The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-05-04

The torpedo, whose effect has been
amply demonstrated by the japanese
IN their engagements with the Rus
slams in the harbor of Port Arthur,
first came into use ia the Civil War,
and was thczinvcntion Of Capt Ar,
thur L. Maury, Of Fredericksburg,
Va, an officer in the Confederate
army. There was at first much pre-
judlcc against the use of the torpedo,
but after time the idea was adopted
and the report of the United States
Secretary Of the Navy, made in 1868,
showed that the Union cause lost
more ships from that source than from
all others combined, the total number
being fifty eight.
Capt. Maury evolved the torpedo as
means Of defence of the navigablc
rivers Of the Southern States, and cs-
pecially those Of Virginia. There was
little means for experimenting. and at
first his tests were all carried on with
minute charges Of powder submerged
and exploded in wash tub of water
in chamber in the house Of cousin.
1t was early in the first year of the
war that the first working experiment
was made. 1t occurred in the James
River at Richmond, where the tor.
pedo, barrel filled with ordinary
powder, was carefully lowered to the
bottom. The contrivance was fired by
means Of a trigger, which was pulled
from distance with lanyard. The
hammer was much like the hammer Of
the old army musket, and Of course it
had to be raised before the torpedo
was placed in position. The success
OF the invention was immediately
seen. A column of water was thrown
into the air twenty feet and it was
but minute or so before many fish
came to the surface dead. The test
was conducted in the presence of
number Of officials Of the Confederate
Government who, though beforehand
they had been free to express their
doubts as to the success Of the invcn-
tion, Immediately gave it their warm
est approval and the mining of the
river was at once begun. These tor
pedoes we're made to explode by con-
tact. Floating torpedoes were made
in pairs, connected with rope 800
feet long. This roper spen, as it
was oalled-had its purpose. 1t was
Heated on the surface by means of
eo.ks, and the torpedoes themselves
hung suspended from it at depth
Of twenty feet. They were kept at
that depth by empty barrels painted
dull color 80 as not to be easily dis
Cernible.
The idea was to set the torpedoes
nfoat at the approach Of hostile YES
sci and trust to the span becoming
entangled with the hull in such
way that the torpedoes would be
drawn against the side of the vessel,
where they were to be fred by the
mere tightness Of the rope which con-
neoted them. Several attempts were
made to get these to work but without
result.
In the natural development of the
torpedo idea it soon became evident
shat submerged powder could not al.
ways be trusted to explode, especially
where there was chance of contact
with water through triggers and such
contrivancas. The electric then was
suggested. For some time it was i'm
J possible to get any insulated wire as
there was no factory for it's manufac-
/ thre except in the North, but at last
an abandoned cable which the Union.
ists had endeavored to lay across the
! Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe
fell into the hands Of the inventor.
From his standpoint the find was
providential one. By its aid he was
enabled to mine the mouth of the
James River with electric torpedoes,
and for some time every Federal yes
sci that tried TO pass was destroyed
and the entire feet kept at hay.
The torpedo idea spread to all parts
Of the South and it was not long ere
every Southern harbor was mined. In
all waters where Union vessels ap.
peared beer kegs full of powder we're
set afoat having percussion attach
ments supposed to explode on contact.
Not many of these did the work hoped
for them. Then a Confederate officer
Thought out the spar torpedo. e.,
torpedo set at the end of long spar
Ito be 1igged at the bow of a small
boat and to be exploded by impact
; =ss.:cs: vessels side. Soon sub