Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1905-08-26
ROOSEVELT IN A
SUBMARINE BOAT
President Took a Plunge on
the Plunger and Was
Pleased
UNOER WATER ALMOST An HOUR

Oyster -ay. N Y, Aug. 26-Presi-
dent Roosevelt took a dive IN the
plunger yesterday. He boarded the
submarine and went down in her, re-
naming submerged for fifty minutes.
The President was on board the craft
for three hours, and he expressed him
self as greatly impressed with tho
tests which were carried out TO the
entire satisfaction of Lieut.. Charles p.
Nelson, the Plunger's commander.
Day before yesterday Mrs. Roosevelt
had observed the plunglngs OF the
/ Plunger from the Sylphs launch. So
easily and dexterousiy did Lieut. Nell
son and his crew Of eleven men handle
the boat on that occasion that Mrs.
Roosevelt was convinced OF the safety
OF the thing. That was exactly what
the President desired, and ne notified
Lieut.. Nelson that he had decided to
go down IN the Piunger. to the great
delight OF the officer and his crew.
PRESIDENT GOES ON BOARD.
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 tho
submarine with the naval tug Apache
as tcuder left her anchorage Apostle
/ IN. otlWiiiludhA AoIlHAhAlh A"Nhb
Club and proceeded 10 the place where
oyster Bay harbor joins Long Island
Sound. There the depth varies be-
tween thirty and forty feet and thera
It was decided to submerge the boat.
In the coming tower Is a set OF butt
tons which absolutely control the
movements Of the little diver. Lieut.
Nelson explained all these buttons to
the President. and under the command
er's guidance. it is said. the President
lpresed the proper button and the boat
slowly sank until It rested on the sandy
bottom.
Then Lieut. Nelson began to put the
lplunger through her PAGES. lie sent
her scuddng through the water at
various depths and In various direc-
tons The plunger was brought al
most 10 the surface then sent twenty
feet below. Then swiftly the engine
would be reversed and the boat would
lreturn 10 the surface without per-
ceptible stop.
One stunt Of the craft that greatly
Impressed the President was what is
called "porpoise diving" This consists
IN coming up 10 the surface for i've or
six seconds-1ust long enough to enable
p the man IN command 70 take a good
IINNNT"NNN1 AN|NI NNNNNl" thHNAiNAf AAIN p" NI
ships lying about ia these -waters yes-
iterday 60 be SHIFTED were few. but the
lporpoise diving nevertheless greatly
pleased the President aud it was re-
peated several times.
The process OF suspending the boat
at a certain depth and Keeping her
? stationary also Interested the President
u very much. This was done 10 show
z how the submarine can be kept notion
less and submerged for hours at a
, time waiting for bloci0ading squad
. ron that is passing and repassing n
j given point.
Throughout all these maneuvers the
o President pressed buttons and handled
: levers to start the boat on many OF
. her stunts. and he enjoyed it Inn
{ mensely. one OF the 1acl1ies even said
that the President pressed a button
: and discharged the torpedo which the
! Plunger carries. but this could not be
70 confirmed
AT one time Lieut. Nelson suddenly
y put all the lights out by the pressure
q OF button. but he did not stop with
2 that. He went on pressing buttons and
$ giving commands. and so thoroughly
are the members OF the crew familiar
with every detail OF the work that they
handled the boat perfectly in the dark
: lness.
BBy the time the Plunger had gone
% through an these evolutions she had
3 been submerged for nearly am hour.
i She came TO the surface finally. and
II the President again breathed the salt
air of the choppy bay. II was pitch
darlsbythattme, and he told the Lieu
tenant that he was tremendously Inn
pressed with the experiences he had
gone through. Never for a moment he
Z said, did he feel the slightest sensa-
, tion of danger. IL had merely been
a thrilling and pleasant experience.
IL was announced that To-day the
public tests of the Plunger viii take
place an the same place The President
n and his family win watch these tests
/, from the deck OF the Sylph.