The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03

feeling Of helpiessness as he reflects
what would be the result IL even the
smallest part Of the mechanism refused
to do its work The first helpless APP
prehension does not come with the first
trip only. IL Is an impulse which passes
through the min as often as the heavy
steel door shuts out the sunlight of the
world.
Scarcely has the operator taken his
seat when the interior of the pilot
house is suddenly bla with incan-
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 of complication of the valves.
levers. indicators N signals which
crowd the curved walls of the pilot
house. The operator adjusts orst n
and then another of these and then IL
suddenly dawns upon the passenger
that IL is not the air of the outside
world that he is breathing. The atmos-
phere steadily grows cooler and it
seems lighter and more exhilarating
than h a to which he is accustomed.
Meanwhile the steady tapping of the
waves against the steel sides of the
o a indicate hat 1t is still gliding
along the surface of the water. Sud-
denly with a movement of a 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 sink beneath the surface. The
tapping of the waves Is no longer
heard, the silence is oppressive, save
for the slight hum of h dynamo.
Slowly the hand of the indicator trav-
els around the dial. registering 10,
20, 80. perhaps 40. n even so feet. A
tiny electrical signals rings, and then
the sinking craft is again at rest. At
no time has IL deviated perceptibly
from an even keel. Whether sinking
or rising, it has maintained itself in a
perfectly horizontal position. Finally
at rest, another handle is pulled, a new
set of machinery is put in motion, and
the submerged craft begins to gather
Roadway through the water. A glance
through the heavy glass bulIs-eyes
which stud the pilot house is not like
ly to produce a feeling of confidence.
The dull. almost opaque, waste of blu
ish green, brings with 1t a sense of alb
solute helplessness, an almost fool
hardy dependence upon a device which
is aimed to defeat the laws of nature,
but over which it seems almost certain
nature must triumph in the end.
With the aid of the rudder the craft
Is steered either to right or left, re-
spending rs readily as II IL were on
the surface. 1t rises or falls to any
level which the operator may desire.
At times ii skins near the surface with
its pilot almost visible above the crests
of the waves. Again 1t 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 audible
and the %throbbing of the dynamo ceas-
es. 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 its floating
dock. Such is the story of a trip be-
meath the waves in the Raddatz sub
marine boat.
With the opening of spring the Rad
datz craft will receive its practical test
in the deep waters of Lake Michigan.
If the same results are attained which
have been unquestionably demonstrated
on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin,
then a man to whom the bracing salt
breezes of the ocean are almost I'M
known will have rendered invaluable
service to the maritime nations of the
world. LOUIS v. DE FOE.