The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-09

Of from 1000 to 5000 pounds per
square inch. These machines are capable
Of raising the fifteen tons weight of the
ship with amazing rapidity and lowering
the same with equal dispatch, the rate Of
ascent and descent being always under
absolute control, as is the speed at which
the boat runs. An automatic machine
controls with certainty the depth at
which the ship is to run, and sustaiDs it
at constant depth TO within half an
inch, and, when once set, requires no
further attention from the steersman.
An automatic machine is also provided 10
prevent the ship, from accident or care
lessness in the manipulation Of the ma
chinery, from descending beyond the
depth, and thus being crushed from ex-
cessive pressure.
The steering of the ship is accom-
plished, both on and beneath the surface,
by means Of an ordinary rudder con
trolled from the pilot house. No other
rudders are provided. as the vessel is
kept on an even keel by automatic
machinery. which needs no attention
from the steersman. The crew neces-
sary to operate this vessel consists of but
one man, and, as the machinery is prac-
tically automatic when once started. he
has little else to do but TO keep lookout
ahead He is stationed under the dome,
and within easy reach of his hand are the
tiller ropes. levers and valves controlling
the machinery, and a switchboard upon
which are the necessary switches, etc,
used to operate the electrical machinery.
In clear view also are the dials, iudica-
tors and other instruments showing the
condition and action of the machinery,
while the compass of peculiar construc-
ton, with double magnetic needle and
corrected for the magnetism Of the ship.
offers a sure means of directing the
course of the ship
The boat can be used both for wreckiug
purposes and in war as a torpedo boat. Its
possibilities in either direction are many
and manifest. Mr.. Raddatz claims one
point of superiority, in that, as most of
the machinery is automatic, one man is
all that is necessary to run the vessel
He maintains that the principles upon
which the boat is constructed are entirely
new, VIII ereas all other submarine craft
are merely notifications and doubtful
improvements of the boat brought out by
Bushnell in l772. Next spring the vessel
will be placed in commission, and one of
her first undertakings will be to make
survey of Western Lake Huron for
Detroit wrecking firm.
A correspondent of the New York
Times accepted the invitation of Mr.
Raddatz recently. ana in company with
him took a short but impressive ride in
the boat Only partial propelling power
was IN the boat at the time. as on account
of the lateness- of the season the inventor
did not deem it expedient to 90 to the eX-
pense of placing full power in the ship
The experience of one riding in a subma-
rine boat is very pleasant, providing, Of
course. the thoughts of what might hap
pen should machinery fail to do its work
are cast aside. The passenger is hardly
cognizant OF the fact that the boat is
gradually sinking, the boat moving back
word and forward but very little. The
trip was made where the water reaches a
depth of about fifteen feet, which. how
ever, is deep enough especially in the
mind of the skeptical passenger. A stiff
wind had been blowing all day
so that the water in the river was
somewhat rolled. thus rendeing
il somewhat difficult to obtain a good
view of the bed of the river. but with the
aid of the powerful search light a hasty
glance was taken. Only a few fish were
in sight, the sound of the escaping air
coming in contact with the water evil
IDENTIFY frightening the majority of the
finny tribe. The river bottom presented
a desolate appearance. Huge stumps
prOtruded above the mud, while large
stones decked the ground here and there
A course of fifty feet was covered by the
ship, which was under perfect control,
after which the ascent was made. very
slowly at first, the speed being continu-
ally increased. The ship moved very
smoothly oven. the course. all the machin-
cry seeming to work TO perfection. The
air IN the boat was apparently not differ
ent from that in any apartment,