The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-06
ONCE BLEW UP A WARSHIP
Former Confederate Tells How He
Struggled an Internal Ma chine, Run
by Ciockwork, on a Federal Vessel
on the James in Is64--5s Mes
Killed and 1913 Wounded


Richmond, Va. Letter in the Sun.
The recent disaster to the Maine re-
calls a tragic incident in the late war
when $4,000, 900 worth of property of the
Federal government was destroyed and
the lives OF more than half a hundred
men were lost, while 1876 were wounded
This event occurred on Aug. 8, 1864, at
City POnt The man who, acting under
instructions from the Confederate
States government. caused the terrible
havoc is Captain John Maxwell, a we'll
known machinist, who resides at 3lS
North Twenty-seventh street, in this
city. Captain Maxwell gives the fol-
lowing account of his experiences:
II left Richmond on the 26th of July,
1854, to operate with what was known
as the 'horologicar torpedo against the
vessels of the Federal forces navigat-
ing the James river. r. X. billiard,
since dead, was with me. He was well
acquainted with the river, and would
go anywhere | led, no matter 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 introduce our machine
upon one Of the vessels dscharginE
their cargoes there.
I'VE 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. / had with
me an ordinary candle box containing
twelve pounds of gunpowder, procured
at a country store. In the box was
packed a small machine, my own in
vention, which was arranged by means
of "A lever to explode cap at a time
indicated by a dial.
SAFELY ABOARD.
when we got within half a mile of
City Point told Dilard to remain be-
hind while | went forward with my
machine. | went out on the wharf
cautiously, put my box down and took
a seat on it,awaiting an opporture mo-
ment to get it aboard a vessel. There
We're two boats at the wharf loaded
with ammunition and various stores
for the Federal troops, while on the
bank We're buildings stored with sup
plies.
II sat waiting until | saw the cap
tain of the vessel nearest to me leave
his boat. That was my opportunity.
started for the boat AS I reached the
edge of the wharf the sentry hailed
me. He was a German and could not
speak a word Of English. He vocifer-
ated somnthing at me in German.
while | rejoined in broad Scotch. FL
nally by means of signs ! induced
him to let me approach the vessel.
Just then a negro appeared at the side
Of 10 oh I oaN 10 nd
told him the captain said put 1t down
below until he came. The man
took it without question and carried
it down while | went off little dis
tanCe.
"In an hours time the explosion oc-
Cured. 1t was terrific. It's effect was
communicated to the other vessel and
also to the large buildings on the
wharf filled with stores. and all were
destroyed utterly. | myself was terri
bly, shocked by the explosion, but was
not injured permanently. Dilard, my
/ companion, was rendered deaf by the
explosion and never recovered from it's
effects.
LUDICROUS EFFECTS.
/ 1.-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
/ fragments about in the smoke. The
official report of the enemy was that
5S men We're killed and l26 wounded,
but | think that this estimate was tCo
/ low. They also reported that property
to the amount of $40OO,0O0 was de-
stroyed
There is one thing only that ] re-
gret and that is, according to the re-
port of the enemy, a party of ladies
was killed. OF course, we never in
. tended anything of the kind, not being
aware Of their presence"