Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-16
William Bauer, the Submarine Diver.

William Bauer, the submarine nayi.
gator, who died lately at Munich, at the
age Of fifty three, was a remarkable maR.
His chief work was the submarine ship.
During a season of leisure he amused
himself by watching on the coasts Of the
Baltic the gambols Of the seal, how they
rose TO the surface and as quickly disap-
peared Their play gave rise 10 the idea
Of building ship which, seal-like, would
rise and sink, and which could be navi.
gated under the water. After great pains
and exertions Bauer constructed a model
realizing his idea, and this soon found
such favor that he was able, by means OF
a subscription raised among the officers
and soldiers Of the armies of the Duchies,
10 build small ship according TO his
plan. Accompanied by two sailors he
undertook ten submarine trips with the
most favorable results; but as the ship
had been constructed on the most eco
nomical principles, Bauer's funds being
limited, II sprung a leak during the tenth
trial trip and sank 10 the bottom Of the
Baltic. This happened on the LIST of
February, 1851, at nine O'Clock In the
mOrffYng,
The anxiety of the multitude waiting
for the temperance Of the vessel may be
imagined, but IL IL impossible even 10
picture the terrible position in which
Bauer and his companions found them
selves. During fully six hours they re-
manned In the almost Theoretically .sealed
compartment Of the ship, which was filled
with compressed air and into which the
water could not enter Fortunately hap
py idea struck Bauer In this emergency.
He thought that III he were 10 suddenly
open an exit TO the great quantity Of com.
pressed air Ii would rush out with great
force. After the necessary preparations
he placed one OF the sailors close to the
small hatch, closed tight with glass At
the proper moment Bauer opened the
hatch and the three were forced upward,
like, as Bauer expressed IT, so many
corks OF champagne bottles, arriving
safely at the surface OF the water.
The ship, which he had named
Fire Diver (Brdadtaucher), and which
was destined 10 serve as a submarine
fire.ship, was of course lost, but general
attention was drawn 10 the young invent
or, and King Louis Of Bavaria, AZ well ms
Prince Albert Of England, patronized him,
50 that ho was able 10 build new model,
which was inspected by the Emperor Of
Austria. II was the intention TO utilize
the invention practically In the Austrian
navy; but the project had to be abandoned
for the want of money experienced at that
time by Austria. When, during the
Crimean war, the English and French
fleets invested Cronstadt, Bauer was i'm
vted by the Grand Duke Constantine TO
come at once To Russia and construct a
ship which could be employed against be.
sicgcrs, The ship was finished just
when peace was concluded; but Bauer
undertook 100 submarine trips with II.
A large pecuniary compensation had
been accorded to him; but AS he did not
comply with the demands Of Russian
officials he was exposed TO many intrigues,
and had almost 10 fly from Russia under
the protection OF the Bavarian Amhassa
dor, He repeatedly resided In London,
and settled finally In Munich, where he
continued his studies undisturbed. His
name came again prominently before the
public when he effected the raising of the