Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05
@HJNL,EY"

spired to produce a situation peculiarly
fitted TO unncrve the brayest man. To
make matters worse the little craft was
towed out through Breach Inlet, the
creek back OF Sullivans Island. To the
bar. in order to expedite her progress.
Thus leaving the crew without even the
scant solace of physical exertion to d.
vert and help control the thoughts, they
crouched inactively awaiting the wel-
come words OF turn to-
Once cast adrift, silence reigned save
for the rhythmic motions of men stripped
to the waist, whose knotted muscles and
grim expressions gave evidence OF the
heayiness of their task and the desper-
ate character of their errand.
An extract from tho Charleston Daily
Courier, dated February -. 1s6<. ex.
plains the details OF the attack:
by the prisoners we learn that th0
blockader sunk by the torpedo boat on
the night of the 10th instant. was the
United States sloop of war Housatonio-
carrying twelve guns and a crew OF 500
men. They state that the torpedo boat.
cigar-shaped, was first seen approaching
by the watch on board the Housatonics
The alarm was gwen and Immediately
musketry fire was opened on the boat.
but without effect Being unable to de-
press their guns. the order was given to-
Sip the cable. The Housatonic backed
some distance and came in collision with
the cigar boat. The torpedo exploded
almost Immediately, carrying away tho
whole stern of the vessel. The steamer
sunk in three minutes time, the officers
and crew barely escaping to the rig
ging.'
This success OF the little torpedo boat.
under the command OF Lieut. Dixons
raised the hopes of the southern peoples
and the most sanguine expectations were
entertained as to their being able tn
raise the siege in a way little dreamed
or by the enemy.
Neither the Hunley or any of her
crew have been heard from. although y
careful search was made for her. In
addition to the Efforts Of the divers
who examined the wreck, Lieut. W. L.
ChurchhilL U. s. N. dragged the bot
tom for a radius of 500 yards about the
wreck and found no trace OF the SUBJ
marine The theory was advanced THAI
she was blown off shore by the wind
prevailing on the evening OF the dis
aster, but the most plausible opinion.
one that can be proved or disproved, il
that she lies crushed beneath the
wreck of the Housatonic, q victim OF
her own victim.
1t Is logical to believe that with the
very scant margin Of reserve buoyancy
this craft possessed. coupled with the
history Of her sinking proclivities,
that she Immediately went to the bot.
tom with the explosion OF the torpedo.
Having SO little buoyancy she sunk
much before the larger vessel whose
various compartments retarded quick
immersion. The thrush OF water
through the aperture under the Hous-
atonic's bilge would tend to draw the
Hunley under rather than allow her TO
drift away. The small amount Of stern
way on the larger vessel might readily
have served to bring her directly over
the already sunken submarine whom
she in turn settled on the bottom.
The wreck of the Housatonic was re-
moved to depth of eighteen feet be-
low the surface, and in 1909 to a depth
OF twenty-seven feet. still leaving, ap-
parently, the bottom of the vessel un-
disturbed. II is to be hoped that even
tually the keel will be removed, and
the only hope of recovering this relic
may be either blasted or realized.