New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-14
THE NAUTILUS.

operntions of the Nautus-nO. the famous Ettl, nav
gator OF southern seas, of whose peary bark and -r
pie sails 20 much has been said and sung. but prea,
iron diving machine, used for exploring the beds OF
rivers laying the foundations Of huge sea walls and
breakwaters, and for variety of other sub Marine
operations, which has been very happily named after
the little shell fish. This wonderful machine Ike the
Nautilus, is go constructed that it may be raised to
the surface or lowered to the bottom Of the water a.
the will Of the operator within. Unlike the anquaed
diving bell it may be held in suspension in mid water
by ts own specific gravity and moved to and fro from
right to left forv ard or backward according to the
qurements Of the work in progress. Expensive hoist
ing tackle, end the labor of lifting the bel out of the
water, are entirely dispensed with it quietly does it's
own work, lifting and lowering immense masses under
water, with no other assistance from the outward
world than plentiful supply Of compressed air to keep
its lungs in play. Such few Of the capabilities Of
this wonderful machine, stated last Winter before
the New-York Geographical Society. At the invita-
ton Of Major Sears the talented inventor large CON-
pany of ladies and gentlemen-among the many emf.
nent in the scientific world-of this city yesterday
took the steamboat Champion at Peck-sp for pleas
ant trip TO Glen Cove to witness the practical opera
tons of the diving machine.
the day had been made expressly for the occasion
the weather could not have been propious; and
the company seemed to enjoy the excursion with
keen relish. On the way TO the Cove, Major Sears,
by means Of working models, explained to the
bage the leading features of his invention, and its
adaptabty TO every variety OF submarine operations.
We cOndeDse his remarks into the following statement:
The Nautilus is entirely Independent of suspension,
thus Obviatng the difficulty inherent in al submarine
machines which have heretofore attained to any prac-
val mi therefore he used the
rent or sea-wsy without danger. 1t Is en-
trely under the control of the operator within.
The preponderance of air water within certain cham
bs in the mach ne, which is controlled blythe operator
inside it to rise sink to any point at pleasure
The pepODderaL ce Of air and consequent expulsion of
water while below, will cause it to exert lifting force
equal to the amount of water thrown out. by this
means stones or other weights may be lifted clear of
the bottom and either brought to the surface carried
TO any point which may be desired and there deposited.
The operators walking on the bottom move he ma
chine and suspended mass, or in curfent-way cables,
placed for the purpose affo'd every facility OF move
ment. The time required to lift wei ht of five tuns
is but one minute. Going down on rock drills worked
by compressed air perform the same operations as 10
the quarry. BY an arrangemen. in the side eyeb0ts
msy be placed in the sizes of sunken vessels TO which
caDes being applied the vessel may be returned az
once to the surface, the ar-pumps connected
with The machine throwing air sufficient TO lift
1900 tun ship in tgo hours, or 100000
cubic feet of air per hour. The Nautilus by its
power of locomotion On the bottom is admirably
adapted to pearl and coral as well as sponge fishing.
For, being contact with the objects below, as fast as
they gathered they may be sent oil thr uh the bj
tom of the machine attached TO buOys charged with air
to the surface, where they taken on board the at
tending vessel With this machine the beds of aIrifer
rivers may be thoroughly explored as digging can
be performed. and t1e sand washed either below
the surface The Nautilus descend TO sunken YES
sells containing treasure, and by blasting with light
CHARGE, by cutting, remove the decks until the
position OF the object sought for has been ascer,
sb,nI1 h.va bppoma filed
with sand, it may be removed with ease
Work for engineering may be carried under water
during the whole twenfyfour hours, as ~ an arrange
ment for Illuminating the water, operations by night
are more efficient even than by day. But its greatest
value consists in is adapabllty for cutting OF piles,
laying the foundations of piers sea-walls for fortica'
items, and all kinds of submarine masonry Under the
present system the cost of submarine masonry aver
ages lGl cents cubic foot; these machines can perform
ten times the amount o. work possible with the old
diving bel, in given time, and at cos OF from one
to two cents cubic foo. Great spplause
Arrived at Glen Cove we saw the Nautilus floating
in the water and anchored at four points, with swe p
Of several hundred feet in every direction. Tle ma
chine made Of stout boiler ron and much resembles
vast teaketile without spout or handle It's interior
illuminated through little glass plates in the roof Ii Is
about twelve feet in diameter and eight feet deep, and
its interior divided into large ceuter apartment tor
the operators and Others and several smaller chambers
for air or water according to the degree of buoyancy
required.
After the inventor had made n descent, company
of gentlemen, detailed by the Navy Department at
Washington to inspect the operations o. the Nautilus,
descended After hooking on stone OF five TINS al the
bottom of the cove the machine returned to the sur
face with its burden in four minutes and hall, blow
ing and spouting Ike verable sea monster. Then,
bv the agency of the cables which rove through
blocks on the outside of the machine, and passed
through holes in the bottom, the operators within
moved it along some twenty thirty feel through the
water and then descended AMI deposited the stone on
the bottom, occupying altogether, for the operatoh
from the time of the first descent to the second ascent
but minutes and 30 seconds.
The machine is supplied with compressed air from
large metal reservoir vessel in attendance IIls
reservoir is kept Consistently full by means OF small
steam forcing pump, and connects with the machine oy
a tube of india.rubber, lined with cooled wire, ana
eased in Russian duck. Pas epgers TO the realms of
Neptune step from the boat upon small iron platform
which extends around the top Of the machine and
then through hole in the top, down ladder, into the
interior of the kettle II is rather oppressive at hrs
AS dozen persons crowd into the little chamber,
vague ideas of suifocation will present themselves,
and long before the cover is let down yon experience
sensation of oppression on the lungs. The cover is
letdown and screwed securely, the operator opens
valve and admits the condensed air, which rushes IN
with noise ike the blowing of OF steam, and forth
with the tympanums of the ears caying in under
the pressure. This sensation may be overcome by
making efforts to swallow. BY admitting little water
into the side chambers, descend to the bottom in
secopa-a distance o. twenty-five feet-withou being
conscious of the fact. II is almost rs light there as IN
the rid above; and the pressure on the ears having
c..1 fo1fU A n To- a