Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Thursday 14 October 1880, page 2


A Submarine Explosion.

A very successful submarine explosion has been carried out lately, resulting in the complete destruc-tion of the hull of the brig Iserbrook, which sank some months ago while conveying a cargo of iron from one of the Orient steamers moored off Garden Island. The Iserbrook sank off Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in nine fathoms (54ft) of water. Her cargo

was removed by divers, 30 tons, however, of which remained in her hull as ballast. Several attempts had been made to raise her, such as battening down her hatches and pumping her dry enough to make the hull buoyant, so as to allow of it being towed out, of the awkward position it then occupied, all of which failed. It was then determined by her owners to remove her by explosion of torpedos, to which end Major Cracknell was communicated with, and that gentleman gave directions to Lieutenant Dalgarno as to what was to be done. Lieutenant Dalgaroo and Sergeant-Major McGregor were selected by the Major to carry out his instructions, and at once commenced operations by preparing and placing 20 torpedo cases (containing 10lb of dynamite-each at intervals 12ft apart on each side of the sunken vessel. The cases had to be buried in the mud around the keel of the hulk, where the ser-vices of the diver of the Torpedo Corps (Mr. Suther land) were most valuable. The torpedoes were fired by means of an exceptionally powerful electric bat-tery attached to each 10 torpedoes, Lieutenant Dalgarno firing one side and Sergeant-Major McGregor the ether simultaneously. The result was very satisfactory, a sign of the dismemberment,

of the hull being the sudden appearance of the main mast, which shot up in the air as if it had been fired from a cannon. Some idea of the terrific force of dynamite may be gained, when it is con-sidered that the mast above referred to could not possibly have come to the surface except the part of the hull in which it stood was completely shattered, and that its appearance on its arrival at the surface of the water, from the great depth of 54ft, was almost simultaneous with the shock of the explosion felt from the steamer from which the charges were fired. After subsequent inspection by the diver as to the effect of the explosion, Lieut. Dalgarno determined to try another to ensure the total destruction of the wreck of the first one. This time two torpedo cases of 50lb each, charged with dynamite were used. One of these was placed at the stern, or rather where the stem had been previous to first explosion, and the other under the part of the dismembered hulk upon which the 30 tons of iron were resting. This explosion was also successful, the iron being completely thrown from its former position, and the whole of the main deck from the mainmast aft, appearing on the surface of the water in a few seconds. The perfect success of these gentlemen, in conjunction with Captain Walker's late very suc-cessful demolition of the wreck of the old hulk of 1100 tons in Woolloomooloo, speaks volumes for the efficiency of the Torpedo Corps. —— £1 FREE GIFTS— The Proprietors of WOLF'S AER-MATIC SCHIEDAN SNNAPPS, to induce the desruction and prevent the improper use of their wrappers and labels, and thus farther protect the Public against fraud and decep-tion, have enclosed in the wrappers, or under the label of the quirt bottles, since October 1, 1878, and continue to en-close IN EVERY DAY'S PACKING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THREE £1 ORDERS, which are dawn upon the undersigned, and which will be cashed by them on presentation. To secure these Gifts, the Public must be careful to ask for, and accept nothing but, the GENUINE UDOLPNO WOLF'S SCNNAPPS, with our name upon the top label. M. Moss and Co., Wynyard-square, Sydney.— ADVT.