New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-16
PLUNGER'S SPEED, 7.27.
Final Trials Postponed Because OF
Hot Bearing.
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Greenport Long Island May 15-Under condi-
tions that the most favorable since ths oe-
ginning of the government trials the submarine
torpedo boats Porpoise and Plunger continued their
tests to-day on Peconic Bay. under the watchtui
ewes of Captain c. J. Train, Commander W. u
Cowles Captain Charles H. Rocker and Naval
Constructor j. J. Woodward who compose lhe
board assigned by the Navy Department TO super
wise these trials
The first trial was that of the Porpoise she dlo
not show sufficient speed on Thursday to satisfy
Lawrence Spear manager OF the Hoiahu Cum
pany so three additional runs were given her TINS
morning under two, three and four cylinders one
made speeds of SIS, 735 and ga knots respectively
which more than fulfilled the speed required by
the government The speeds the previous day
had been 81. ~ and IS.
The submerged test of the Plunger was the feat-
ure of the day. The boat was in charge or cap
tain Frank T. Gable and crew of four men, soon
after reaching the course the Flunger was put AZ
the submerged condition by filing the tanks Al
3l1 p. m. the coming tower disappeared uhoeF
water as she made her first dive. Notnlhs was
visible except a thin white staff bearing orisht
red flag at its truck when the flag held alo1t oy
CAPTAIN c. J. Train shore dropped as d oishai
IN the observers on board the convoy steamer KEEL
pie that the Plunger, o all that could be seen Oh
her had crossed the line and the trlal hao pesuii
The flag dropped by Lieutenant Nelson at the otnt
end of the half mile range showed that she hao
covered the distance In minutes ana o. SecohN0
or at speed of SIT knots an hour
Captain Cable had timed the run so accurately
that he brought boat to the surface thirty Sec
onds after she had crossed the finish line Inc turn
was made with the coming tower awash Diving
at 3:2e O'Clock for the return run. the Plunger
crossed the line two minutes later, and ran steadily
over the course at an depth. covering the nan
mile In minutes and AZ seconds. me speeo LUZ
the mile had been SGT knots. The boat came UP q
minute after finishing the run and MADE mex TURN
with the coming tower awash
The dive for the second trial was MADE at o'8''
and at s;4:57 Captain Train dropped his nag ana
the race against time was again. A last run
WAS not expected at this time as the best speed
is usually reserved for the third, or final SUD
merged run so the observers were SURPRISED u
see the burst of speed the Plunser made as the
keen edged white staff with It's red flag went on
ITS tourney to the south. Still more surprised were
they to see 1t go down to about three 1eet from "
surface then come 10 to nearly its full length anu
finally with a mighty swish sink clear out OF sishS
under water Up 1t came again IN O. few SECONDS
All this was done in the space or three .
for she had steadied down wnen she ms finoers
nv covering the half mile In minutes anu SCI
onds speed of III knots -. o.se aud
The dive for the return trip was mace at S;oc d
later going at a seven knot clip. Steadily she
travelled to the northward. this time coEelInS S
half mile in minutes and seconIs' so o 1s
speed for the mile of 726 knots, WnlCh was tiIe
trial last November. Instead OF starting on HeI
third run which would have completes Kea iaj
Captain Cable brought the boat to tne suriaSe, d
announced that owing TO , a nod Submerged
tests of the Porpoise and the Shark VIII prooaoiS
he had tomorrow over the same course