American submerged torpedo boat in 1872 according to the Dutch newpaper Middelburgsche Courant

The local Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 5 October 1872 published a small news item according to which at Brooklyn a submerged torpedo boat was launched invented by a certain Mr. Stetson and which was to lay unseen a torpedo under a ship of the enemy and through an electric ignition exploded the torpedo destroying the ship. This charming vessel cigar shaped armoured and with a length of 100 (Dutch) feet had according to the inventor a submerged speed of 8 miles a hour and was able to stay during 10 hours submerged. A commission of navy officers was appointed to investigate this new ship but until now differs the opinions quite heavily. People thought she was not safe and wondered if despite a considerable reward 18 men could be find to control the vessel for hell.