The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-05
JULIUS SYCLE Se son, The sa G@WE md Broad 5,

chine would explode and blow up the
vessel.
The electric torpedo was made OF three.
I quafter-inch boiler iron and filled with fine
poWCeF TWO wires connected il with the
tle-trlc battery on shore, the conductor
DeihS covered with gutta percha and the
/ submerged ends being additionally pro-
tected by a covering OF tarred hemp, and
weighted with chains. These torpedoes
We're hrst sunk in the James river, July,
isol, and IN Lake POnchartrian in August,
I Iool In December, 1851 subterranean in
I Lerhal machines and submarine tOrpe-
docs came into use on the Mississippi
and Savannah rivers.
THE FRAME TORPEDO.
Ihe frame torpedo first made its ap-
! pedrance In the Neuse river In March,
, 1867 1t consisted Of three heavy pieces
| OF timber placed IN triangular positions
! at the bottom Of which was placed a box
! nlled with old iron, stone and other heavy
! material. 1t was sunk in the river and
! then inclined forward at an angle of i5
| degrees by means Of ropes and weights.
This heavy frame was capped by cylin-
der Of iron about ~ inches In diameter.
Into this was fitted a shell which was
heavily loaded. resting on a set OF springs
so arranged that the least pressure OF
the cylinder would Instantly discharge the
shell by means OF a percussion cap, in
geniOusly placed
In May. 1862. ordinary shells with sen.
sltiye primers were buried in the road
BIZ d. AItlls
c. j. Rains, G. 3 A. A body OF Federal
cavalry, as they rode over them suffered
terribly from the effect OF their explosion.
Gems. Joseph Z. Johnston and James A.
LOngstreet forbade thu use OF these i'm
plements of warfare, and the matter was
referred to the Confederate Secretary OF
War. who decided that "tOrpedOes must
only be used in parapet or on road TO
repel assaults or check the enemy. or IN
n river or harbOr 10 drive of blOckading
or an attacking feet"
The torpedo bureau was established at
Richmond Va, IN October, 1852. under the
charge Of Brigadier-General g. j. Rains.
AT the same time the naval submarine
battery service was organized under the
command Of Capt. NJ h. Maury. Torpedo
stations were established at Richmond.
Wilmington. Charleston, Savannah, and
MOBILE and sub-statiOns at other points.
The members OF the torpedo corps were
granted extraordinary privileges on ac-
count OF the perilOus nature OF the SER
vice and they were sworn 20 secrecy.
Many OF these COURAGEOUS fellows were
killed while engaged In laying tOrpedoes.
through accidental explosions. An act OF
Congress, April Il. 1862 provided that the
inventor OF device by which "A vessel
OF the enemy should be destroyed should
receive 80 per cent OF the value or the
vessel and armament. and the general
appropriation bill OF May /, 1882. embraced
an item OF 900 for this branch OF public
service. 10 be expended under the direc-
ton Of the navy department, which was
the ufSt APPROPRIATION or the klnu Lnduc
SUBMARINE BATTERIES.
BY act OF February H. 1864. 10000 was
appropriated for the construction OF sub
marine batteries, and by the act OF June
-, 1864. $4,000 was appropriated for the
same purpose. During the war there wero
i8 tOrpefOes planted In Charleston har-
Dor and Stone river which prevented the
capture and the burning OF the city Of
Charleston. There were l0l torpedoes
planted in Roanoke river. n. g. by which
seven OF the u Federal vessels sent with
troops and means TO capture Fort Branch
were destroyed one was sunk by the fre
from the fort and the rest by torpedoes
or the vessels sent 10 take Mobile. Ala.
u were destroyed by tOrpedOee. namely:
three iron-clads. two tin-clads and seven
transports. There were IS vessels sunk
by torpedoes in the war. some OF them
OF no small celebrity. as Admiral Farra-
CUTS flagship the Harvest Moon. the
Thorn, the Commodore Jones, the moni-
tor PatapscO. ram Usage. monitor Mil
waukee, the sloop-of-war HousatOnic. the
Cairo and others. The following descrip-
lions are OF the important torpedo In
ventions that played the most conspic-
uous part In the service OF the Confed-
eracy:
The coal torpedo looked like an limo
cent lump OF coal but in reality was a
block OF iron with core containing about
10 pounds OF powder. When covered with
n mixture OF tar and coal dust II was Inn
possible 10 detect It's character. They
could be placed In coal plies on barges
from which Federal vessels took their
supplies, and exploded with terrible effect
IN their boilers.
The bouyant torpedo was a most dan
eerous one. IL comprised spar fastened
by universal Joint TO n fNed block ~
The bottom % the river and be1ring the
torpedo on - summit Swinslns Win
the current and tide. this torpedo was
kept at uniform depth below tie sur
face and was out OF sight Tina toxpado