Date Added: 18 October 2009
From the Artist: "Hunley in bottle: My 2nd Hunley in a bottle. #1 sold before it was completed. Bottle is an antique Jim Beam gallon. Label is attached. Diorama is based on Conrad Wise Chapman's 1863 drawing of the Hunley. (see 761d.jpg) The H. L. Hunley was the first successful submarine. L: 39’ 5", Beam: 3’ 10", Depth: 4’ 3", Speed: 3-4 knots, Handcranked prop. Named for its inventor, Horace Lawson Hunley, the vessel was built by Park & Lyons from iron steam boilers in Mobile, Al and launched in July, 1863. Two trials, Aug. 29 and Oct. 15, 1863, resulted in the loss of both crews. On Feb. 17, 1864 under the command of Lt. George Dixon, the Hunley sank the USS Housatonic off Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor. The Hunley’s 135 lb spar torpedo hit the Union ship just forward of the mizzen mast. After signaling her success, the Hunley mysteriously sank. Sinking theories range from shock wave action to Carbon Dioxide poisoning of the crew. She was discovered in 1995 by Clive Clusser and recovered on Aug. 8, 2000. Prior to her recovery, Conrad Wise Chapman’s Dec. 6, 1863 drawing was the only visual of her." Jim Goodwin, Bottle #900, 2007, Chapman’s H. L. Hunley #1.
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