Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
PRESIDENT TOOK TRIP ON SUB
MARINE BOAT PLUNGER.

teTudy dIlefHOON L1du6 q descent III 1OuH
Island sound on board the submarine tor
pedo boat Plunger He was aboard the
vessel about three hours. At one time the
little boat was submerged for fifty min
utes,. and in that time was put through all
of the submarine feats Of which she is cap
able. The President expressed. last night
satisfaction at the novel experience, and
said that 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
Lieut.. Charles II. Nelson. commander of
the Piunger, the proudest and happiest
man In the United States navy.
The Presidents intention not only to
make personal inspection of the tiny
vessel. likely to prove so deadly in naval
warfare. but to make submarine descent
in it was reached after conference with
Lieut.. Nelson.
Trip Devoid of Danger.
The Plunger's commander explained to
President Roosevelt the operations of the
boat. and assured him that trip on her
and a descent into the depths of Long
Island sound would be devoid of danger
express train.
the operations of submarine torpedo boat
at close range, and before this would have
made trip in one had he not been deferred
from taking the risk by the advice of his
friends and official associates. Convinced
by the logic of Lieut.. Nelson he arranged
to take a trip on the Piunger. and to have
the little vessel perform all her wonderful
feats while he was on board. The special
trial of the boat with the President on
board took place between ) and 6 o'clock
yesterday afternoon in the Long Island
sound. Shortly after 3 o'clock the Presi-
dent went on board the Plunger
AS soon the President had descended
into the boat the manholes We're closed
ana, conveyed by the naval tender Apache
the Plunger started for the sound. No
maneuverS We're attempted until the vessel
was well beyond the entrance to the bay
"A st1n northwest breeze had been blowing
since last night, making a. heavy sea in
the sound, but the Plunger behaved beau
TRULY. The water where the trial took
place is about forty feet deep too shallow
In the opinion of Lieut.. Nelson and his ex-
perts, to enable the vessel to do her best
work Soon after the vessel reached the
necessary depth of water she was directed
downward. until she rested on the bottom
of the sound. Then the mechanism of the
craft was explained infinitely to the Presi-
oeht by Lieut.. Nelson, SO that he after
Wa:d expressed no difficulty in understand
ing the maneuvers which were performed
Storm Ragged on Surface.
" me tle PRESIDENT thus was resting on
the bottom of the sound in a submarine
boat, storm forty feet above him was
raging unnoticed. The rain descended In
torrents and the northeastern whipped the
surface of the water into big rollers but
it was as quiet and peaceful where the
president sat as in an easy chair in a
parlOr.
Explanations of the working of the YES
sci having been completed Lieut. Nelson
began to put her through her PAGES From
the bottom, porpoise diving was tried
that is. the boat would ascend to the sur
face of the sound for several seconds
sight any Warship that might be within
view. and then dive again Immediately.
After this maneuver had been repeated a
few times the Plunger was sent down a
distance of twenty feet below the surface
and her engines stopped. Then the en-
gines were reversed and the boat ascend
| ed to the surface backward.
| Lieut. Nelson made his boat perform
| the remarkable feat of diving to a depth
| of twenty feet and while going at full
| speed at that depth reversing her course.
The complete turn occupied only one min
ute. Subsequently, the engines were stop
| ped and the vessel was submerged to
| a depth of twenty feet. There she was
kept motionless-a demonstration of her
| ability to remain in that position for hours
| while awaiting an opportunity to launch
one of her torpedoes at vessel of a block
aiding squadron which might be passing or
repassing given point. After many ma
neuvers had been performed Lieut.. Nelson
ordered all lights on board to be extinguiSh-
| ed. to demonstrate how thoroughly the
| members of his crew knew their business.
| They worked perfectly in the inky dark
ness evidently with as much skill and ease
| as they performed their duties In the glare
| of the electric llghtS.