The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-18
Improvements I'm Submarine Machinery
Interesting Experiments.


Captain Hudson, Commander; General Ward Bur
nett, Civil Engineer; Lieutenant Boggs U. S. Navy;
Mr.. Brady, Master with other off ,ers of the Brook
Ign Navy Yard, and many gentlemen distinguished in
scientific pursuits assembled there Wednesday morn
ing, in order to witness some experiments made with
an improved submarine apparatus calculated to su-
persede the old diving-bell, in accomplishing the
descent to wrecks, &C., and also said to be well
adapted to the raising of sunken vessels by the force
of condensed air. The experiments were gone
through in about thirty feet Of water directly
opposite to where the frgate Independence is repair
ing. A steamer was run alongside the ship, having
powerful air condensing machine on board, from
one end of which quantity Of India rubber tubing
extended. Through this the air was to be supplied
to the men. The diving apparatus presents the ap-
pearance of large bell-shaped buoy, followed in
the inside, having opening at the top sufficiently
wide to admit the free entrance of who descends
to its bottom by Of ladder. There space in
side sufficient to accommodate six men, The lid can
be screwed down SO as t, be air and wa er tight The
tube is then inserted at its side, and sufficient sup
ply of air is pumped in, which is under the control
of sort of atmospheric engineer VINO can use IL as
he plesses, by means of stop cock and several
valves suit of submarine armor salso put in case
the operators have TO enter the hold of sunken YES
sci, which they can do by means of safety slide,
which can be raised six feet. About half past eleven
clock when everything adjusted as stated, the
man en,ered, taking quantity of pig lead as bal
asst. The appsr Aus was then driven 10 the bottom
y means Of water which the diver can admit
nt0 waterhght compartment so as to sink
he buoy, but not interfere with himself.
The descent was gradual and easy. When the
buoy reached the bottom. the man expelled q por-
ion of the water, by letting of the condensed air
with which be was supplied; and TINS having rem
cred his apparatus more buoyant, he showed his
pntro over il by moving about in the water Ding
further from shore His course c,uld bo-ms rked by
the bubbles made with the escaping air. After a
little time he expelled all the water from the appa.
ratus with atremendous rush of air. The water vas
driven TO the surface with great force. The escaped
air having rendered the heavy apparatus huoyant il
commenced to ascend and reached the surface Of the
water in four seconds from the depth of thirty feet
The going down and coming up were repeated seve.
raj times. On the second trial, as many Eve men
went down, two Of whom were amateurs The idea,
which Ia said to be perfected by this improvement Is
to have the divers reach sunkeD se insert rings
into her tinbers ron the apparatus through diving
boz ax pontoDs under her sides at favorable places;
and those being suddenly inflated with con.
censed air it will exert such upward lateral pres.
ssre as will almost instantly raise the hull without
causing any additional damage. The operators can
see to work by means OF electric II yht apparatus,
which is also enclosed in the diving machine. The
experiments OF yesterday very satisfactory 80
far a. diving and ascending to the surface were son.
cerned; but remains to be sbo whether the orr
ginal theory has been so practically carried out az
that suuken ships will be, instantaneously almost,
lifted by atmospheric force. No mecban cal sdysn.
tage has been lost sight Of which may tend 10 this
desirable result. II is said that the machine will be
soon illustrated by plates in journals devoted TO tho
Advancement Of science. A number Of ladies were
assembled yesterday, upon the quarter deck Of the
North Carolina, TO witness the experiments, and as
one amateur entered the machine he WAS greeted
with such waving of handkerchiefs that be looked,
and perhaps felt, - very Quintius Curtus 1t the
menent u his fearful Leap.