The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06

pormanently injured. bmard, my S't"-
paniou. was rendered deaf by the ehPlo-
sion and never recovered from ITS eHec's'
'The scene. though terrific continued
Captain Maxwell contemplatiyely' was
I'm some respects ludicrous. Inc alr was
filed with all sorts OF munitions OF war
Army saddles careercd through the air
as though playing leap-frog. while Eeaa-
less bodies. arms legs and heads OF 'he
unfortunate crew Few in fragments about
in the smoke
"The official report Of the enemy was
that ffty-eieht men were killed and 10
wounded. but / think that this estimate
was too low. They also reported thar
property to the amount of S0W,w0 was
destroyed.
There is one thing only that ] re-
eret." continued Captain Maxwell ana
that IS. according 70 the report OF inc
enemy. a party Of ladies' was killed.. ~
course. we never intended anything OF the
kind not being aware of their presence
This" said Captain Maxwell, going TO
a trunk and takag ont a small pdcS'
age. contains the mate 20 the machine
which blew up City Point. OF course. that
machine was wrecked I'm the explosion.
had two Of them made
The little machine exhibited by Captain
Maxwell was an arrangement OF cog-
wheels much resembling the Internal
works of a clock. On the top was dial.
A lever controlled Boy a strong spring was
released at certain time and exploded
a can fixed on a nipple, upon the end of
a tube. through which the fire was COM
municatod to the charge Of powder.
From box on the mantepiece Captain
Maxwell took "a cap, which, by the way,
he has had ever since the war and plac-
ed it on the nipple. He sprung the lever
and the cap was exploded with deaf
ening noise
DEAD MAN ALIVE.
Captain Maxwell has the unique dis
tinction Of being alive although the Official
report by the Federals Of the great de-
struction at city Point states that no
was killed. An amusing circumstance
I'm this connection occurred some years
ago when Captain Maxwell was witness
for w. W. Webster. who was suing the
government TO recover $4,000 for property
damaged during the war. The Opp0s-
ing attorney raisel the point that Captain
Maxwell was dead. and read from the Of
ncial report 20 prove his contention Cap
tain Maxwell was forced 10 put n friend
on the stand TO prove that ne was still
alive.
Captain Maxwell was born about sixty
five years ago In the Highlands of Scot
land. lie went tO Glasgow when quite
young and spent the early portion OF his
life there. When young man he came
10 the United States. AT that time he
was a splendid-looking specimen Of man
hood. and even now wears his years sasi-
w. As a young man. Captain MaNWell
stood full six feet In height with broad
square shoulders, black hair moustache'
NJ xthfaEarg-n pTrfDgt Hercules.
For two years after coming 10 the
United States Captain Maxwell was on
board the steamer Niagara engaged IN
LAYING the first Atlantic cable. Later he
went on an expedition 10 Africa.
When the war broke out he was living
I'm Martinsburg. Va, and at once enlisted
I'm the army as fourth sergeant i'm the
Wise Artillery, commanded by Captain
Alburtis. on April g. 1863, he was de-
tached from the artillery branch Of the
service. and entered the secret service,
Of the Confederate navy. He was acting
i'm that capacity. with the rank Of cap
tain. when he accomplished the great
service 10 his country at city Point.
A DARING DEED.
The most daring deed done by Captain
Max well during bis connection with the
secret service was his attempt made 10
destroy the Monitor which was sent
down TO check the destructive work OF
the "Merrimac. lie lett Richmond with
some torpedoes invented by a man named
McEvoy. Captain Maxwell had little
faith in the tOrpedocs, tor their con-
struction was faulty, but he Obeyed his
orders. In the darkness OF the night ne
swan out 10 the Monitor and affixed one
To either side. AS he had feared. there
was no explosion. Nnen morning came
and the crew Of the Monitor discovered
the torpedoes they were seized with ter
ror and hoisted signals Of distress.
Sixteen war vessels OF the enemy were
drawn up in line extending from New
port News to the mouth OF the Elizabeth
river Their boats responded 10 the sig
nails of distress. and took off the crew or
the Monitor. The boats then r0wed
around and around the iron-clad. fearing
to approach Gradually they grew holder
and came close enough 10 lasso the tor
pedoes. They were dragged ashore. but
the men took pains to give them plenty
Of rome
Captain Maxwell also affixed a torpedo
Of "a different make 10 the warship Mime
sofa and exploded the same. but although
the ship was badly shaken up there was
not a sufficient charge 10 do her any
material damage.
CaptaIn Maxwells life during his con-
nection with the naval special service
Continued on Third Page)