The herald., 1898-04-14

Of these is an automatic trip attached
to the bottom of the boat to prevent
all danger of sinking beyond q prede-
termined depth and to insure the safe
return OF the boat to the surface in case
OF accident. With this trip in practical
working order it is impossible to sink
the craft below the safety point either
by accident or intention. The device
consists of a heavy weight attached to
the keel. with electrical connection run
ming to the gauge in the pilot house by
which the depth at all times is regis
tered In feet. At point on the gauge.
at present set at $50 feet, is an electric
al contact which establishes the eiec-
trical circuit. This, in turn, unlatches
the trip, and the boat relieved OF the
extra weight, returns rapidly to the
surface. Within twenty-five feet OF the
danger point is a sliding contact which
sounds alarm before the trip Is set on
and warns the operator of the pending
danger. II the boat is then under per-
feet control, the descent is easily ar
rested.
Ingress ana egress are obtained
through door in the top of the pilot
house. the crcumscrbed quarters
within admitting four persons besides
the engineer at the stern. All the
movements of the craft are controlled
from the turret. 1t contains ten bulrs-
eye apertures through which the oper-
ator is able to see in any horizontal
direction and also upward and down.
ward. At this point are the indicators,
gauges. valves, levers, signals. and ap-
pliances used in the operation OF the
boat and the regulation of the air sup
ply. They cover the walls OF the tur-
ret in one confused mass, all within
easy reach and in constant view or the
operator. Here also are the tiller which
controls the rudder at the stern and
an array of electrical connections run
ming to every part of the boat. IN
terror illumination is supplied by In
| candescent lights and search light
| has also been employed with some sue
cess for lighting the boats course, al
though it is not included in the CRAFTS
| equipment at the present time. Final
| ly, in addition to the appliances which
pertain only to submarine navigation,
are the compasses. thermometers ana
barometers commonly used at sea.
| A first trip beneath the surface of
| the water is an experience not soon to
bo forgotten.
| Scarcely has the operator taken his
seat when the interior of the pilot
house is suddenly ablaze with mean
descent light and simultaneously the
familiar hum of the dynamo is heard
from far back in the stern. The pas
senger is confused and amazed at the
number and complication OF the valves,
levers, indicators and signals which
crowd the curved walls OF the plot
house. The operator adjusts first one
and then another of these and then II
suddenly dawns upon the passenger
that it is not the air of the OUTSIDE
world that he is breathing. The atmos-
phere steadily grows cooler ana II
seems lighter and more exhllaratlng
than that to which he is accustomed.
Meanwhile the steady tapping OF the
waves against the steel sides OF the
boat indicate that it is still gllding
along the surface of the water. Sud"
denly with a movement of lever the
engine which has been in motion
ceases Then another lever is thrown
over, an indicator is adjusted and al
most imperceptibly the long narrow
craft sinks beneath the surface. The
lapping of the waves is no longer
heard, the silence is oppressive, save
for the slight hum of the dynamo.
Slowly the hand of the indicator trav-
els around the dial. registering ten,
twenty, thirty, perhaps forty and even
fifty feet. A tiny electrical signal rings
and then the sinking craft is again at
rest. At no time has it deviated per-
ceptibility from an even keel.
With the aid of the rudder the craft
is steered either to right or left. re-
spending as readily as if it were on
the surface 1t rises or falls to any
level which the operator may desire.
At times it skins near the surface with
it's pilot almost visible above the crests
of the waves. Again it sinks to even
greater depths than at first, respond
ing Immediately to the will of the
operator. Finally the hand on the CEN
trail indicator travels back to the start
ing point. The tapping of the waves
on the metal plates is once more audi
BILE and the throbbirg of the dynamo
ceases. The heavy door In the top of
the pilot house swings slowly open and
a glance out into the sunshine reveals
the craft once more near it's floating
dock. Such is the story of a trip be-
meath the waves in the Raddatz sub
marine boat.
Copyright, 1898.