The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-09
EXCITING SUBMARINE TRIP.
On Her First Trial tho Holland stuck
In Mud Fathoms Undsr Water.

Captain Hollands nrst trip in HE subnsrins
craft was attended with an accident which
proved very exciting for few minutes to the
people on board After her lines were cast
OF she was headed for Robbins Reef light
house. about mile away. When about mid
way between IL and tho Jersey shore Captain
Holland said: Hold fast, I'm going to
dive to the bottom" AS he said this he
opened tho valves. allowing the water to
enter her submergipg tanks, and properly
DETECTED her stem fms or sido rudders. so
that they threw her stern up and her nose
down.
"Down, down shs went for q minute or
more" relates man who was aboard her,
'and presently her nose stuck IN the mud at
the bottom and she came to full stop with
a suddcnness which would have thrown us
down had We not been holding fast to our
supports. The instant Captain Holland felt
she vessel stop he said: We'll, here We are
Then he stopped the engine, and reversing It,
prepared TO back out. As he did this threw
over the rudder. nrst to port and then 10 STAR
board sust "a would il we were on tho sur
face, In order TO wiggle waggle her stern and
help release her. This manouver kept up
Cor probably two minutes but the boat did
not budg. one inch. Then i remembered,
and 80 did Holland, that the mud bank in
which we were fast was Of particularly
sticky. rasiy, olaycy and adhesive character.
He stopped the propeller engine minute
and then set the pumps to work to expel the
water from her tanks in order to tighten her
up and make her as buoynnt rs possible.
1T took several minutes 20 empty the
tanks, and then he reversed the engine and
set the propeller going again, hoping that
now she would back ont Of her Shiny en-
brace with ease. sho did not, howcvet, but
remained as firmly, fxed in the grasp OF the
mud ~ rhough she was clamped in an iron
vice.
The boat contained tanks Of fresh air. but
both myself and Captain Holland knew that
there was only sufilciency OF it to maintain
our lives for few hours
"we had been fast in the mud probably
three minutes when Holland said: 4 will
try the pneumatic gun This gun formed
the rear Of tube In the bow Of the boat
through which torpedo could be discharged.
He charged 1t as nigh ~ 10 would bsar with
compressed air and then touched IL OF. In
second knew that we were free. for tke In
stant the boats nose was released from the
grasp OF tho sticky mud II became 10 light
tnfouQn the tact tnht tno Wntor tanks In ~
were. empty that IL ross far above an even
keel. We breathod freely In more than the
literal sense.
Captain Holland. now assured that we were
rising to the surface, applied full force ahead
TO the propeller. In less tims Than can tell
you, we reached tho surface Of the water,
and through the coming tower saw that we
had come mp very close TO a man who was
fishing from o skiff. He evidently had not
heard Of the Holland submarine boat, and
thought we were xn aQuaeous monster Of
some fearful character, for, letting his line
go,he sprang to his oars and pulled for the
shore with speed which would have excited
the admiration Of Ned Hanlan himself.
81 beaded cur boat for Bayonne, and in ten
minttos we were again safe in our dock.
When tho cap of tho coming tower Was re-
moved.I scrambled upon deck and then made
the best Of my way to the wharf. As ! did
turned and looked st what had come 80 near
being my iron coffin, and saw that Its nose
had been thrust fully fifteen feet into the
mud, and then marvelled that was alive"
-Philadelp pnia Times.