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In 1800 Bobert Fulton, the father of steam navigation, built a 

 very successful diving boat for Napoleon. It was called the 'Nautilus/ 

 and possibly suggested the theme of that fascinating story, 'Twenty 

 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.' By its use, he actually succeeded 

 in blowing up in the harbor of Brest an old hulk which had been 

 provided for the purpose. But Napoleon's favor proved fickle, and 

 Fulton's success led to nothing further at the time. 



Early in the Civil War the Federal government entered into negoti- 

 ations with a certain Frenchman to build and operate a submarine boat 

 against Confederate vessels. It was desired in particular to blow up 

 the Confederate 'Merrimac' in Norfolk harbor. Ten thousand dollars 

 was to be paid for the boat when finished and $5,000 for each success- 

 ful attack with her. The boat was constructed at the navy yard at 

 Washington and paid for, whereupon the wily Frenchman decamped 

 with his money, leaving the government to learn the secret of running 

 the craft. This they never did. In fact, it seemed the general opinion 

 that even the Frenchman would have experienced some difficulty in 

 so doing. 



Much more successful were the Confederates. The following ac- 

 count is condensed from Admiral Porter's 'Naval History of the Civil 

 War': On the 17th of February, 1864, the fine new Federal vessel 'Hou- 

 satonic,' 1,261 tons, lay outside the bar in Charleston harbor. At 

 8:45 p. m. Acting Master Crosby discovered something about 100 yards 

 away which looked like a plank moving through the water directly 

 toward his ship. All the officers of the squadron had been officially in- 

 formed of the fact that the Confederates had constructed a number of 

 diving boats, called for some reason 'Davids,' and that they were 

 planning mischief against the Northern navy. Moreover, a bold, 

 though unsuccessful, attempt of four months before to blow up the 

 Federal 'Ironsides' was fresh in the minds of all. When, therefore, 

 the officer of the deck aboard the 'Housatonic' saw this object ap- 

 proaching, he instantly ordered the anchor chain slipped, the engines 

 backed and all hands called on deck. It was too late. In less than 

 two minutes from the time of first discovery the infernal machine was 

 alongside. A torpedo carried at the end of a pole thrust out from the 

 bow of the stranger struck the 'Housatonic' just forward of the main- 

 mast on the starboard side in direct line with the magazine. A terrific 

 explosion took place, and the 'Housatonic' rose in the water as if lifted 

 by an earthquake, heeled to port and sank at once, stern foremost. 

 The crew, who most fortunately had reached the deck, took to the rig- 

 ging and were soon rescued by boats from the 'Canandaigua,' which 

 lay not far oil'. The 'David' was afterwards found fast in the hole 

 made by her own torpedo. She had been sucked in by the rush of 

 water which filled the sinking wreck. Her crew of nine were all dead 



