Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
How the Harbor Defenses Have Been
Removed for Future Use.
TERRIFIC POWER OF EXPLOSIVES
Mines in the Potomac Discharged
in Storm by Lightning.
SAFE FOR THE FUTURE

written Tor The Evening Star.
The use of mines in defensive warfare at
exposed seaport towns will remain, at least
until another war, an experiment.
Although the phantom ships bearing the
yellow flag of Spain never materiaiized the
moral effect of those mysterious forces I'M
der the water was ample to allay the fears
of panicky rnarts of trade and industry ac-
cessble at least to possible bombardment
or invasion.
However, the country and particularly
the seaboard inhabitants owe much to Gen.
John NJ. Wilson. chief of the Corps of En-
gineers, for the feeling of security and
surance which this part of the warlike
preparation gave to the government and
people.
The Gordon of mines stretched by the
officers and men under General Wilson's
command was considered we'll worth all it
cost, as lesson learned at least scientific
ally in the art of sudden war.
The experience theoretically acquired can
be utilized in practice if the improbable.
war with European power, should come
out of any mistakes of diplomacy or in
tereSt over the eastern questions.
1t is estimated that the submarine mining
of the harbors of the coast was accom-
plished by an expenditure of not over
81, $50 900 for material and labor. OF this
amount. however, considerable portion
can be saved by the successful lifting of
the mines and their storage in magazines
for future use.
Unloading the Mines.
The chambers, which are of iron one
half inch thick, can be saved, but must be
| unchanged, as dynamite, with which they
are loaded will deteriorate with time, and,
therefore. could not be relied Upon for
future use. .
The extracting of the charges from all
simplest, aud in some cases impossible
from the point of safety. These will either
be exploded or stored
The government, therefore, comes out of
this war with Spain with more than mere
paper lessons bearing upon complete sys-
TEN of harbor mine defense. which in any
future emergency will defy the boldest at
tempts of any powers of the earth 20 at
tack American seaport cities.
The plans, specifications and tentative
results of this deadly network of
| plosive force with its subtle meshes of
wires. anchors and buoys, are stored away
| IN the barred, boted and safeguarded ar
chives of Gen. Wilson's headquarters
where foreign military or naval attache
| or his tools can lay hands upon them. They
! will stay there for use, if need be, at
short notice. Gen. Wilson, in addition to
the drawings and charts of all mines as
used in actual practice, will have fer fu-
| ture reference a detailed report from the
engineer officer in charge upon the placing
| of each mine. its care while in place, its
condition when removed or performance II
| exploded.
| Mine Explosion.
The illustration, from an original photo
graph, the only one thus far received at
| headquarters. was taken very recently by
| Lieutenant Charles w. Kutz of the En-
| gineer Corps at a shore point 1900 feet
| from the scene Of explosion, at the entrance
| to Baltimore harbor. 1t represents one of
a series of triple groups of ground mines.
| Each mine contained 225 to $50 pounds of
| high explosive. The depth of water was
815 feet. The area of lift of water was
| $50 by $50 feet. The maximum height Of
| upheaval Of the body of water was 225
| feet. The mine tops stood flush with the
| bottom of the channel, the mines them
selves having settled in the mud.
| The force exerted by this single explosion
! was sufficient to destroy In a moment the
most formidable vessel of any navy. The
| tremendous explosive power of the officially
| unascertained but logically deducted and
| popularity believed force which in an in
| slant converted the immense steel struc-
ture OF the Maine into an unrecognizabIe
mass of scrap and q mortuary of several
hundred brave men of the sea was not over
estimated nor overconcluSfve, confronted
| by the mighty exertion of this single group
of mines in q series in Baltimore harbor
The lifting Of solid cube of water n 800
| feet surface and 31.5 feet depth, or $50 25o
cubic feet. 225 feet In the air represents
| a lifting force greater than any human
| construction could resist. 1t is safe to saw
| that In case of entanglements In the set
thing OF territorial questions upon the first
indications of adjustment by warlike meth
| DDS the entire chain Of harbors from Port
] land Me-, to Santiago. Tex, and from San
Francisco to Puget sound can be mined in
less than thirty days.
The orders for removal did not REQUIRE
| the lifting Of all mines, but only such A
| endangered the main channels of exit or
approach to harbors
! After the final arrangement of peace the
remaining mines will be taken up and
| stored.
! Floating and Ground Mines.
| The mines in use by the Engineer Corps
| are floating and ground. Tn. former, buoy
| ed near the surface, contain automatic hat
| ter1es, which are operated by the simple
| disturbance Of equilibrium, thus ignitins
| the illuminate and causing the explosion
The ground minss, to be effective, are
limited to 80 or 40 feet depth of channel
They are anchored at the bottom in place
and operated by insulated connecting wires
1rom casemated battery stations on tina
shore.
Exploded by Lightning.
Among the eccentricities of mines and
ments may be mentioned a mysterious oc-
currence in these defenses Of Washington
under Col. Allen.
| few weeks ago, instead Of a Spanish
| fleet ascending the Potomac from the Ches-
| apeake, bent for Washington. one of those
| sudden storms OF lightning and thunder
| made Its appearance from the bay
Suddenly appeared a vivid streak of
| lightning. At the same instant followed
q tremendous defamation. Instead of ema-