The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-08-19
FROM CONFEDERATE HISTORY.
Brief But Eventful Career of Subma'
rine That Destroyed Housatonic.

- III S23 Slo SSi op boN'N''
During our long defensive war a
great deal of ingenuity had been en-
pended by the Confederates upon tor
pedoes and torpedo boats. The most
remarkable of these boats was con-
structed by Messrs. Hundley and Nc
Clintock, of Mobile, Ala, and launch
ed in 1864, and nothing which has
gone down into the sea was more
wonderfully and fearfully contrlved
to wreck destruction and vengeance
upon a foe. She was built of boiler
iron, and impervious to water or air.
Her extreme length was about thirty
feet. with a five or six foot beam, and
about six feet depth of hold.
In general contour she resembled
a cigar, sharp at both ends. She was
propelled by a screw, the shaft Of
which ran horizontally along her
hold. almost from stem to stern. and
was turned by the manual force Of
eight men seated along it on either
side.
The only hatchway was circular
about two feet in diameter, with a
low combing around it, which was
placed we'll forward and when desired
could be closed by an iron cap work
ing on hinges and made air-tight.
In the forward part Of this cap was
inserted a clear glass bulls eye. She
was provided with water-tight COM
partments, by filling or emptying
which she could sink or rise, and to
enable her to rise instantly her bal
lasting of railroad bars was placed
on her bottom, outside of her hull.
and by means of keys accessible to
her crew, could be detached in mo-
ment so that she could rise quickly
to the surface. Besides her rudder,
which was of the usual form
this vessel was equipped with side
paddles. CT fms, which, like those Of
a fish, served to guide it up Or down
with reference to the surface of the
water. To prepare for action a float
ing torpedo was secured to her stern
by a line more than one hundred
feet long, and her crew having en-
barked, the water tanks were filled
till the boat was in equilibrium and
almost submerged. The hatchway
was closed, the men revolved the
shaft. The captain or pilot standing
under the hatch, steered the boat,
regulating at the same time by the
action of the fins the depth at which
she would move. She could remain
SUMMARIZED for half an hour or an
hour, without any great lnconven-
ience to her crew-and on one oc-
casion had been known to remain
under water two hours without actu-
al injury to them. although no means
were provided for procuring fresh
air, and from the moment the hatch
was closed, the men thus fastened in
their living tomb, inhaled and ex-
haled continuously the atmosphere
which was enclosed with them.
The plan of attack proposed by the
inventors was to dive beneath the
hold of an enemy's ship, hauling the
torpedo after her. Its triggers
would thus press against the ships
bottom, explode the torpedo and in
evitably sink the ship. Not antici-
pating an early opportunity of using
the dangerous vessel against the fleet
of, Farragut, Gen. Maury sent her by
rail to Gen. Beauregard, at Charles
ton, believing the waters Of that har-
Dor better suited to her peculiar
construction. Beauregard changed
the position of the torpedo by fasten-
ing it to the bow. Its front was ter
minated by a sharp and barbed lance,
so that when the boat was driven on
against a ships side the torpedo
would be forced deep into its side
below the water line, and thus fasten
the torpedo firmly against the ships
side. Then the torpedo boat could
back off and explode it from land.
Gen Beau9egard's call upon the
Confederates for volunteers to man
this dangerous craft was promptly
answered by Lieut.. Payne. Flr-
ginian. and eight sailors. They were
soon ready for action. The evening
set for the expedition the torpedo
boat was lying alongside the steam
er from which the crew had en-
barked. She was submerged till the
combing of her hatch alone was visi-
BILE above the water. Her command
er, Payne, was standing in the hatch
way in the act of ordering her to be
cast off when the swell of passing
steamer rolled over her and sunk her
instantly. with her eight men. in sew
eral fathoms of water. Lieut.. Payne
Snranp ont of the hatchWav as the