The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-10

cred. then the surface could barely be
seen, then the sunlight was shut out,
and there was nothing about or under
or over but the water.
Down went McGinty!" exclaimed
some one, and the others smiled. They
didn't feel exactly like smiling, though.
An idea of their insignificance was
dawning upon them, and they were
placing their trust in some power be-
You'd that which they were able to ex-
ert.
1t was only a minute that the de-
preston following the submerging last
ed. The electric lights were CHEEKY
and the water was running past the
port holes just as it is seen to run past
the port holes of comfortable steamer
when one is on the lower deck back
of the paddle wheels. The crew
i didn't seem bit scary.
! A valve in the tower was turned on,
and tiny stream of water shot into
: the boat
THAT indicates that we are COM
ventor. Were the top of the tower
! pipe
ROLLING ALONG THE BOTTOM
Captain Lake, having got his bear
ings, the vessel was well under way,
( going down the river in the direction
/ of Fort McHenry The wheels were
on the bottom, but were being pushed
! through the mire without revolving.
The power was not applied to this part
OF the running gear, as no hold could
be got on the mud. Once hard ground
! was struck and then the grinding of
/ the machinery told that the wheels
I were going around and that the vessel
was literally rolling along the bottom
of the river This continued for some
minutes, but as soon as mud was struck
again the grinding ceased.
Strange as it may seem, when plough
ing through the mud the vessel seemed
stationary. The Shiny bottom offered
I little resistance to the powerful engine,
! which was run by both gasoline and by
means of electricity. One would nat
urally suppose that there would be
continual humping and humping, but
such is not the case. Even the engine
occasions little or no vibration, and as
has been stated, there We're no unpleas-
ant jolts or bumps.
MENTAL DISQUIETUDE-
+ While there is no physical sensation in
such a voyage to speak of, the realiza-
/ ton that one is completely submerged,
and that through the headlights on every
! side and overhead nothing but a wall
/ of water appears, produces an indie
scribable mental effect. The haunting
fear that something is going to hap
/ PEN cannot be shaken off, when it is
realized that one is deep down among
the fish. stirring up mud eighteen feet
below the surface. Despite the fact that
the vessel is much larger under the wa
ter than it appears from above, every
inch of space is utilized and the do
Eothings' were in rather cramped quar-
tiers.
( The Argonaut cruised in every direc-
ton, ploughing her way here, there and
| everywhere. She took a trip directly
! across the channel. and, to the wonder
/ ment of all, slid down one side of the
muddy bank and up the other with no
! trouble whatsoever. AS she arose on the
south side her coming tower came above
the surface and a ray of light came
through the glasses, indicating that she
+ was getting in shallow water.
! During the cruise from time to time
Mr.. Lake was able to get a sight above
/ the surface and thus direct the course
/ Of the vessel which was steered just as
/ though it were not crawling along the
bottom.
/ DIVER PREPARES FOR WORK.
When there was chance to get a
peep above the surface Mr. Lake would
sing out to the helmsman from the con-
ming tower, Hard a-port!" Ready"
Ease up, therei" exactly as he would
have done had he been on the bridge of
an ordinary ship.
| After two hours of this submarine
/ cruising Mr.. Lake announced that he
was ready to send diver from the YES
sci while it was still under water. The
I process of launching diver from the
I boat was one of the most interesting
features in connection with the run.
This was witnessed by no landsman ex-
cept the Herald correspondent
Mr.. Wilson, the diver, was ordered to
prepare to make an excursion of the
outside, and in due time was encased in
his armor, with the exception Of the
helmet. In the meantime a narrow
compartment at the forward end of the
boat had been filed with compressed
air, and it was from this place that the
diver was to make his exit. Before GO
ing into the compartment it was neces-
sary to pass through an anteroom, and
once in heavy steel door was closed
and locked as securely as is a safe at
the safe deposit company. The place
is absolutely air tight.
No sooner was everything secured
/ than Mr.. Lake turned on valve; hiss
ing sound announced that the narrow
place was being filed with air. AS the
pressure became more severe the effect
was felt in the ears. First there was a
numbness. which gave place to an acute
pain.
IF it gets too bad" said Mr.. Lake,
'let me know"
Even those experienced in this bust
ness have trouble with their ears. The
kissing sound continued and the pain
increased, when suddenly there was a
crack, and 10, the pain had gone but
the pressure on the ear drums remained.
When your ears crack you're all
right" explained the inventor; and
such proved the case.
OUT HE GOES.
When the air in the ante-compartment
was compressed so that the pressure
correspondent with that in the forward
! chamber the heavy door which separat-