The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-03

In tho fall of 1868 q tiny, half
submerged torpedo boat attacked the
fine new Union war vessel, New
lronsides, rs sho lay at anchor in the
| Charleston harbor. The attack was
successful, in that tho torpedo OK
ploded thIco feet under tho water
against the sido of tho Now Iron
sides, but tho force of tho explosion
was not great enough to do any
other camago than partially sink the
little boat and mako possible the cap
ture of her commanding officer
Encouraged by this trial tho Con.
federatcs constructed another boat ut
Mobile tho sumo year after plans
providing for her uso boncath tho
water. She was constructed Of boiler
iron, her lines approaching those Of
tho Holland boat very closely. She
was thirty five feet long and carried
crow OF nine men. Eight OF these
worked hand propeller, whilo tho
other stored tho boat aud regulated
hor movements below tho surface of
tho water. She could Ee submerged
to any depth desired or propelled on
tho surface, and in still water could
easily attain a speed Of four knots aii
hour.
Several successful experiments
woro conducted in the hnrbor at
Mobile, and then ono day tho boat
failed to come to the top of the
water. Sic was raised and the
bodies Of her crow wcro given nmorc
fitting burial. Then she was towcd
to the Charleston hurbor and put
into service. S'ho was Designed to
approach vessel at anchor, dive
under her keel while dragging II
floating torpedo, and thus bring the
torpedo against tho sido or bottom
of tho vessel. Tho first night sot for
an attack resulted in death for the
nine men composing tho crow Of the
boat Sho was lying at tho wharf
when a passing steamer swamped
her by the wash following.
Onco again sho was raised aud tied
up to the Fort SuM.ter wharf. Onco
again she sank, and six mou went
down with her. Again she was
brought to tho surface, and after be
ing thoroughly repaired wns re
placed in charge of Il lieutenant and
eight moro mon for trial in the Stono
river. She behaved splcndidly for II
day or two, and then tivcd TO tho
| bottom and stuck hor noso in the
mud. For tho fourth time the Con-
foderates raised the iil-fated craft
and resumed again the experiments
in the Charleston harbor. The trials
"tl' o"'N'h"i'h ul''l hli utlPllIl'b WAS
made to dive under q vessel mt an
chor when Sho foulcd cable and
became coffin again for her crew.
With n faith in tho future Of the
boat that could not bo shakon tho
Confcdcratcs raised her again. a
bravo lichtcnant asked permission Of
Gen. Bcanrcgard TO attack tho
Housntonic, now war vessel lying III
tho harbor. Consent was given, with
tho condition that the boat should
work upon tho surface with spur
torpedo, and that the crew should be
composed of volunteers. Tho mt.
tack was made on the night Of Feb.
II, 1864. When within 100 yards
of Honsatonic tho torpedo bout was
discovered by deck officer. lie
was slow in giving tho alarm, and
the delay in slipping her cable and
starting her cngiros was fatal
While all hands were being called
to quarters and confusion roigncd
supreme on the war vessel the little
boat exploded her torpedo against
the side of the bulky foe and knock' d
n hole in her below the water line.
-Four minutes later and tho Housan
tonic was resting on tho bottom OF
tho harbor, q total wreck. Five OF
her crew we're killed, either by the
shock or by drowning, and the Others
were rescued from the rigging
What became Of the torpedo boat :
She was never seen again. She was
either swnmped by the immense
column Of water thrown into tho ail
by the explosion or she was carried
down by the suction created by tn,