The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-18
nY cAPTA1N jobs 4. cunT1s.


The Spar Torpedo Boat "squib" was
built at Richmond. of wood, about
thirty-aye feet long, FIVE feet wide;
drew three feet of water, two feet
:reeboard; designed by Hunter Day'
idson, enant-commander, C. S. n.
The boiler and engine were encased
with iron; forward OF the boiler was
the cockpit where the crew stood, anc
from where we steered her.
some time in March. 1864 / was or
dcred by the Secretary of the Navy to
report to Hunter Davidson, who was
IN charge of the torpedo corps Of James
River, Virginia. / superintendent, in
part, the completion of the building OF
the boat. About the first OF April she
was completed On her bow. at the
water line, was placed an iron bracket;
In this was an iron socket in which
there was an oak spar, about six in
ches In diameter, sixteen foot long.
placed in and fastened to the socket,
and 10 this was attached chain which
lead over the bow on all iron shcaVe
10 the interior. and to this chain was
& tackle which lead into the cockpit
for the purpose of hoisterinS or low
ering the spar; on the end of the
spar was a tank made of copper, filed
with powder-iifty- three pounds; on
the head of the tank were six sensi-
tive tubes. either of these striking
against any hard substance caused the
power to explode.
Tho torpedo was designed by Mr..
Crowley, an electrician. On the sth OF
April VIC left Richmond and proceeded
al. 20
below City Point, hid away until night,
then went slowly and carefully down
the river The morning of the sth.
JUS. before day. we went into Pagan
Creek, and hid our boat in the marsh
About eleven o'clock P. NJ, having
fxc:. the torpedo on the spar, holding
1t above water by the tackle, we pro-
ceeded down the James River for New.
port News. The night was dark, light
air of wind to the eastward. There
was a feet of some ten or fifteen war
vessels of different classes off New
port News.
We went along down the north side
of the river under the shadow of tho
land, so as not to be seen, until we
got down to what is now Newport News
Point, then hauled across the channel
TO the south and crossed the frigate
minnesota poMs lOnS'Su sway WI |
torpedo six feet under water. starboard
tho wheel and turned for the NIinnc-
sofa. Tho tide being ebh. we drifted
down abreast OF her. When about 15o
yards of we were hailed by the officer
of the deck. Our commander answered, |
Roanoke He ordered us to keep
off, and we answered. AYE, sir, aye,
but still going for the ship. The Of
fcer then gave orderslt ito fire with small I
arms. we were then within twenty |
feet of the ship. pointing for her
on the port side. In a
few minutes after they fred the tor
pcdo exploded against her. / shut my
eyes. opening them In about a second,
/ think j never beheld such a sight
before nor since. The air was filled
with port shutters and water from
the explosion, and the heavy ship was
rolling to the starboard, and the Of
fcc- OF the deck was giving orders
to "savo yourselves!" and cried out,
"rorpedo Torpedo.' The explosion
carried away the spar from tho bow,
ana our boat handled quickly,
AS the Minnesota rolled to the star
board we were sucked under her quar-
tor. then shn came back to the port
and tho pressure Of the water showed
us oft The second time she rolled TO
the starboard jumped forward on
squib deck and put hand against
the Minnesota and gave her a shove,
20 that the ebb tide would catch her
on The starbpard bow, Our commander
gave orders far me TO take charge Of
tho boat, I Jumped into the cockpit
ana gave orders to SO ahead and hard
a. starboard.
In the meantime there was an
armed tug, called the Poppy. made
fast by hawser to the Minnesota,
ana the officer of the Minnesota cried
out TO the Poppy to run us down, but
for some reason. not known TO US
then. she failed to answer. we ran
down towards Craney island for about
one NILE then Hauled In to NanscmondI
Ridgo shoal water. proceeded back UP
the river, and at daylight went into
Pagan Creek up to Smithville. where
we lay al day watching for the enc
ny's beats, but, none appearing we
eft that night and proceeded to Rich
mond. Il
The crew Of the squ!b consisted 81
Iunter Davidson, Lieutenant Com
|; John a. Curtis Acting Mas
err q, w. Smith. Acting Ma ater.l