The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-09-01
A SUBMARINE RIDE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MAKES
dive With TOplDO BOAT.
Was Aboard the Vessel About Three
Hours-One Time Boat Was Under
for so Mirutes-President Delight
ed With Experience-Pleased With
Manner of Boats Handling.

Oyster Bay-President Roosevelt
recently made descent in Long
Island sound on board the submarine
torpedo boat Plunger. He was aboard
the vessel about three hours. At one
time the little boat was submerged
for so minutes and in that time was
put through all of the submarine
feats of which she is capable. The
president has expressed his delight at
the novel experience, and said he was
immensely impressed with the boat
and with the manner in which she
was handled. In thus Drawing the
dangers of submarine maneuvering,
the president has endeared himself to
naval officers and men the world over,
and made Lieutenant Charles Nelson,
the commander Of the Plunger, the
proudest and happiest man in the
United States navy.
The president long has desired to
watch the operations of submarine
torpedo boat, and before this would
have made a trip in one had he not
been deferred from taking the risk by
the advice of his friends and official
associates
The special trial of the boat with
Long Island sound, just off the en-
trance to Oyster bay.
AS soon as the president descended
into the boat the manholes were
closed, and conveyed by the naval
tender Apache, the Plunger started for
the sound. No maneuvers were at
tempted until the vessel was we'll be-
yOnd the entrance to the bay. A stiff
northeast breeze which had been
blowing kicked up a heavy sea in the
sound, but the Plunger behaved beau
tifully. The water where the trial
shallow, in the opinion of Lieutenant
Nelson and experts, to enable the YES
sci to do her best work. Soon after
the vessel reached the necessary
depth she was directed downward I'M
til she rested on the bottom of the
oouAu' AClI lAC mSCudulolu VI luc
craft was explained infinitely to the
president by Lieutenant Nelson, so
that afterWard he experienced no diff
fculty in understanding the maneuv-
ers which were performed.
While the president thus was rest
submarine boat, storm 40 feet above
him was raging unnoticed.
Explanations of the working of the
vessel having been completed, Lieu
tenant Nelson began to put her
through her PAGES. From the bottom
porpOise diving was tried, that is, the
boat would ascend to the surface of
the sound for several seconds, long
enough to enable her commander to
sight any warship that might be in
view, and then dive again Immediate
ly. After this maneuver had been re-
peated few times the Plunger was
sent down a distance of 20 feet below
the surface and her engines stopped.
Then the engines were reversed and
the boat assembled to the surface back
ward. Lieutenant Nelson made his
boat perform the remarkable feat of
diving to depth of 20 feet, and, while
going at full speed, reversing her en-
gines. Next the vessel was sub
merged to a depth of 20 feet There
she was kept motionless, a demonstra-
ton of her ability to remain in that
position for hours, while awaiting an
opportunity to launch one of her tor
pedoes at vessel in blockading
squadron, which might be passing or
repassing a given point. After many
maneuvers had been performed Lieu
tenant Nelson ordered all lights on
board to be extinguished to demon
strate how thoroughly the members
OF his crew knew their business. They
worked perfectly in the darkness, evil
IDENTIFY with as much skill and ease as
if they performed their duties in the
glare of the electric light.
During the operations of the Plum
ger the tender Apache remained with
in a short distance, prepared to render
any assistance that might be neces-
sary. She was not needed, however
The president shook hands with all
the crew as he left the vessel to re-
turn to Sycamore hill.
In describing his experience, Presi-
dent Roosevelt expressed great salts
faction with the manner in which the
tiny vessel was managed. He re-
marked particularly on the possibili-
ties of the submarine torpedo boats
in actual warfare. He related the de-
tails of his experience with evident
pleasure.
Nobody, not even the members of
his family, was aware of the presi-
dents intention to make the descent
in the Plunger, except, of course. Lieu
tenant Nelson.