The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-28

lato the nerves and build up the Bystanl.i
II should be In every home and every
travellers gripsack. AZ all DruggistA
crank. could be ueed for scuiling when
degired In the bottom OF the vessel
were two large water tanks, into which
the water wus let by a spring Il was
by this means that tl1e boat made It's de-
scent. There were two pumps, which
the operator worked with his feet, for
the expulsion of the water when he de-
sired TO rise. In case these failed tu
work, the 200 pounds Of lead on the bot-
tom could be released, after which the
raise was very sudden. The operator
eat upright. with his head in the crown
OF the vessel. and by dexterous use Of
his hands and feet, had little dlfhculty
in completely mastering his hat. II re-
quired considerable practice, however,
and unusual strength.
This was Bushnell's submarine boat.
but It was only one feature OF his in-
ventlon. His other discovery. the tori
pedo, was ingcniously combined with his
vessel. On the stern OF the boat, just
above the rudder, on the outside, was a
large cask, made Of two pieces OF oak,
carefully calked and tarred, and bound
together with iron. The interior was
dug out and contained a charge OF pow
der. Within was Bun-lock, which was
arranged to strike IRE whenever clock
work attachment ran down. The mag
aZinA was fastened to the bow by a
screw, which could be unscrewed from
within. It was contrived so that when
the magazine should be dlSarranged
fr4im the vessel the clocltwork should be
set agoing The clockWork ran down In
about thirty minutes. when the gun
lock went off and tgnIted the charge. A
short cable attached the magazine to an
other screw IN the top Of the vessel.
From within the operator could faBten
this screw into the bottom of a vessel
and IN his own boat at the same time.
He could therefore sail safely away,
leaving the magazine attached to the
bottom Of the eneny's nan-of-war ana
await Developments.
There was no evident reason why the
attempt upon the Eagle should not have
a satisfactory Issue. Sergeant Lee was
Obliged to wait several nights for fav-
ornble opportunity. Finally, at 11o'clock
one night In August, he embarked on his
| dangerous voyage. General Putnam
was on the wharf when pushed of, and
kept a constant watch Throughout the
next few hours. Lee was towed by
whale-boats as near the chips as the
oarsmen dared to go, and was then cast
of, He discovered that 1t was too early
to make the attempt. The tide was run
ming strong, and, In epite Of all that ne
| could do, It carried him far beyond the
ships He rowed a4mlessly around until
the tide slowed up, when he made direct
| ly for the man-of-war He drew 30
near under the stern OF the ships that ne
could see the British sailors and near
their voices. At favorable moment
| he let the water into the reservoir and
| sank. Everything up to this point work.
| ed splendIdly. He had no difficulty IN
manning his boat under the water, and
took up favorable position directly un-
der the keel OF the man-of-war, near the
stern, He at once proceeded to attach
\ the screw to the bottom OF the vessel
when he struck formidable opposition.
He had not figured on the copper with
| which the bottom of the ship was cover
| I'd. and which resisted all his attempts
10 fasten. the screw. At every attempt
the boat rebounded from the vesseVs
bottom. Lee finally moved 70 another
mart OF the ship, and in so doing lost ME
hold completely, and rose with tremen-
dous velocity to the surface. He came
within two or three feet Of the man-of-
war. upon whose destruction he had
been bent-a rather uncomfortable cir
cumstance, especially as It was nearly
6aylight, He at once, therefore, hiled
the reservoirs and sank again. AS II
would soon be morning, however and
as he had four miles to row, ne declaeo
to abandon his attempt to blow up the
man-of-war, and instead 70 look Guy l cI
hIs own safety. Bushnell never blamed
T,ae hi. his failure to execute the plan
owing to the fact that he had had such
sIight preparation for the task.
There was naturally much dssappoint'
ment over this initial failure, and espec,
IalIy when q British frigate came up ana
anchored of Bloomingdale, and Lee
made another equally unsuccessful az
tempt. His Intention this time was 70
on IN CLOSE to the stern OF the vessel, ana
yTfthout sinking, screw in his magazine
-,oSs 10 the edge, Discovered by the
MATCH no dove under the frtgnte' put
vent TOO deep and came up on the otner
Stde In the year 1IT7, however, BUSH
neil sent one Of his machines against the
Tsrebus. A British frigate, lying ~ an
Choir between New London anu NY
mouth OF the Connecticut river; me
machine instead fell in with a schooner,
anchored astern Of the frigate: when
mad escaped Bushnell's observation. ~
biep, IN the schooner, completely GetnCt-
fishing Il, and killed three men bus stn.
neil was very much cast down ~ sne
SoiI,re Of his contrivance, when ne De.
iiovod mad never had fair SHOW. Az
~, end Of the war he went TO France,
~ vas present during the stirring
. sconos AZ the revolution. HIS relatives
-. al track Of him, and supposed that
rs had died In a French prison or upon
Inc I p1,illotine, until. in 1925, they re-
c 81. ind patton Of his death In seoF-
gia.
.,,,.,,. Arn,ea saIvr.