The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-06
THAT EARLY SUBMARINE BOAT,
-Four Crews Lost before Her Mission
Was Accomplished.

Lieutenant Maury. who. after long and
distinguished service I'm the United States
nevv M the beginning of the Civil War
cast his fortunes with the Southern Con-
Tederacv I'M 1866 wrote as follows or the
nrst submarine torpedo boat. Pay Dlrec-
Tor billings interesting story or Wnlch
was recently told In the Evening sun.
1T was bull. of boiler iron, was about
tbirtv-dvc feet long, and was manned by
"a crew OF nine men. eight of whom work
ed the propeller by hand. The nlnth
stoered the boat and manipulated net
movements below the surface OF the
water. She could be submerged NJ pleas
iire % any desired depth or could be pro
pcIlcd upon the surface. In smooth, sun
water her movements were exactly con-
trolled and her speed was about iouI
knots IL was intended that she should
sproach any vessel lying at anchor pass
under her keel and drag a Floating tor
nedo. which would explode on striking
Tho bottom or side OF the ship attacked.
Shs could remain submerged for more
than half an hour without inconvenience
10 her crew.
soon after hex arrival at Charleston.
Lieutenant Paype. Of the Confederate
navy. with eight others volunteered 10
attack the Federal fleet with her Nhie
preparing FOR their expedition the swe.l
Of "a passing steamer caused the boat 10
sink suddenly. and all hands except Lieu
tenant Payne. who was at the moment
standing I'm tho open hatchway, persisted.
She was soon raised and again MADE
,eadv for service. Lieutenant Payne
again volunteered to command her. While
wing near Fort Sumter she capsized ana
again sank IN deep water, drowning al
hands except her commander ana TWO
others Being again raised and pre-
nare6 Tor action Mr.. Aunley. one OF the
construct rs. made an expe linen a. us
In her In Cooper river. While submerged
Al great depth. from some unknown
Cause she became unmanageahle and re-
NAMED for many days az the Dot'om o!
ne river. with her crew OF nine DEAD
ynen A third time was the boat raised
and Lieutenant Dixon. OF Mobile, OF the
.1s.,e,f,,-frst Confederate Volunteers, with
etcht others. went out Of Charleston har-
bor in her and attacked and
spnk the Federal steamer Housa-
to,tc Her mission at last accom-
vUebed she disappeared forever with her
crew. Nothing IS known OF their rate
hut n "a believed they went down Win the
enemy -. 49,.
tsintv len wears later as Pay Director
4tIIINnWA
Yousatonlc was raised and the little DE-
stroycr With the skeletons OF her crew
was found fast IN the hole that her tor
pedo had made In the huh OF the war
vessel.
capt. J. w Congdon. now OF the United
states revenue cruising service. vas
lieutenant In the South Atlantic hlockad-
ina, squadron IN 1868. and was ofhcer OF
the deck Of the Housatonic the night she
Was sunk by this owing torpedo carrier
of Rattlesnake Shoals before Charleston
Harbor He saw a dim light suddenly sp-
pear only pistol shot away. and low In
the water. He fred his revolver al the
strange apparition. II disappeared al
most instantly.
A few seconds later the uo1satonic was
blown up. and but for the fortunate cir
cumstance that she was lylns n shoai
water all on board would undoubtedly
have gone down with her. subsequently
Lieutenant Congdon was appointed eNccu-
tive oficer OF the United Stsies Runboat
Mingo. which carried a formidable bait
terry % heavy Dahigren and Parrot suns
end howitzers The Minso was command
cd by Captain Creighton. she wss OF
eirht feet oraught
The waters ell about Charleston ana