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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing) 4 0 Browse Search
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Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for James Riker or search for James Riker in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Riker, James 1822-1889 (search)
Riker, James 1822-1889 Historian; born in New York City, May 11, 1822. He is the author of A brief history of the Riker family; The annals of Newtown; Origin and early annals of Harlem; The Indian history of Tioga county, etc. He died in Waverly, N. Y., in July, 1889.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Torpedoes. (search)
powder, with a quantity of sulphur mixed with it, in a strong cask, and surrounded it with huge stones and other missiles, which, in the event of an explosion, might inflict great injury. At the head of the cask, in the inside, were fixed two gunlocks with cords, attached to their triggers at one end, and two barrels of flour at the other end, so that, when the flour should be removed, the lock would be sprung, the powder ignited, and the terrible mine exploded. the Eagle, commanded by Captain Riker, sailed for New London late in June, 1813, where, as was intended, she was captured by armed men in boats sent from the Ramillies, Commodore Hardy's flag-ship. The crew of the Eagle escaped to the shore and watched the result. An unavailing attempt was made to get the Eagle alongside the Ramillies, for the purpose of transferring her cargo to that ship. Finally boats were sent out as lighters, and when the first barrel of flour was removed the explosion took place. A volume of fire s