h.k. lawrence writes in and says i will destroy the jamestown within 20 days, $500,000 for the merrimac, $100,000 for the other vessels involved. wells is intrigued enough to say, well, state are plan. he does so again. hamilton tow has the same idea. $500,000 to destroy the merrimac. he apparently sees wells personally and wells turns him down later. a few days later, i writes in, how about $10,000 now and $100,000 when i blow up the merrimac. he cut his price. the navy officers were none too amused by these private contractors wanting to do what they couldn't. louie goldsboro writes to his friend, gus davis fox saying, what is become of the $100,000 blowing-up man. has his scheme collapsed or is the water too cold? secret inventions are proposed. there are people that write in and say, my invention is so unbelievable, i can't tell you what it is. i can give you a rough outline but i really can't tell you everything. although, it can whip anything afloat. they also insist that i will tell