Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05
TINE AMAZING DEArHDEAc
practical use OF destroying Federal YES

practical use OF destroying Federal YES
sells.
Among the papers of a Confederate
naval off1cer this extract was found:
Lieut.. Dixon was a very brave and
cool-headed man, and had every confi-
dence in his boat, but he had great trou-
BILE when under water from lack OF air
and light" This reference to the difii
"a remarkable incident that occurred dur
ing one of the trials. The commanding
officer on this occasion agreed with the
men that they would remain submerged
as long as possible. but the moment any
man could not stand the strain they
would immediately rise. The matches
were closed and they dropped to the
/, bottom. An ordinary candle was the
only light illuminating the interior. Inc
oxygen rapidly became exhausted and
at length the candle succumbed In the
vitiated air. yet It was two hours later
when they all called for relief as one
man. After this experience the crew was
Ill for some time.
y
| But with all this perseverance and de-
votion to duty, the fifth tragedy came
with the same death-dealing swiftness
that characterized each Of the preceding
calamities. One afternoon the spectators
on the wharves and aboard the vessels
caught sight of a mass OF bubbles where
they were expecting the appearance of
the Hunley. There was no way by
which aid could be given the perishing
crew. There appears to be some doubt
as to the cause of this disaster. Lieut..
Dixon who witnessed the accident from
wharf nearby. said they failed to close
their after valve, while another version
Of the disaster Is that she fouled one
Of the cables of the Indian Chief. II
matters little, however, for 1t necessi-
tated a repetition of the previous salvage
Operations and the same distressing duty
of removing the bodies of the men.
Gen. Beauregard felt keenly the use
less sacrifice Of SO many brave men, and
would not, In spite of Lieut.. Dixon s
entreates. allow the Hunley to be used
again. He afterward reiented with the
proviso that she should be used only as
a david--that Is submerged only to the
waters edge. Under these conditions the
lieutenant laid plans to attack the Union
vessels on the blockade.
The following dispatch from an officer
| In the Confederate navy explains the per-
sonnet Of the Hunley's last crew: 'T beg
leave to state that I was not Informed
as to the service In which Lieut.. Dixon
was engaged or under what orders he
was acting. I am Informed that he re-
quested Commodore Tucker to furnish
names are as follows. viz: Arthur
Becker c. Simkins. James A. Wfcks
F. Collihs and one Ridgway, all of the
navy, and Corporal c. F. Carlson Of Capt
Wagener's. company OF artillery.
Their mission was a lonely one SET
amid hideous surroundings crouched in
| this damp. dim candle-lighted tomb,
where every Pickering shadow might
readily be taken for some ghostly APP
partition. Here was found but little con-
ISOLATION in numbers, sepulchral whispers
took the place OF martial music and
weird muffied orders in place Of bugle
calls. There were no thrills of excite
ment to buoy the spirits that accom-
pany al infantry or cavalry charge. but
on the contrary every condition con-