The Red Cloud chief., 1898-04-08
BLEW UP A WARSHIP.
CAPT. MAXWELL CAUSED CITY
POINT EXPLOSION.
the Former Confederate Tells How lilo
Struggled nm Internal, Machine. Run
by Ciockwork, on u Federal Vessel ON
the James In 1851.

The recent disaster TO the Maine re-
rails Il tragic incident in the late war,
when 1000, 900 worth of property of
he federal government was destroyed
and the lives OF more than half a
hundred men were lost, while 126 were
wounded. This event occurred on Aug.
?. 1861, at City Point. The man who.
acting under instructions from the
Confederate states government, caused
the terrible havoc is Capt. John Max
well. a well-known machinist. who re-
sides at 31S North Twenty-scventh
street, Richmond, Va. Capt. Maxwell
gives the following account OF his cx-
periences. 81 left Richmond on the
Goth of July. 1864. to operate with what
was known as the neurological torpedo
against the vessels of the federal forces
navigating the James river. Mr.. X. X.
billiard. since dead. was with me. He
was well acquainted with the liver,
and would go anywhere | led. no mat
ter what the danger might be. When
we reached Isle of Wight county on
Aug. ., we heard that an Immense
supply of stores was being landed at
City Point, and AT once started for
that place, intending. II possible. to In
troducc our machine upon one OF the
vessels discharGing their cargoes there.
We reached City Point before day
break on Aug. .. having Travelled most
~ by night and crawled upon our
knees to pass the picket lines. ! had
with me an ordinary candle box con-
tanning twelve pounds of gunpowder,
procured at a country store. In the
box WAS packed a small machine. my
own invention, which was arranged
by means OF a lever to explode u cap
at a time indicated by a dial. When we
got within half n mile OF City Point !
told billiard to remain behind while !
went forward with my machine. went
out on tho wharf cautiously, put my
box down and took a seat on 1t. await
Ing an opportunc moment to get II
aboard a vessel. There were two boats
at the wharf loaded with ammunition
and various stores for the federal
troops, while on the bank were build
ings stored with supplies. sat walt
ing until | saw the captain Of the YES
sci nearest to me leave his boat. That
was my opportunity. ! picked up the
box OF powder and started for the
boat. As | reached the edge OF the
wharf the sentry hailed me. He was
u German and could not speak a word
OF English. He vociferated something
az me in German, while | rejoined In
broad Scotch. Finally by means Of
signs | induced him to let me APP
proach the vessel. Just then Il negro
appeared ut the side OF the ship.
gave him the box and told him thu
captain said put 1t down below until
he came. The man took II withou
question and carried 1t down while
went of n little distance. In an hour
time the explosion occurred. II va
terrific. It's effect was communicated
10 the other vessel and also to th'
large building on the wharf, fllet
with stores. and all were destroyed nj
tcrly. | myself was terribly shocked
by tho explosion, but was not injured
permanently. billiard. my companion
was rendered deaf by the explosion
: and never recovered from It's effects
l ne SCtlt, lIlohbh NliihN, ""' IA 49,
respects iudicrous. The air was hllet
: with all sorts OF munitions OF war
h Army saddles careered through the at
as though playing leap-frog, Will
headless bodies. arms, legs. and head
OF the unfortunate crew flew In frag
ments about In the smoke. The OH
cial report OF the enemy was that nifty
: eight men were killed and 126 wound
u ed. but I think that this estimate wa
9 too low. They also reported that prop
crty to the amount or $4,O00, 900 wa
destroyed. There Is one thing onl,
y that I regret and that Is, according I
the report OF the enemy. a party O
VI ladies' was killed. or course. We neve
intended anything OF the kind. n O be
' ins aware Of their presence. This, sal
Cant. Maxwell. going to n trunk. an
taking out a small package, contain
the mate to the machine which ble'
ND City Point. OF course, that machln
was wrecked in the explosion. ha
two Of them made" The little ma
chine exhibited by Capt. Maxwell wa
an arrangement OF cog wheels niue
resembling the works OF a clock. o
the top was a dial. A lever controlle
by a strong spring was released at
certain time and exploded n cap ixe
Q on a nipple, upon the end OF a tub
J through which the fire was commun
, Gated to the charge Of powder. Froi
4 n box In the mantelplece Capt. Ma,
| we'll took a cap which he has had eve
! since the wal and placed II on tn
nipple. He sprung the lever, and ii
cap was exploded with a deafenin
noise. Capt. Maxwell was born sixt.
five years ago in the Highlands
Scotland. He went TO Glasgow whe
quite young and spent the early pa
of his life there. When a young MI
D. he came to the United States. At tn,
N time he was a splendid-looking spec
c. men OF manhood and even now wea
r his years easily. AS a young man Car
Maxwell stood full six feet in heigh
with broad. square shoulders. bla(