Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-24
zALINskrsIKoN.rIrrED DIVER
trial Plunge Of the New Torpedo
Boat Nautilus.

"Have you made your WHIP
''Irs splendid place down IN there TO
die of asphyxla."
These were some OF the nerve tickling
comments hurled yesterday after re-
porter who CHANGED to be at Fort HamiI-
ton, in the Narrows, and was about to I'M
dertake a weird trip to the bottom Of the
bay on board OF Lieut. ZaIinsAl's IRON
tipped submarine torpedo boat tbe Nau-
titus. The people on the dock could al
ford to De faceIious. they were not going
down irto the depths. The reporter was,
and his answering laugh therefore
sounded perhaps little forced aud raspy,
but il was well intended.
The Nautilus has been tiled up for "A
long time at the government pier at Fort
Hamilton. Experiments have been car
ried on meanwhile with great activity by
Lieut. Zalmski and by MIR. Joseph
Holland, an engineer, WORKING
under the direction OF his brother, AIR.
John Holland, of this city. who has per
fected the engines on board. Yesterday
trial trip was intended 70 test the value
OF the experiments so long going on,
and which. Il was judged, had sufficiently
progressed to warrant q dive"
IN THE SUBMARINE MONSTER.
The reporter asked permission to take
this trst dive. The Lieutenant said:
''You can 20 if you think you want to
chance it,"
The ''crew' of the boat was promptly
On hand 1t consisted OF one mana
youthful. neryy fellow, selected for his
utter disregard for the dangers of The deep
and VINO has gained the apDellailon of
The Dynamiter." lie descended into
tI., al f.4fr
easily on the long sWels sent out by the
oft-passing steamers, The lit 10 craft
looked like huge cigar-a hlghprIced
Oue-and pointed at bolh ends. The re-
porter next followed the crew into the
furret hole, and was soon joined by Lieut..
Zannskl and the Holland brothers.
Inafew minutes the engine was started.
The throb and thumb Of its working and
the short pufIs from the air valves wer-
painfully loud in the cabin The AR
compressor has lately been PERFECTED,
ana, though tue boat Is not constructed
with any other idea than to demonstrate
the theory 50 long ago advanced that sub
marine sailing il practicable, "A speed of
nine miles an hour has been obtained. 1t
worked perfectly. The air ia compressed
by means of it until the tubes on the
port side have a pressure OF eiEhty-tiVe
pounds per inch and on the opposite
something less.
"Close the turret," said the Lieutenant.
THE LAST LOOK ON SHORE.
A last look outside revealed a few sol
dieTs and civilians on the wharf aud
man l0llinE on his oars in a rOwboat
watching the monster. In obedience to
the order the cap to the turret was swung
around by an inside lever and stout
clamps inside soon fastened IL firmly
down 81 "A tn g. HIIfIA tho To DnlV
the light which driited in through BULBS
eye and a ron OF small headlights Illu-
mined the cabin, and candles were indis-
peusable.
"Open your ValYe!p
The crew turned a stOpcock. Water
from the bay rushed into the water cham
bers envelOping the cabin and into the
diving bell, and the boat began TO desceud,
with a slight fitting forward. where the
800 pounds in the diving bell helped TO
bear it down. On the inside could be
heard the FLASHING and tapping of the
water as the waves washed up within the
walls 10 the turret. Then the water COW
cred the shell entirely and the stern set
tied more evenly with the bow. The tur-
ret was soon half under. Down went the
boat faster and faster, and IN moment
more wave washed completely over the
top.
mat was queer sensation.
1t caused the breath to come quick and
abort Tor minute aud every body tried TO
be jolly.
"rve got bucket of water here" vol
Hnteered the Lieutenant, but we haven't
any provisions"
A nice prospect. 1t is very easy to sink
boat, but TO raise her is the question.
And something to eat would be handy, in
case the diver could not rise, To last until
search parties could haul it to the sur
face. for her machinery might not work
right. Aud while these thoughts "bobbed
up serenely" 10 ones mind, the motion OF
the waves was no longer felt, tor the boat
was entirely submerged. The engine as
not working aud the boat WAS at rest on
the bottom of the bay. Thus was real
lied, though only in degree. Jules Verne'r
imaginative Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Sea"
1t needed only a sliding panel in the
side to be opened and disclose the won.
ders of the submarine depths. Fish were
perhaps nOslng about the smooth sides .
the cOnlcal craft IN wonder or scurryin.
away from it in terror.
DOWN IN THE DEPTHS.
The panel scheme would be "A good one
out in lieu of it the dead lights Wer,
handy. No fish. however, were to be see
through them, but dead leaves and sea
weed fioated about beneath the surface
moved by the outgoing tide. Looking W
through the bulls eye in the crown OF
roof, the water was lighter The sun,
rays drlfted down through it, making i
translucent, and objects, like shadows
passing on the surface, cast below them
deeper shadow still, which looked quee
in the weird greenish waters. Tue waite
was twelve feet deep Whereabouts. Tn
Nautilus, submerged, ordinarily draw
six feet. An easy calculation showed tn
depth OF the boat. A yacht might sal
over it.