Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-12-02
UNDER WATER,
Successful Trial Plunge OF Lieutenant Ia
linskrs feSpedo Boat Nautilus

These were some of the neCvc-ticklinC
comments hurled Yesterday after re-
porter who chanced to be at Fort Hamil-
ton, IN the Narrows, and was about TO
undertake. weird trip to the bottom of
the bay on board of Lieutenant Ia
liRski's iron-tipped Submarine torpedo
boat, the Nautilus. The people on the
dock could afford 70 be facctious; they
were not going down into the depths,
and his answering laugh therefore
sounded perhaps a little forced and
raspy, but it was well Intended. The
Nautilus has been ''tied up" for long
time at the government pier at Fort
Hamilton. Experiments have been car
ried on meanwhile with great activity
by LieutenaAt Zalinski and by Mr..
Joseph Holland. an engineer working
under the direction of his brother, Mr..
John Holland, of this city, who has per-
fected the engines on board. Yester-
days trial "trip was intended to test the
value of the experiments so long going
on, and which 1t was judged had sutfi-
ciently progressed to warrant dive.
The reporter asked permission to take
this first dive. The lieutenant said:
You can go if you think you want to
chance it."
The screw" of the boat was promptly
on hand. 1t consisted of one mana
youthful, nervy fellow, selected for his
utter disregard for the dangers of the
deep, and who has gained the appela-
ton of 1.-The Dynamiter. He descend
ed into the boat, which lay in the water,
rolling easily on the long swells sent
out by the oft-passing steamers.
The little craft looked like huge ci-
CARA high-priced one-and pointed at
both ends. The reporter next followed
the crew into the turret hole and was
sooa Joined by Lieutenant Zalinski and
the Holland brothers. In a few min
utes the engine was started. The throb
and pump of its working and the short
pufs from the air valves were painfully
loud in the "cabin." This air compress
sor has lately been perfected, and,
though the boat is not constructed with
amy other idea than to demonstrate the
theory so long ago advanced that SUBJ
marine sailing is practicable, speed of
nine miles has been obtained. 1t work.
cd perfectly. The air is compressed by
means of it until the tubes on the port
side have a pressure of eighty-fve
pounds per inch, and the opposite some-
thing less.
''Close the turret, said the lieutenant.
A last look outside revealed q few SOL
diers and civilians on the wharf and q
man lolling on his oars in rowboat
watching the monster. In obedience
to the order the cap to. the turret was
swung around by an inside lever, and
stout clasps inside soon fa ,tcned it firm
ly down SO rs to exclude the water.
Only the light which drfted in through
bulls eye and n row of small dead
lights illuminated the cabin, and can
dies were Indispensable.
'Open your valve''
The crew turned a stop Geek. Water
from the bay rushed into the water
chambers, enveloping the cabin, and
into the diving-bell. and the boat began
to descend, with a slight tilting forward,
where the 800 pounds in the diving-bell
helped to bear it down. On the inside
could be heard the splashing and lap
ping of the water as the waves washed
up within the walls TO the turret. Then
the waves covered the shell entirely,
and the stern settled more evenly with
the bow The turret was soon half un-
der. Down went the boat faster and
faster, and in moment more a wave
washed completely over the top. That
was queer sensation. 1t caused the
breath to come quick and short for
minute, and everybody tried to be jolly.
1--we got bucket of water here"
volunteered the lieutenant. "but we
haven't any provisions. h"
A nice prospect. IL is very easy to
sink Il boat. but to raise her is the ques-
ton. And something to cat would be
handy, in case the diver could not rise,
to last until search parties could haul it
to the surface. for her machinery might
not work right And while these
thoughts "bobbed up serenely' in ones
mind, the motion of the waves was no
longer felt, for the boat was entirely
submerged The engine was not work
ing, and the boat was at rest on the bot
tom of the bay. Thus was realized,
though only in degree, Jules Verne's
imaginative Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Sea"
1t needed only sliding panel in the
side to be opened and disclose the Won
ders of the submarine depths Fish
were perhaps nosing about the smooth
sides of the conical craft in wonder or
scuwying away from it in terror
The panel scheme would be a good
one, but in lieu of it the "dead lights
were handy" No fish, however, were
to be seen through them, but dead
leaves and sea-wced hoated about be-
meath the surface, moved by the outgo-
ing tide. Looking up through the bulls
eye In the crown or roof, the water was
lighter The suns rayadrifted down
through it. making it translucent, and
objects, like shadows, passing on the
surface, cast below them deeper shade
still, which looked queer in the weird,
greenish waters. The water was twelve
feet deep thereabouts The Nautilus,
submerged, ordinarily draws six feet
An easy calculation showed the depth
of the boat A yacht might sail over it.
And now an odd feeling became notice.
able The compressed air liberated in
to the "cabin'' rendered the atmosphere
denSer than under normal conditions,
and there was ringing in the ears of
those on board. Perspiration was forced
from the men, although the air was not
warm. and the reporters collar began
to wilt sadly.
''Let us go up"
Mr.. Holland fiaAlly suggested this
very calmly. Would she ,''go upp"
Everybody awaited the result of the