The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
TRIP in A SUBMARINE
bow IN FEELS TO DIVE IN 4 STEEL
SHELL FAR BELOW THE WATER.
4'iaI Trip OF the Fulton and a Talk
with Its COnstructOr-Japan VIII
Want Some of the Boats.

CieDTlcfS OF the eNtf-CudUBluE AliduIC Dg
Saelter island, there has been conducted
a:series OF experiments within the last two
weeks which will have a mighty influence
usen future naval warfare. These expert
nsnts which in the minds Of the simple
oyster planters and farm folk of the vi
Gritty have bordered on the supernatural
have had as an object the establishment
o. the practical utility of the Fulton. the
la1est and highest developed submarine
bat OF the Holland type.
f'he Fulton is the second boat built for
NJ John Holland. the inventor, and with
the exception Of a few minor details is
essentially the same as the original Hol-
land now in commission in the United
Sftes navy. To the Impractical eye the
b hts appear TO be Identical. The same
refunded deck with head-like coming tower
ard narrow elevated well, looking not I'M
LIE some monster Of the deep when under
Roadway with her hull almost submerged.
When the Holland company received an
order for five Of these little vessels from
the United States Navy Department it was
decided TO build the Fulton for expert
mental purposes so that the minor defects
which had made themselves apparent in
the handling of the original Holland could
been successful in the eliminating process
and that the Fulton represents the highest
development Of submarine construction is
proved by the extraordinary facility with
which her crew managed her during her
trial trips.
BOWLING THE BOAT.
on Friday of last week I witnessed the
"stunts," as her navigator Captain Cable
Tr,,Tt nd
led a party of guests in two trips below
the surface of the water. Lewis Nixon,
the expert IN naval construction and build
er OF the Holland boats for the navy. Com
manders Nishi and Sato and Lieutenant
Ide. of the japanese navy, and
Lieutenant w. c. Herbert. of the
United States navy. completed the
party We safely boarded the Fulton
from a small row boat and succeeded in
getting through the narrow twO-and-one-
half-foot well into the interior of the craft
all but Commander Nishi. who, being
corpulent become fastened in the narrow
aperture. After violent struggle and
several japanese imprecadons he released
himself. When we were seated in the
little six by eight living-room the hinged
top of the well was pulled shut and locked
with swivel and nut
Captain Cable pulled lever and i'm
mediately we could hear the water rushing
into the tanks. Slowly the Fulton sank
beneath the gentle little swell until nothing
but its we'll and the double-eyed coming
tower was above the water. The gasoline
engines was started and the craft went
ahead with a gradual gathering of speed.
Suddenly Capttin Cable pulled another
laver and almost Immediately the bow of
the vessel dipped forward in a manner
which made the guests grow creepy with
apprehension. Commander Nishi clutched
at the empty air. but quickly recovered
himself and looked around with an apOl-
ogetic smile. Meanwhile the Fulton had
found an even keel fourteen feet below
the surface and was rushing along at a
speed which seemed to us by reason of
the swirling waters pounding her steel
sides to be over thirty knots.
Passing the one-mile flag. which. of
course, could not be seen, but which Cap
tain Cable missed by matter of only sew
enty-five feet. the lever was manipulated
once more and the coming tower and well
of the Fulton shot up out of the water.
Then began a series of evOlutions which
Captain Gable calls 'pOrpOise diving" They
consist of a series of dives very similar to
the rolling dives OF a school of pOrpoises.
Beginning at a point of a few feet below
the surface, the boat was made to shoot
above the surface and with a lateral roll to
dive again out of sight. These evolutions
were not altogether soothing TO the guests
sealed up in a steel hull. and our breaths
of relief when they were concluded were as
long as they were apparent
JAPANESE OFFICERS PLEASED.
When the trip was finished the Japanese
officers were enthusiastic in their praises of
the accomplishment of the little vessel.
Commander Nishl, who is connected with
the Japanese legation at Washington as
naval attache, so far forgot his racial reti-
cence that he said:
Wonderful. Wonderful Although I
have read and heard much about these
boats. L never realized before to-day the
practieability Of this type Of vessel. l now
believe that vessels of the Holland type are
destined TO revolutiOnize naval warfare OF
the future. especially as regards coast and
harbOr defense. have not gone into the
study Of the vessels of the type which
France has adopted, but 1 believe that Mr.
Holland has the boat of the future. 1 shall
recommend the adoption of the Holland
boat to my government, and it is quite like
~ that an order will be given for a number
of them within a short time"
Lewis Nixon was favOrably impressed by
the performances OF the Fulton. When 1
asked him what he thought of her trial
trips he said:
1.-THE performance OF the Fulton to-day
removed from my mind all doubts as 10 the
Improvement we had hoped TO make in the
HOLLANDS performance Further / feel
WARE nted in saying, after seeing what this
vessel could do. L am sure that this type
Of vessel has passed the experimental stage
and is a decided and absolute success. /
do not mean by this that we have simply
a great mechanical toy. but an efficient
and deadly engine OF war, which must be
recognized as OF tremendous Importance to
all enemies OF national defense by maritime
nations.
SERIOUS PROBLEMS SOLVED
"a; the difficult problems Of trim. sta
bility under widely varying conditions, and
maneuvering power. vertically and horizon
tally, have been successfully met
How many tugs or other surface vessels
could take their bearings and then shut
their pilot house windows. and I'm $3.50 feet
steering by compass, come within a hun
ored feet Of mark. as was done to-day
b. the Fulton. with a tide across the