Julius H. Kroehl

Julius Hermann Kroehl(in German,Kröhl) (1820 – September 9, 1867) was aGerman Americaninventor and engineer. He invented and built the firstsubmarineable to dive and resurface on its own, theSub Marine Explorer,technically advanced for its era. His achievements in architecture, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering were also significant.

Julius Hermann Kroehl
Born	1820 MemelinEast Prussia(in present-dayLithuania)
Died	September 9, 1867 (aged 46–47) Panama City,Panama
Nationality	German American
Occupation	Engineer
Engineering career
Significant design	Sub Marine Explorer Mount Morris Fire Watchtower Flangeforming machine dome for theNew York Crystal Palace

Early life

Kröhl was born in 1820, inMemel,East Prussia(todayKlaipėda,Lithuania). His family moved toBerlin,Kingdom of Prussiaaround 1828.

On 29 July 1844, he arrived inNew York Cityon board theFairfield.While residing in New York City, he became an American citizen on October 26, 1849, formally renouncing any loyalty to the King of Prussia and taking on the duties of American citizenship. During his civilian employment with theUnited States Navy,he was referred to as "captain." Using the honorific title of "captain" was usually indicative of holding an officer's commission in foreign army or having served as an officer in a volunteer militia or fire company. In his letter of introduction to Brigadier GeneralJacob Lauman,his qualifications were described as having served "in the artillery abroad."

Family

His father was Jacob Kroehl. He was a merchant in Memel. From 1829 to 1833, the family residence was listed as Hausvogteiplatz 11, Berlin, suggesting that the family relocated to the Prussian capital around that time. His mother, Johann Philipine Dorothea, later immigrated to the United States in 1848, but as the wife of a British merchant, John Heanes.

His brother Henry (1819–1890) left to the U.S. in 1838. He had established himself as a merchant, with a business inNew York City,and later resided inAsbury Park, New Jersey,after 1870. He was a partner with Otto Dill, until he died in 1861. Henry was married to the former Cornelia Rogers Turfler. Their bodies were buried atGreen-Wood Cemetery.Passenger lists and passport records suggest that Henry made a few trips to Germany throughout his life. No other siblings have been identified to this article at this time.

William John Kroehl (1816–1879) resided in England from 1836 through the remainder of his life. UK marriage records show a different father; his citizenship petition showed that he came from Memel, and is likely a cousin. He was naturalised a British citizen on 23 January 1849.

Otto Sackersdorff (1820–1879) also resided in New York City. Julius Kroehl thought highly of him as evidenced by his will in bequeathing many of his papers and reference books. Otto served in theUnited States Coast Surveyaround 1854, was active in city politics, and served as an officer of the 5th New York State Militia in 1861 for the protection of the nation's capital during its three-month mobilization. He later served as a surveyor for New York City until the end of his life.

Marriage

Julius married Sophia Rosa Lueber on November 25, 1858, atHoly Trinity Church of GeorgetowninWashington, DC.She was born on August 27. 1832, and was a native ofFrederick, Maryland.Her father, Francis Lueber (1791–1852), emigrated fromAustria,and was a well-to-do merchant; her mother, Hellen Maria Simpson (1809–1890) came from theDistrict of Columbiaand was descended from the original English settlers inMaryland.Julius and Sophia had no children. After Julius' death, his widow did not remarry, but continued to live inGeorgetownwith her widowed mother, sisters, and brother until her death on September 29, 1916, and is buried inHoly Rood CemeteryinWashington, D.C..

Sophia was the niece of the American portrait artist, James Alexander Simpson, and first cousin to another portrait artist, Charles S. Hein, and his brother, Lt. Col. Otto L. Hein. She was also a distant relative ofRaphael SemmesandMary Jenkins Surratt.

Records of the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower also refer to a Nina Kroehl, of unknown relation to Julius.

Political activity

In late 1853, theKoszta Affairhad militated many Americans to form societies supporting the U.S. government's interest against the claims of theAustrian Empire.One such committee, the Society of Universal Democratic Republicanism, grew out of a movement to present Capt.Duncan Ingraham,USN, a medal for protecting Kostza in the port of Smyrna, Turkey. Many members wereForty-Eightersas well as native-born nationalists. One of the aims of the society was to monitor political situations around Europe through committees of correspondence, and note any violation of the rights of naturalized American citizens. Kroehl brought to the attention of the society that one Henry von Rensche was arrested by Prussian authorities for crimes against the Crown despite being a naturalized citizen. The Society of Universal Democratic Republicanism includedCharles F. Henningsen,Hugh Forbes and Henry H. Morange as members.

Engineering and New York City

Kroehl listed himself as a "submarine engineer" on Broad Street inLower Manhattanduring the 1850s. At this time, the term "submarine" referred to anything underwater, and not exclusively to diving vessels. During this time, he was involved in several engineering and technical projects.

Photography

An 1851 article inScientific Americanmagazine describes the Fair of the American Institute. One exhibit was of colored photographs by Messrs. Kroehl & Vetter, of No. 499 Broad Street. This does not necessarily mean this was Julius Kroehl. However, when Kroehl was ordered to support Union forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863, he was directed to bring with him photographic equipment after spending one month being trained on their use by members of the U.S. Coast Survey in Washington, DC. His personal effects enumerated at the time of his death included photographic supplies. His proficiency in photographic uses in 1851 was possible. No works are known to have survived.

New York Crystal Palace

From 1852 to 1853, Kroehl was employed as an assistant engineer during the construction of theNew York Crystal Palace.Several assistant engineers were employed to oversee the construction of certain parts of this exhibition hall. He was responsible for the construction of the dome, the building's central feature. For three years after, he was noted as the "engineer of the Crystal Palace."

Flange forming machine

Kroehl applied for a patent around March 1854 for aflangeforming machine. It is described inScientific Americanas

an improvement in machinery for bending flanges on wrought iron beams. There is a pair of horizontal, and a pair of vertical rollers; the former pair has one roller with a face of the full depth of the beam, and the other has its face the depth of the beam minus the thickness of the flanges. The vertical rollers are both alike, and are of a width a little greater than the extreme width of the flanges. They are arranged opposite the space between the horizontal ones, and work in close contact with the sides of the roller. In order to give the flanges and their beams, a taper or an elliptic, or other curved form, the vertical rollers have flanges, whose faces bear on the edges of the flanges of the beam, and cause the said rollers to receive such a movement in the direction of their axes, and apply such a force I that direction as bends the flanges of the beam to the desired form.

Kroehl secured the patent as #12,133 on January 2, 1855.

Mount Morris Fire Watchtower

Main article:Mount Morris Fire Watchtower

The City of New York, in order to improve safety during its growth, laid out a series of fire watch towers.James Bogardus,an innovator of cast iron houses, introduced the first of these towers. One was needed in theHarlemdistrict, which would be situated on an outcropping of rock. On January 14, 1856, the Commissioner of Repairs and Supplies received two bids. Bogardus submitted his usual design at a bid of $5,750, but Kroehl and his partner Peter V. Husted (H&K) won the contract with a lower bid of $2,300; H&K pointed out that the tower need not be as tall, thus saving material and labor. This tower still stands in what is nowMarcus Garvey Memorial Park.

Comparing the structure and techniques of this tower with those designed and constructed by Bogardus show many similarities, especially in the method of bolting joints together. In April 1857, Bogardus sued the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York, claiming a patent infringement (#7,337). He cited that he was entitled to a royalty payment of $289, plus actual damages of $20,000. The jury agreed that he was entitled to the royalty payment, but not to the damages. Bogardus appealed the ruling to theU.S. Supreme Court,but Supreme Court Chief JusticeRoger B. Taneyupheld the ruling on appeal.

Vanderbilt Rock

On 21 May 1853,Cornelius Vanderbilt's yacht, theNorth Star,ran aground onCorlear's Hookand had to go back to dry dock for repairs, though no material damage was sustained. The area was then called "Vanderbilt Rock" with the expectation that City and State officials would arrange its removal as a hazard to navigation. For over a year, no action was taken. Later, H&K received a contract and they promptly removed the obstruction.

Diamond Reef

The maritime hazard of Diamond Reef lies at the entrance to theEast RiverbetweenGovernor's Islandand Lower Manhattan.Benjamin Maillefertwas favored to win the contract based on his experience with underwater demolition and salvage. He attempted in 1851 to reduce this underwater obstacle by blasting. This effort was accomplished by lowering a canister of powder onto the rock at flood tide, then backing away a safe distance, detonating it with a galvanic battery. However, this was not yet deemed sufficient, and another bid was undertaken a few years later. Kroehl & Husted was one among five bidders. The Common Council awarded the contract to H&K, but MayorFernando Woodvetoed the contract on August 7, 1855, citing that the Council did not have the authority to award contracts, since such authority resides with the Street Commissioner. After appeals and new bidding, H&K was awarded the contract without further dispute, and proceeded to remove the underwater hazard.Blasting operations continued every year, except during the winter months, until 1860.

Merlin Rock

Peter Cooper,as president of theNew York and Newfoundland Telegraph Company,hired H&K to blast Merlin Rock, which lies at the western end of the narrows in St. John's Harbor, in June 1855. They were successful in accomplishing the work by August of that year, to the contracted clearance of 27 feet.

Outfitting the Paraguay Expedition of 1858

During the demolition of Diamond Reef, H&K provided underwater explosives to the U.S. Navy for clearing obstructions in thePlatte,ParanaandParaguay Rivers,should the ships encounter any. The items were provided to the steamerUSSMemphis.

Norfolk Navy Yard

On 1 July 1859, F.W. Parmenter, a machinist fromTroy, New York,contracted with the Navy Department to construct, erect and complete an iron roof for the victualling house atNorfolk Naval Shipyardin the amount of $18,000. Julius H. Kroehl and Sidney D. Roberts served as sureties for the contract. However, monies appropriated for the project were spent elsewhere, so worked dragged through 1861, with work being performed with the assurance that the U.S. Congress will appropriate supplemental funds. But the seizure of Norfolk by Confederate forces in April 1861 forestalled final completion of the project, with an amount owed to Parmenter. In 1874 and 1876, House Committee reports for private relief recommended that the outstanding amounts be paid.

American Civil War

Julius Hermann Kroehl served in theUnion Navyduring theAmerican Civil War.

Corps of Pontoniers

In May 1861,Alexander Asbothproposed to theWar Departmentfor the formation of an all-arms brigade consisting ofinfantry,cavalry,artillery,engineersandpontoniers.The main portion would have consisted ofd'Utassy's39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment– the Garibaldi Guards – andvon Steinwehr's29th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment– the Astor Rifles – along with a corps of engineers and another of pontoniers. Julius Kroehl was proposed as the captain of the corps of pontoniers. However, Asboth's proposal was not accepted and the venture went no further.

Locomotive No. 160

After theUnion ArmyoccupiedAlexandria, Virginiain May 1861, military authorities requested the transfer of locomotives to that town in support of the upcoming campaign in northern Virginia. ThePennsylvania Railroadcontributed six locomotives. These had to be ferried on a barge from Washington, DC, to Alexandria. In June 1861, Locomotive No. 160 and its tender fell into thePotomac Rivernear Alexandria in 40 feet of water when a sudden squall caused the barge to shift its cargo. In early July 1861, Julius Kroehl, representing his firm of H&K, successfully recovered the locomotive and its tender.

New Orleans

Kroehl's first service for the Union was not as a soldier, but as a civilian contractor. On February 2, 1862, he received a contract to performminesweepingin theLower Mississippi River.His primary task was to remove the chain barrier stretching betweenFort JacksonandFort St. Philip.This was not successful, due to trying to move the bomb-vessel upstream against a strong current. After the fall ofNew Orleans,his services were dismissed on May 20, 1862He provided a report to Navy SecretaryGideon Welleson submarine operations on June 2, 1862, after his return to New York City.

James River and Cape Fear

His services were still in demand. First, he demonstrated the use of electrictorpedoes(mines) to be used in theJames River.Later, both AdmiralsDavid Dixon PorterandSamuel P. Leerequested his services. He received a commission as an Acting Volunteer Lieutenant in the United States Navy on December 12, 1862. He was first assigned to Admiral Lee'sNorth Atlantic Blockading SquadronoffWilmington, North Carolina.Attempts to use his torpedoes either to remove obstructions nearFort Caswellor supplement the blockade were stillborn. On January 1, 1863, he received orders to report to Admiral Porter for service in theMississippi River Squadron.

Mississippi River and the Vicksburg Campaign

Kroehl served as a member of Admiral Porter's personal staff aboard theUSSBlack Hawk.His duties appear to be varied, responding to Porter's needs at the time: First, working with the U.S. Coast Survey in developing navigation charts of the Mississippi to support naval operations. Second, developing strategies to use torpedoes to destroy enemy vessels and underwater obstructions. During theSteele's Bayou Expeditionhe sank a coal barge on his own initiative which allowed the Union ships to retreat from a tenuous position. Later, he was assigned to work with the U.S. Artillery of Lauman's division during thesiege of Vicksburg(June 6, 1863) until the end of the siege on July 4, 1863. During this time, he contractedmalaria,and was honorably discharged on August 8, 1863, after being sent back to New York City by way ofCairo, Illinois.He recuperated at his brother's home. He recovered well enough to continue his civilian occupation as a submarine engineer, but was still suffering from it when he left forCentral America.

Pearl fishing in Panama

1864 Kroehl became chief engineer and shareholder of thePacific Pearl Company.He built theSub Marine Explorerin 1865. He successfully tested his craft in May 1866 at theBrooklyn Navy Yard.Later, in March 1867, he, with his crew and submarine, shipped out to Panama. He supervised its transport by rail once atAspinwall(now Colón), and the vessel's reassembly at the Pacific side of the country.

Kroehl died on September 9, 1867, inPanama City,Panama,United States of Colombia,with death being attributed to "fever," and was buried there.It has been speculated that he died ofdecompression sickness,during experimental dives with theSub Marine Explorer.However, the symptoms of decompression sickness do not match that of malaria.His widow, Sophia, argued that his death was from service-related malaria, citing witnesses who knew him during the Vicksburg campaign as well as medical statements.

Kroehl's body was buried in theCementerio de Extranjeros(Foreigners' Cemetery), located in the Chorrillo district ofPanama City,Republic of Panama.These cemeteries are reserved forProtestants,andFreemasonsof any religious affiliation.Thomas Kilby Smithwas the United States Consul who inventoried his possessions and reported the death.

On October 11, 2018, Kroehl's remains were exhumed to confirm his identity and the reason for his death. As a Civil War veteran, his remains are expected to be re-interred in theCorozal American Cemetery,near the Panama Canal.

Widow's pension

Sophia was in a financially desperate situation. With over $40,000 tied up in a submarine that was left on Isla San Telmo, there was essentially no income. Any royalties from patents were expiring. She wrote to Admiral Porter for assistance. He provided her a letter of introduction, which probably resulted in her employment with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. However, attempts to collect on a pension for widows were thwarted by the circumstances of Julius' death.

ThePension Bureauassumed that the death was a result of the Panamanian environment. Sophia had to prove that the death was malaria, and that the malaria resulted from his military service. Attempts in 1880 and 1890 generated much paperwork, with sworn statements from neighbors attesting to their marriage and that she had not remarried, from Henry Kroehl about Julius' condition upon his discharge, a doctor's statement that he was diagnosed with malaria, and a statement fromAlexander Strauszwho served with him at Vicksburg. On top of that, she even had ArchbishopJohn Irelandof the Roman Catholic Archdiocese ofSt. Paul, Minnesota,to lobby personally with the bureau. At first, the Bureau turned down the appeals. However, a few months before she died, her pension was increased substantially, indicating that she at one time proved her case.

Conclusion

While researching records about Kroehl, statements about him have varied from being "a good officer, and a fine man, and under any circumstances would have sacrificed his life in the cause of his country" (Admiral Porter inwidow's pensionapplication) to being a "failure" (AdmiralDavid Farragut). He had been cited in several Northern newspapers from the 1850s until his death.

See also

• German inventors and discoverers

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Delgado, James P. 2006. "Archaeological Reconnaissance of the 1865 American-Built Sub Marine Explorer at Isla San Telmo, Archipielago de las Perlas, Panama"International Journal of Nautical Archaeology35 (2), 230–252.
• Delgado James P. 2012.Misadventures of a Civil War Submarine: Iron, Guns, and Pearls.Texas A&M University Press. 184pp.ISBN1-60344-472-6.
• Kahn, David. 1976. "Bogardus, Fire and the Iron Tower."Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians,Vol. XXXV, No. 3, October 1976
• Gayle, Margot and Gayle, Carol. 1998.Cast-Iron Architecture in America: The Significance of James Bogardus.New York: WW Norton & Company. 272 pp.ISBN0-393-73015-8
• Greenberg, Stephen. History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, NIH.Technical Question.22 June 2007.
  • Email statement: "I do not see how they could have been confused. Malaria is a chronic fever, caused by a microorganism that is suppressed but not cured by quinine. Malaria attacks could easily become worse if the patient was reinfected by a trip to Panama. Even in the 1860s, malaria was easily distinguishable from yellow fever. Yellow fever is not a chronic disease. The victim has a single acute episode, with liver complications (hence the yellow skin color). If you survive the attack, you are immune to later episodes.
    Decompression sickness is acute, very painful, but would not show the fever or liver symptoms associated with malaria or yellow fever. The doctors at the time may not have known the precise causes of the three conditions, but it is inconceivable to me that they might confuse them. "
  • And a follow-up email from the same day: "Decompression sickness, or caisson disease, or" the bends "was first documented in the 1840s. A competent doctor could not mistake this condition for malaria or some other tropical fever. I notice the article doesn't actually say malaria - - -it says" fever. "There are dozens.

Don't sell the doctors of the 1860s and 70s short. They knew the difference between malaria, decompression sickness, heart attack, stroke, etc. They didn't always know causality, but they were good diagnosticians. I also note that there is no description of Kroehl's last dive. Was he found dead when the sub surfaced? Was there a coroner's inquest? How long did it take "all the other divers" to die? How big was the crew? If it was powered by human muscle (like the Hunley), one man could not have moved it very far. Did anyone else die the day that Kroehl died? "

• Hein, Otto L. 1925.Memories of Long Ago.New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
• Röbel, Sven. 2006. “The Secret of the Pearl Islands: Early Submarine Discovery”.Der Spiegel(ON LINE), 21 April 2006.
• Theberge, Albert E. 1997.The Coast Survey 1807-1867.623 pp.-Includes references to Kroehl while serving in the US Navy in 1863.
• Cornell University’s Making of America collection:
  • a.Scientific American- articles relating to patent and Diamond Reef
  • b. MacLeod, Xavier Donald, 1856.Biography of Hon. Fernando Wood, Mayor of the City of New-York.350 pp.
  • c.The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.Washington: Government Printing Office. - Assignment with the Army during the siege of Vicksburg.
  • d.The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies.Washington: Government Printing Office. - Service with the US Navy as both a contractor and as a commissioned officer.
• Kroehl-Olin Families GenealogyonGenealogy
• Court of Common Pleas (NYC), B91, R57 – US Citizenship proceedings
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Website search
• United States Bureau of Pensions, Widow's Pension File for Sophia Kroehl, Certificate 5096

General sources

• Brooklyn Daily Eagle– various articles
• Chicago Tribune– various articles
• New York Times– various articles on Diamond Reef, New Orleans campaign and the Pacific Pearl Company.