Show vim mm CIA im V E W va in ORIGIN a M JL OF THE TORPEDO LY X TOS fEDO X Z SUM YM CM WAR WAY MUM JC 1 to tho the richmond mond va is sp atch patch col richard L laau of commodore Coram odoro matthew fon tury ury of the confederate navy the manufacture by his torpedoes which he says origin in virginia were do richmond and were first illy used in the water of the ver vor adore trial expert I 1 explode under water were th minute charges of powder merged in an ordinary wash s chamber at the bouso of his hobort ro b t ort H maury on clay echmond nord and the tank for so 70 with tho triggers for ex other apall ir ances for service was mode by talbott son on gary cary street in the early summer of 1861 10 says col maury the secretary of 0 the navy and the chairman of the naval committee of congress on gress and others were invited to witness an explosion in james river at rocketts crocketts Roc ketts the torpedo way wall a small keg of pov weighted to sink fitted with a t trigger to explode by percus percussion slon to be fired when in place by a lanyard the patrick henry gig was borrowed capt maury as ho he then was and the writer got aboard w with ith the torpedo and bowd to t tho ho middle of the channel just opposite chero I 1 the wharf of the tames james iziver steamboat list lull BOAT of WiTE HUft TOWO TOP from the new york world company now nor Is whereon the spectators stood the torpedo waa was carefully lowered to the bottom taking great care not to strain upon the trigger which was at full cock the lanyard loosely held on board the boat pulled clear and the writer pulled the lanyard the explosion was instantaneous tane ous up went a column ot of water fifteen or twenty feet many stunned or dead fish floated around the officials on the applauded applauded and were convinced and shortly after 9 naval bureau of coast harbor and river defense was created and capt maury placed at its head with abundant funds for the work and the best of ca intelligent able and zealous younst arvol fw |