The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24
THE MERRIMAC RAINING THE CUMBERLAND.

submarine torpedo boats. built on the
principle of the boat in which he was
al one time a volunteer, and he believes
that were the United States vessels 10
have Il number OF these boats, carried
on davts the same as the ordinary ships
boats. great execution could be done and
great protection afforded. lie believes
that by the submarine boat the harbors
OF the country could be better protected
than by any other means.
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
During his adventurous life in the stir
ring times between 1861 and '65 Mr.. Has
ker had an adventure which almost cost
him his life.
Il had several narrow escapes during
the war" said Mr.. Hasker list night.
but the closest call was while in Char
lesion harbOr. 10 was due 70 an accident
The fish boat. as il was called, was built
i'm Mobile. Ala. by MessTs. Htndley 81
McCHntock She was designed with
pair of wings or fans, which were con-
nected by a bar running through the boat
Just aft Of the forward manhole The
boat was propelled by eight men seated
along the bottom OF the boat. The shaft
was made so that the hands Of four men
were on the top OF the shaft while the
hands of the other four men were on
the bottom. thus giving more leverage.
She was. as well as ! can recollect
about s. or 30 feet long feet deep. and
2 - feet wide with two matches or man
holes-much the same as a boiler man
hole. These were hinged. and when we
were ready 10 dive were screwed down
on a gas%et and made both water and
air tight
OWED LIKE A FISH.
She was designed 10 dive like a FISH.
and the fms above alluded to were for
this purpose. A lever connected with
the bar which connected the fms turned
them on an angle OF about 10 degrees.
which formed a wedge Of the water ana
as the boat forged ahead. was, by this
means. carried down in horizontal posi-
ton. and when deep enough the fms were
brought to a horizontal, and the boat re-
NAMED at the proper depth. a pipe about
four feet long. worked from the inside
afforded fresh air when near the sur
face. The foul air was pumped out
through the bottom.
I was anxious to see how the boat
worked and volunteered as one Of the
crew TO take a dive In her We were ~
inc astern of the steamer Etawan near
Fort Johnston. i'm Charleston harbor.
Lieutenant Payne who had charge, got
fouled in the manhole by the hawser' ana
In irving 10 clear himself got his foot on
the lever which controlled the ms. lie
co ahead The boat made a dive while
the manholes were open and she began
10 M Payne got out OF the Forward hole
and two others out Of the after hole. SIX
~ ms went down with her. / had 10 get
over the bar that connected the nm ana
through the manhole. which | did by
forcing myself through the column OF
water that was filling the boat me
ranhole plate came down on my back
but I worked my way out until my left
leg was caught by the plate pressing the
caif Of my leg in two and taking the skin
or the shin In this position ! was car.
rled 20 the bottom I'm forty-two feet or
water. When the boat touched bottom
felt the pressure relax. and stopped down
tool, hold OF the manhoie plate drew ont
nv wounded limb and swan 20 the sur
lace Five men We're drowned at this
time She drowned about thirty-hve men
an all. 7 being the only man saved who
went TO the bottom.