The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-12

to attack the enemy we never heard Of
him any more.
A clever inventor built a torpedo boat
to act against these ~gunboats. After Its
completion there was always some unac-
countable delay in getting her into ac-
ton. The builder and owner was to take
her out himself but made so many pre-
texts for delay that a bright and brave
little Alabama lieutenant named Walker
came to me and told me he did mot be-
lieve that fellow had any sand In his giz-
Yard" a nautical phrase. I presume.
tantamount TO being white livered.' and
could not use the boat. but hat he-Lieu-
tenant Walker of the navy-would take
her out and attack that daring Yankee
gunboat. which. under the gallant Jouett.
now Admiral Jouett, cruising after the
dons. ventured very close into the batter
les upon the western shore of Mobile bay
every night. So 1 took the boau from the
owner. turned her over to Walker and
told him to go ahead, and he did one dark
and rainy night.
After midnight. he. with his engineer
and fireman, stole silently out upon his
daring errand. The Yankee steamer lay
several miles OF the western shore of
the bay-stil and s~ilent-when Walker
stole quietly upon her. when within a few
yards the lookout hailed sharply. Boat
ahoy! What boat is that?" Torpedo. by
God!' cried Jouett. or some other oficer.
Then came the snap OF the cap OF the tor
pedo. and as the boat slowly backed on.
two daring Yankee midshipmen sprang
down upon her and whacked away at the
luckless Walker while he stood helpless in
his hatch, lodging the cuts aimed ~ him.
He could only dodge-the improvidence
which made that youngster 60 to attack
without putting a fresh cap on his tor
pedo. which had been loaded over two
vnAnthe haI ala, ,a,Snl hg-. In no To
fight without sword or pistol. and he
could do nothing but dodge and cuss.
Meantime the Yankee middies found
themselves backing of from their ship
practically prisoners to the confederates
so they grabbed the boat rails and
climbed aboard their own ship again.
while tho disappointed torpedo steamed
away to her own shores, encouraged on
her way by volleys of musketry. grape.
etc. mingled with mafedictions. ] could
not help feeling sorry for poor Walker.
though intensely provoked that his dar-
ing courage had not been guided by judi
cious provision. So the only parties con-
cerned In the enterprise who were not
disappointed by the result were Jouett
and his gallant crew. and the thrifty pro-
prietor of the torpedo. who brought In a
big bill for damages against the confeder-
ate government for seizlng his ship md
otherwise doing him wrong-and hurting
his feelings.
But In all the histories OF wars and tor
pedoes there has been nothing so Intense
ly interesting and tragic as the career of
the torpedo David. which was built In
Mobile to operate against Farragut's feet.
I had vaguely heard Of her. but had ia
ken but little interest In her until one
day her builder and proprietor came to
our offices In the customs house OF Mo-
bile to invite Admiral Buchanan and
myself TO go down TO the dock to see the
trial trip OF his torpedo boat, Just COM
pleted.
or course we went with him. The adj
miral, though fun of curiosity. was very
contemptuous OF any new naval devices
out of the old-time standard of .Ready
about"-mainsail, Haul tacks and
sheets" etc. hut he was the model of
an old-time gentleman. and treated our
host-as we may cali him for the occa-
sion-with punctilious courtesy, while he
would take occasion to inform me sotto-
voce-"All damn humbug, general" Our
conductor. embarrassed somewhat by the
high rank of the admiral and general,
was nervously anxious for the successful
demonstration Of the value of his inven-
tion-his pet. We were ~onducted to the
upper deck of a river steamer. where i'm
| comfortable seats we had a clear view of
the river and BAY.
The boat was cigar-shaped. of boiler
iron. rs or 40 feet long by 5 feet deep by
2ia feet beam. She was manned by nine
men, who entered by a round hatchway
well forward, the captain. or pilot. being
the last to enter. He closed the hatchway
as he sauatted down in his seat. and then
the whole crew were seated in their places
facing each other on either side of the
beam or shaft by which they y~opelled the
boat. She could make about four miles
Der hour. The captain could at will make
her sink or rise and steered to right or
left. She towed a torpedo by a long line
and a small buoy floating along the sur
face indicated her progress and position.
A great hulk of a dismantled ship was
anchored out in the stream in water
some eight or ten fathoms deep. II was
fearful to see those fellows get into their
living tomb, one by one. and then. shut
up from air and light, sink down below
the surface beyond all human help or kin.
Every trace Of boat and crew was gone,
save the little buoy, which. bobbing along