The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03
LAYING MINES TO
BLOW UP SHIPS.
Capt. Eugene Griffin, an Expert En-
gineer, Describes the System.
LOADED CYLINDERS ANCHORED
Connected with n Shore Battery-Com-
plctc Description Of a Mine Similar
20 the one Which Destroyed
the BattIeship Maine.

quiry. OF which Capt sampsan WAS the
President. established the fact that tho
loss of the United States steamship
Maine was due 90 the explosion or a
submarine mine. How this mine was
constructed or by whom 10 was planted
or who fred SO are secrets that may
never bee known.
The general public knows very little.
n anything how mine is built. Army
officers. who are the only authorized per-
sons ia this or any other country, 10
plant and construct mines. are reticeht
on this subject
Ia order 90 tell exactly how mine,
similar 20 the one which caused the de-
struction OF the Maine and the loss OF
the 26G American biueiackcts and on-
GERS SIS constructed the New York World
obtained the views OF capt Eugene
Griffin, OF the United states Army. one
Of the most expert engineering officers
in this country. and spoken Of by army
officers OF the highest rank as an officer
whose knowledge OF torpedoes and sub
marine mines is sought. and whose
views are accepted on an questions OF
importance relating TO submarine mining
engineering.
Capt Griffin was formerly attached 20
tho United states Army Torpedo School
az Wluets Point. and resigned from the
urmy eight years ago. lie Be- row con-
nectcd with tac General Electric Ctm-
pany NO SO. "a Broad street New Yorh.
CAPT GRIFFIN EXPLAINS.
Capt Griffin explained that while he
could not well reveal the inner secrets
o. % tho construction Of submarine or
other mines DE could tell 10 general
vay how such mines ere built anchored
and exploded.
Very little has been written on the
subject az submarine mine engineering
said Capt Grim IN answer 20 n uues-
ton whether there were any reports on
hand on This matter. The Captain. VINO
S. the author ~ an extensive report ON
"Sea Coast Defense" written when re
was stationed at WHiots Point. referred
to mines in these terms:
"Cur system of fixed torpedOss has
been gradually developed by experiment
end practice. and as now ~ least equal
ro any in the world. Plans for the tor
redo defense OF every important harbor
have been prepared and filed ready FOR
use and torpedo cases. anchors and
such heavy and imperlshabls parts of
the apparatus are being gradually stored
in tlo various works where they are
needed Electrical operating rooms. with
shafts for submarine cables. are being
prepared rapidly.
Submarine mines" said Capt. Griffin.
"1re always anchored. a mine may be
constructed almost ont or anything and
may Doc OF any shape But as a rule a
mine or the vessel containing the mine.
sci made out ~ steel and iq round shap-
90 Steel ie used because DO a. most
durable. Beer barrels might no reed os
mines. but when Won nave time TO Law
a mine steel vessels are used
Tho system ~ planting and operating
mine is I'd very eiurIo one" continued
CAPT Griffin. "lf You have the steel
cylinder for instance. YOU load n with
whatever explosive Won want 10 nee
Dynamite nilro-r'vccrfro or e7ip-eotton
are tha principal factors used nowa4avs
in me construction of submarine mines
You want some explosive however that
SIS not too sensitive and that does not OK
uIDIc -radIv. hr accident. n yoi, r'eaFe
CONNECTED WITH BATTERY
"affer carefully closing the NINA Won
attach o. fuse which again IS connected
with cable electric wire ashore. where
~ ls connected with battery. There is
ser1rlte cable attached 90 the nine
which is connected with an anchor. ana
which prevents This mino from drifting
about at Will.
l ann now talking about what yon
might cali 90 floating mine There are
mines constructed IN exactly the same
manner which may Dee placed on the bot
tom and which may De fred that way
or course The firing IS done from SHORE
ass % rule. Whenever YOU want 10 OK
pI'de your mine You simply touch the
electric button the current IS established
am. 'H' work SIS accomplished
No", coming back 90 the floating
In .'' Nou nave 20 consider above an
things tlo tides and the rise and IAN
or ing water You want 20 know what
.r N.'Ienc' is between the average
.th ana me average low water and YOU
want '' know in' strength OF tho cur
'''e "Nd ii'if general directions. You
matters $50 thtt YOU know
'7' .N.''il now Tar your mine SIS from
poi .'.' lt .Ii uie7 dIl currents and
tIhi' me Hi.r points IRON the
q i.' GROUND oi %" same proper
INNS - very important N Us ON acc
cunt or me currents prevailing that.
a- "a rue. mines OF round or oail shope
'i selected, Ihis Us done because the ,
'l'rs nave Tess eHect ON such mines /
iinch PES. IMAM thcY would have on one |
'napeo IKE ah ordinary can buoy.
...,, DN,LN Full 'O-\ hoL.
-'" - ~" you "anl 10 pant your |
.'l.., ~ .,l'. u Mo.,u ne absolutely I'M
10y ""i up TO- Pd0S uy WIN /
-.Ne "' i-"Sl "ne mine me mr.
'b p~' i''l Do nsHoie' Wherever con-
wa "lSl 10 ulscnaf6e a
.,il.' ,,' ".,nout STRIKING the
'nIf 'nrh DO is hhey mat no serious in
..r VIII 9'ne 20 the snip.
-, ,t-. may ue so strong 50
II III. -....- ''', ""o'lu Nessei may
'e l"..M" ~. o''N. OF tne vessel may
20 par -lS ulled out or the water. but
-,'" ''''" DO ITO Vlhel serious ddi.l-
'sS
-, S'ps fastened TO mines are