pounds in weight. The other people of
the schooner coming to his assistance,
they drew it up on deck. While the
men, gratifying their curiosity, We're
examining the machine, it exploded,
blew the vessel to pieces and set her on
fire"
Three men were Killed and another
blown into the sea and greatly injured.
Wheels having sharp irons at the end
about an inch in length We're attached
to these machines, so that on being
hauled up they would strike against
the sides of the ship and in five minutes
after they were put in motion cause an
explosion.
Mr.. Bushnell also loaded several kegs
with powder and furnished them with
an apparatus whereby they would ex-
plode on coming in contact with any
object while floating in the water.
A squadron Of these explosive kegs
was placed on the Delaware about the
English shipping. They were set afioat