The Washington times., 1904-01-10
CABLE QUICKLY CUT
BY SUBMARINE BOAT
Successful Test Made in Narragansett
Bay by Torpedo Boat Protector.

A submerged trial was given the sub
marine torpedo boat Protector. OF the
Lake type. in the waters OF NarraRan-
sett Bay yesterday afternoon. for the
purpose of testing her diving compart-
ment and for long subnernenc,. One
of the prime features OF this boat is the
facility with which she can run sub
merged upon field. or the place where
submarine telegraph cable leads 10
the shore. and pick up and sever these
connections. II so desired. This Il one
of tbs principal tests in the Official pro
ram of trials. Yesterdays work was
FLOR practice in this direction and to try
out some new fittings recently installed.
The field OF operations was on tns
jamestown side OF the bay, where a
local telegraph cable makes its landing
At lf:39 the boat sank out Of sight and
slowly settled to the bottom In thirty
feet OF water. resting on the two biz
wheels. which are set tandem along her
keel, upon which she travels when run
ming on the water bed. AS soon rs the
boat was down. Mr. Lake and two OF
the crew entered the diving compaIt-
rnent. the door was closely and securely
lugged. and then compressed air from
the air TASKS was let in until the CO..
partment air pressure balanced the
water pressure OF the thirty feet ~
water outside. When the double depth
and air-pressuTe gauge showed unity.
the diving door was cast loose and low
cred. yielding a fairly distinct view OF
the bottom OF the water, hating. how
ever. at the lower edge OF the open
hatch as though hidden by an unseen
power.
All now being In readiness. the CRAP
mel was lowered and the boat. driven by
her propellers, was started down slowly
in the supposed direction of the lead of
the telegraph cable. An occasional rock
caused false alarms of expectation as
they rnomentarily held the grapnel but
1 in a short while the drag caught the
cable. the wire rope paid rapidly under
( the stress and in a few yards the Pro
( tector was brought TO a standstilL The
boat was now backed. the wire rope 10
the grapnei wound in upon the reel. and
/ in a few moments the heavily armore0
shore end of the telegraph cable. un-
/ harmed. was drawn right up 10 the open
hatch OF the diving compartment
Instead Of cutting or tapping it. as
would be done in time of war, piece
of rubber hose and an incandescent
lamp globe were tied to the cable as
proof OF the work. and then the line Of
/ local was AAORlC4 So~A
to it's proper resting place The whole
operation did not take more than half
an hour The ease Win which the Pro
tector could be handled on the bottom.
going ahead and astern as occasion re-
uuired and maintaining her course with
| out drift in a tideway, proved readily
that she could be made TO drag any de-
/ sired area without fear OF the gun fire
Of the protected batteries The boat
came to the surface after being down
[ for nearly four hours, during which time
dinner was prepared and served The
/ object OF the long submergence was 10
prove the endurance OF the crew and
the habitable qualities Of the vessel.
No air, other than the atmospheric air
| in the craft at the time OF the sub
/ TIlsT s5Ice. was turned into the boat.
and at the end OF the four hours there
was no appreciable stiffness II nee
! essary, of course. fresh air could have
been supplied from the hasks.-Boston
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