The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06
The Man Who Blew Up a Federal
Fleet Living Here.
THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
Gan, Holm Maxwell Tells How He
Placed a Machine on Board Snip
at City Point, Causing an TX
pIosion Which Destroyed
Si.OOO,OOO Worth of
Federal Property.

The recent disaster TO the Maine re-
o,us q tragic incident in the late war
when 100000 worth Of the property
NJ the Federal Government was destroy
od and the lives Of more than hat "a
hundred men were lost. while l25 were
wounded. This event occurred on Au-
gust 9. 1861. at City Point, and the e@plo-
sion on that occasion was one OF the
most terrible in the history of the world.
The man who. acting under instructions
from the Confederate States Government
caused the terrible havoc IS Captain John
Maxwell. the well-known machinist az
tnos east cary street. VINO resides at ol1
-,o,.l, ,rv,entv-seventh street Sitting in
his cosy chamber last night captain
Newell gave the following account OF
his thrilling experience.
CAPT. MAXWELL'S STORY.
"r left Richmond on the 26th Of July,
1864 10 operate with what was known as
the "horological' torpedo against tH3
vessels Of the Federal forces naVlsatlhs
the James river. Mr.. r.. *. Dillara. sllcc
dead. vas with me. lie was wen ac-
ouainted with the river, and Would go
anywhere / led no matter what the uah-
ger might be. ,...,. .-......
.When we reached Isle Of wight county
on August ID We heard that an immense
supply OF stores we're being landeu nc
CITY Point, and at once started ior tnas
place. intending If possible, 10 lhllo"u,o
our machine upon one OF the NesSels
discharging their cargoes there.
I'VE reached City Point before day
break August 9th. having travelled most
lv bv night and crawled upon our knees
to pass the picket lines.
.I had with me an ordinary candie-ooX
containing twelve pounds OF guhpo"uer'
procured at a country store. In the poA
va hacked a small machine, my own IN
,ention. which was arranged by means
of a lever to explode cap at a time lhul-
Gated by a dial
when we got within half mile OF
CITY Point l told Dillard 10 remain pe-
hind while I went forward with my ma
chino / went out on the wharf cautious
IA, nut nv box down and took a seat on
q awaiting an opportunc T1oment % het IL
abard a vessel. There were TWO boats az
the wharf loaded with ammunition ana
arious stores for the Federal troops,
,yble on the bank were buildings stored
with supplies. -. ..r.ot,,
81 sat waiting until ] saw the captain
Of the vessel nearest TO me le'Fe i''
hoat That was my opportunity. l Dick
sd nm the box Of powder and started Tor
tho boat. As reached the edge Of the
wharf the sentry hailed me. lie was a
Du,chman and could not speak WORD Oh
INV language. while I was equally al a
loss in regard 10 his. lie Vociieraied
something al me in Dutch. Wnlie ! re-
,oinpd in broad Scotch. Finally by means
of sims induced him to let me approaen
the vessel. Just then a negro appeaIeu
at the side Of The ship. ! gave MN me ~.
hox and told him the captain said put II
down below until he came. The man TOOK
if without question and carried 1t down
wh,le / went of to a little distance.
THE TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
,.o,,,,, fim. theexplosion oc-
Cured. Words cannot adequately de-
scribo the lshoek. II WAS terrific. It's
esYeet was communicated 10 the other
vesseg and also TO the large building on
the wharf filled with stores. and all were
destroved utterly / myself was terribly