The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-26
Submarine With Him on Board
Remains Under Water
Almost an Hour.
MANEUvERS IN the DARK
President Himself Controls the
Craft and Returns
Enthusiastic.

He Had Not Intended to Go Down, but the
Recent Tests Convinced Mrs. Roosevelt
OF the safety OF the Submarine and
Lieut.. Nelson's Enthusiasm Won Him
6ycr-Trial Took Place in the Deep
Water where Oyster Bay Joins the
Sound. and the Boat was Put Through
All Her PAGES for Her visitor--Felt
No Danger 1t Any Time, but Twas
Thrilling. He Says as He Dlsembarks
OYSTER BAY, Aug. 25.-President Roose-
welt took dive in the Plunger to-day. He
boarded the submarine and went down In
her, remaining submerged for fifty minutes.
The President was on board the craft for
three hours, and he expressed himself as
greatly impressed with the tests, which
were carried out to the entire satisfaction
Of Lieut.. Charles P. Nelson, the plunger's
commander.
After THE Sun first announced that the
Punger was being prepared for the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Roosevelt said that he believed
he would not go down, and he told Jacob A
Riis that he had no intention of making
the descent But Lieut.. Nelson. who
lunched with the President yesterday, is
an enthusiast on submarines, and is espe-
cially enthusiastic about the Plunger. The
early intimation that the President might
wish to make the descent and realize an
ambition dating back to the days when he
was reader Of Jules Verne, stuck in the
young commanders mind and he did all
that in him lay to induce the President TO
make the experiment The President, how
. ever, according to Lieut.. Nelson's state
ment gave him no assurance that he would
make the trial.
Day before yesterday Mrs. Roosevelt
had observed the plungings Of the Plunger
from the Sylph's launch. So easily and
dexterously did Lieut.. Nelson and his crew
Of eleven men handle the boat on that COCA
sion that Mrs. Roosevelt was convinced Of
the safety Of the thing. That was exactly
what the President desired, and to-day he
notified Lieut. Nelson that he had decided
to 60 down in the Pfunger, to the great
delight Of the officer and his crew.
To-day dawn broke gray and gusty
end thick rain falling from a leaden
sky. A brisk northeaster kept lashing the
bay and in short it was the kind Of a day
that the President likes to be out.
The Sylph's fast launch Dart took the
President in his rainy day clothing from
the j. West Roosevelt pier and put him
aboard the Plunger Then the submarine,
with the naval tug Apache as a tender,
left her anchorage opposite the Seawan-
haka Corinthian Yacht Club and proceeded
to the place where Oyster Bay harbor joins
Long Island Sound. There the depth
varies between thirty and forty feet and
there it was decided to submerge the boat.
In the coming tower Is a set Of buttons
which absolutely control the movements
Of the little diver. Lieut.. Nelson explained
all these buttons to the President, and
under the commanders guidance, it is
said the President pressed the proper
button and the boat slowly sank until 1t
rested on the sandy bottom.
Then Lieut.. Nelson began to put the
Plunger through her PAGES. He sent her
scudding through the water at various
depths and in various directions. The
Plunger was brought almost to the surface,
then sent twenty feet below. Then swiftly
the engine would be reversed and the boat
would return to the surface without q
Perceptible stop.
One stunt Of the craft that greatly inn
pressed the President was what is called
'porpoise diving" This consists in COM
ing up to the surface for five or six seconds
just long enough to enable the man in
command to take q good look-and then
diving again. The warships lying about
in these waters yesterday to be sighted
we're few, but the porpoise diving neverthe-
less greatly pleased the President and it
was repeated several times.
Several times the submarine dived to a
depth Of about twenty feet, and by q ma
nipulation Of the steering gear was turned
completely around and Strengthened cut
81 etiC oppOOiV0 diICCtiOh IA OAAStsy OhO
minute. The steering gear Of the Plunger
Is almost perfect. She turns in three times
her own length. The process Of sus-
pending the boat at q certain depth and
keeping her stationary also interested
the President very much. This was done
to show how the submarine can be kept
motionless and submerged for hours at q
time. waiting for blockading squadron
that is passing and repassing given point.
Throughout all Of these maneuvers tho
President pressed buttons and handled
levers to start the hoat on many Of her
stunts, and he enjoyed. it immensely. Ono
OF the jaclsies even said that the President
pressed button and discharged the
torpedo which the Plunger carries, but
this could not be confirmed.
At one time Lieut.. Nelson suddenly
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