Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-05-06
BLEW UP A WARSHIP.
CAPT. MAXWELL CAUSED CITY
POINT EXPLOSION.
The Former Confederate Tells How He
Struggled an Internal Machine, Run
by Clockwork, on Federal Vessel on
the James In 1864.

.alls tragic incident in the late war,
when $4,000,00O worth of property Of
he federal government was destroyed
Ind the lives of more than half
hundred men were lost, while 126 were
wounded. This event occurred on Aug.
}, 1854, at City Point. The man who,
lcting under instructions from the
Confederate states government, caused
The terrible havoc is Capt. John Max
we'll, well-known maohinist, who re-
sides at 318 North Twenty-seventh
street, Richmond, Va. Capt Maxwell
gives the following account of his ex-
periences: II left Richmond on the
18th of July 1864, to operate with what
vas 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 / led, no mat
.er 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, intending, if possible, to in
troduce our machine upon one of the
vessels discharging their cargoes there.
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. l had
with me an ordinary candle box con-
tanning twelve pounds of gunpowder,
procured at country store. In the
box was packed small machine, my
own Invention, which was arranged
by means of lever to explode cap
at time indicated by dial. When we
got within half mile of City Point
told billiard to remain behind while l
went forward with my machine. went
out on the wharf cautiously, put my
box down and s3ok seat on it, await
aboard vessel. There were two boats
at the wharf loaded with ammunition
and various stores for the federal
troops, while on the bank were build
ings stored with supplies l sat wait
ing until l saw the captain of the YES
sci nearest to me leave his boat. That
was my opportunity. l 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 Moderated something
at me in German, while l rejoined in
broad Scotch. Finally by means of
signs I induced him to let me APP
proach the vessel. Just then negro
appeared at the side of the ship.
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 it down while I
went off little distance. In an hours
time the explosion occurred. 1t was
terrific. Its effect was communicated
to the other vessel and also to the
large building on the wharf, filled
with stores, and all were destroyed ut
terly. l myself was terribly shocked
by the explosion, but was not injured
permanently. billiard, my companion,
was rendered deaf by the explosion
and never recovered from it's effects
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 leap-frog, while
headless bodies, arms, legs, and heads
of the unfortunate crew flew in frag-
ments about in the smoke. The Off
cial report of the enemy was that fifty
eight men were killed and 126 wound
ed, but l think that this estimate was
too low. They also reported that prop
erty to the amount of 100000 was
destroyed. There is one thing only
that l regret and that is, according tC
the report of the enemy, party oil
ladies was killed. OF course, we never
intended anything of the kind, not be.
ing aware of their presence. This, said
Capt. Maxwell, going to trunk, and
taking out a small package, contains
the mate to the machine which blew
up City Point. OF course, that machine
was wrecked in the explosion. l ha6
two of them made" The little ma
chine exhibited by Capt. Maxwell was
an arrangement of cog wheels much
resembling the works of clock. Or
the top was a dial. A lever controlled
by strong spring was released at &
certain time and exploded cap fixet
on a nipple, upon the end of tube
through which the fire was communi
Gated to the charge of powder. From
box in the mantelpiece Capt. Max
we'll took cap which he has had ever
since the war and placed it on the
nipple. He sprung the lever, and thu
cap was exploded with a deafenins
noise. Capt. Maxwell was born sixty
five years ago in the Highlands o
Scotland. He went to Glasgow wheI
quite young and spent the early par
of his life there. When young maj
he came to the United States. At tina
time he was a splendid-looking speci
men of manhood and even now wear,
his years easily. AS young man Capt
Maxwell stood full six feet in height
with broad, square shoulders, blacl
hair, mustache, and whiskers. For tw,
years after coming to the United State
Capt. Maxwell was on board the steam
er Niagara, engaged in laying the frs
Atlantic cable. Later he went on a,
expedition to Africa.