The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-05

was studded with sensitive cape, and no
matter where a ship touched IL 10 would
explode. They could not be grappled fori
and It was only by. good luck. care and
ingenuity that the Federals got them out
Of the channels.
SPAR ToRPEDOES.
Spar torpedoes were fixed on the ends
OF Iron spars about 81 feet long ana at
cached TO the bows OF boats nSAr the
water line. They were made or strong
and contained about $50 pounds OF nne
powder some were made OF old soda
fountain tanks with five chemical or sem
sittye fuses projecting from the upper
half Of the hemispherical surface.
The pronged torpedo consisted OF
stout sheet-!ron cylinder pointed at both
ends, about 5ih feet long and one loot ~
diameter, anchored below the surface or
the water out OF sight. An iron lever was
so arranged as TO be 80 feet above inc
torpedo; this lever was armed with prongs
or barbs so as 10 catch In the bottom or
side OF boat going up stream, ana Wds
,onstructed so as TO move an iron rcd on
the inside OF the cylinder, thus acting
upon the trigger OF the lock 70 explode th9
cap and fire the powder. me macnino
was anchored presenting the prongs IN
such a wav that boats going down
stream should slide over them, put thoao
coming up should catch.
The clOck-work torpedo consisted OK q
box containing a quantity OF powder ana
INC can at a given hour. This machine was
the one that caused the great expIoolon
az City Point on the James river August
o 1864 when the Federal army were be-
sieging Richmond and Petersburg, de-
stroving several vessels loaded win or
dinance stores and the ware house on the
wharf filed with supplies, Killing ana
THE doating torpedo was tin case con-
taining about 20 pounds OF powder n
number of wires from the friction tun9
lead from the powder TO small pieces OK
driftwood on the surface OK the water
IL was fioated at n proper depth by
line fastened to a floating leg ana was
turned adrift with view or fouling ths
trigger lines by the propeuers or tn3
enemy's vessels. In January 1868. one OF
these torpedoes was plcked up Dy tns
United States gunboat Essex In the MIS-
sissippi river. -.
lager beer keg or barrel caulked ana
pitched. loaded with from 40 20 10 pounds
Of powder. capped with frlcuoh 1usesx
and when moored In channel proved OF
excellent defense, causing the loss OF mors
vessels than any other kind used BY thd
Confederates. six vessels and a stcam
launch were blown up by them In MopiiS
bay and tributaries between Marcn
ed the Confederate steamers Ettiwan ana
Marian In Charleston harbor. they having
dfifted from their moorings.
SHAPED LIKE A FISH.
The fish torpedo was a boat made Of
salvanized iron and shaped ike ish.
1t was % feet long, and at the middle ~
feet wide, by feet deep. anu was pro-
PEELED BY a screw worked from the fnsid1
by seven or eight men. IL was so CON-
structed that IL could be submerged and
worked under water for several hours.
and 10 this end was provided with a m
on each side worked also from the IN
terror. BY depressing the points OF tnes1
fins the boat vhen In motion, was made
TO descend. and by elevating them II was
made 10 rise. This torpedo sunk tina
limited states sl0oD-Of-war Housat0nic on
the night Of February H. 1854 but. un<
happily from some unknown cause. the
torpedo boat was also sunk ana al Win
1t lost whether she was swamped by the
water thrown up from tho explosion, OF
was carried Own by the sinking Housa-
tonic win never be known. After the war
atomic found the torpedo boat lying along
side OF It's victfm.
The Confederate David was a double
ended steam torpedo craft. composed OF
wood and iron. ~ 20 50 feet long. about
seven feet In diameter at the center. Tho
boiler was forward, the engine aft. and
eapta!n' engineer. and whatever crew the
boat might carry. aud which was entered
bv a hafchway. The torpedo was carried
on spar that protrudqd from the how
and which could be raised or lowered at
will by a line passing back into the cad-
dy-hoIe. A two-bladed propeller drove tho
craft along. The torpedo was made OF
copper. with a mechanical fuse and car
RED from 50 10 70 pounds OF powder. When
ready for action the boat was so well
SUBMERGED that pethlns was si9,e *.
cOaming aud the stauchi0n unon which
the torpedo Lac mas brought az.
sprlnxfeld. Mass. May Z lsaS