New Clue for Sinking of the Hunley-- Part 1: A Hidden Fail-Safe Mechanism

From the July 23, 2018, History "What Sunk the Confederate Submarine, the Hunley?  New Clue Emerges." by Natasha Frost.

"It was the first submarine in history to successfully sink an enemy ship.  Made out of forty feet of bulletproof iron, the H.L. Hunley was a Confederate submarine with a crew of eight.  But despite its claim, it was a dangerous vessel to be inside."

In its eight months career, it sank three times, killing nearly 30 men, including its inventor.  (It was raised twice.)  The final time it sank was after it sank the USS Housatonic and then sank for its third time.  The question still remains, what sank the Hunley?

The submarine was found 130 years after it sank, in 1995 and five years later it was raised for a third time.  Inside were the remains of all eight of its crew, still at their positions.  Apparently, the crew never attempted to escape.

Now researchers have found another clue.  A hidden fail-safe mechanism in the Hunley's keel that would have given the crew a chance to escape was never activated.

--Old B-Runner