The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-27
BLEW UP A WARSHIP.
CAPTAIN MAXWELL CAUSED THE FA-
NOUS CITY POINT EXPLOSION.

The Former Confederate Tells How He
Struggled nm Internal Machine on a Fed
One Hundred and Twenty-six Wounded.
The recent disaster to the Maine re-
calls tragic incident in the late war,
when $500, 900 worth of property of
the Fedora government was destroyed
and the lives of more than half hun
dred men were lost, while 1916 were
wounded. This event occurred on Aug.
8, 1864, at City Point. The man who,
acting under instructions from the Con-
federate states government, caused the
terrible havoc is Captain John Maxwell,
well known machinist, who lives in
Richmond. Captain Maxwell gives the
following account of his experiences:
II left Richmond on the Goth of Ju-
ly, 1864, to operate with what was
known as the Theological torpedo
against the vessels of the Federal forces
navigating the James river. Mr.. r. X
billiard, since dead, was with me. He
was well acquainted with the river and
would go anywhere l led, no matter
what the danger might be. When we
reached Isle Of Wight county on Aug.
2, we heard that an immense supply of
stores was being landed at City Point
and at once started for that place, in
tending, If possible, to introduce our
machine upon one of the vessels dis
charging their cargoes there.
1--WE reached City Point before day
break on Aug. 8, having travelled most
ly by night and crawled upon our knees
to pass the picket lines. had with me
an ordinary candle box containing IL
pounds of gunpowder, procured at q
country store. In the box was packed a
small machine, my own invention,
which was arranged by means of lever
to explode cap at time indicated by
a dial
when we got within half mile of
City Point, told billiard to remain be-
hind while went forward with my
machine went out ON the wharf eau
tiously, put my box down and took
seat on it, awaiting an opportune mo-
ment to get it aboard a vessel. There
were two boats at the wharf loaded with
ammunition and various stores for the
Federal troops, while on the bank were
buildings stored with supplies.
II sat waiting until l saw the cap.
tain of the vessel nearest to me leave
his boat. That was my opportunity. /
picked up the box of powder and started
for the boat. AS l reached the edge Of
the wharf the sentry hailed me- He was
German and could not speak word
of English. He vociferated something
at me in German, while I rejoined in
broad Scotch. Finally by means of signs
l induced him to let me- apDroach the
vessel. Just then negro appeared al
the side of the ship. l gave him the
box and told him the captain said put
it down below until he came The man
took it without question and carried Il
down while | went off little distance.
"In an hours time the explosion &C.
CURED. 1t was terrific. Its effect was
communicated 80 the other vessel and
also TO the large building On the wharf,
filled with stores, and ell were destroy
ed utterly. myself was terribly shock
ed by the explosion, but was not injured
permanently. billiard, my companion,
was rendered deaf by the explosion and
never recovered from it's effects.
1.-THE scene. though terrific, was in
some respects ludicrous. The air was
filled with all sorts of munitions of war.
Army saddles careered through the air
as though playing leapfrog, while
headless bodies, arms, legs and heads of
the unfortunate crew flew i'll fragments
about in the smoke. The Official report |