The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
The sPLuNGER DlVES AGAIN.
PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY
WATCH HER DO STUNTS.t

y
welt Didn't SEQ II All-Porpoises Pia!
TAG With the Craft-Crows OF the
submarines to Receive More Pay
OYSTER BAY, Aug, 2o.--The submarine
boat Plunger made her formal public ap.
pearanoe to-day In the bay here before
President Roosevelt, his family and some
friends, who viewed the maneuvers from
the Sylph. The President remained on
board the yacht only about half an hour
as he had important mail to attend to at
home, but the Plunger continued to show
her tricks for an hour after he left.
One Of the direct results Of the President
interest in submarine navigation Is that
the pay Of those engaged In It will be In
creased. Heretofore submarine service
was regarded as shore duty, and officers
and crew, in spite Of the danger, are actually
receiving about rs per cent. less pay on the
submarines than on other naval vessels.
The President said that he would see that
that state Of affairs was changed. He
discovered the facts accidentally while
oonversing with Lieut.. Charles P. Nelson,
commander OF the Plunger, and Lieut..
shapley.
The President and his partywent aboard,
the Sylph from the J. West Roosevelt pier
at 10 o'clock, and almost Immediately the
Plunger, whose sharklike body lay along
side the tug Apache, only a short distance
behind the Sylph, cast OF her moorings
and began to move down the bay.
She got considerable Roadway and soon
sank so that only the top Of her coming
tower was visible. She dipped and rose
then dipped again, but never went en-
tirely out Of sight while the President
watched her, because she hadn't yet water
enough under her. While still In the inner
harbor she suddenly dipped, a small puff
of spray was visible and then three jackies
After that the Sylph stopped and the launch
Dart took the President back to the landing.
In response to a question, the President
said to the correspondents that he went
down in the Plunger because it would have
broken the boys hearts IL he hadn't. He
said that it was most interesting expert
ence. which he wouldn't have missed for a
good deal.
The President left the Sylph about 1880
o'clock. The Plunger. In the meanwhile,
continued out toward the Sound. Sud-
denly the cap Of the coming tower was
lifted.
stick your head out" shouted Com
mander F. T. Evans OF the Sylph to Lieut..
Nelson, who was in the tower. The
Punger's commander stuck his head out
and grinned good naturedly, to the salts
faction of the ladies on the Sylph.
Then the cap Of the coming tower was
closed again and the Plunger sank and
began to execute some porpoise dives.
Whether the real porpoises that were
swimming about near by recognized these
dives cannot be determined, but at
all events they began to leap and frisk
about the submarine. their big bodies
flashing in the sunlight. Some found
themselves on top Of the Plunger's partly
submerged hull and every time she rose
from the water to make one Of her dives
. porpoise or two leaped back into the
water as though playing a game Of tag
with its iron sister.
This scene greatly appealed to the Roose-
welt children who were on the Sylph. A
line Of small craft filed with sightseers
and camera folk pressed on what power
they had in order to come up with the por-
poiscs to photograph them, but none Of
them would pose. They seemed to prefer
their game Of tag with the Plunger.
The submarine in the meantime had been
doing her prettiest. She had been sub
merged until not even her periscope
was visible and she had dived and had
hung suspended in midwater. At 1888
o'clock she finally rose to the surface, the
coming tower few back and the crew, in
their shirt sleeves, began to our out
md 81 oR4
by the curving deck. The tests were over
and both the Sylph and the Plunger turned
about and steamed back up the bay AL
Of the party on the Sylph had greatly en-
joyed the exhibition.
The party included Miss Ethel and Archie
and Quentin, the Presidents children; Miss
Christine, Philip and Hall Roosevelt and
W. Emlen Roosevelt, cousins OF the Presi-
dent: Mrs. j. West Roosevelt, Mrs. E. T.
Evans, wife Of the Sylph's commander,
and correspondents of the three press
associations. W. Emlen Roosevelt said that
earlier in the morning he had made the
descent in the submarine.
Every time you go down. he said, you
have feeling as though you are going up
and vice versa"
The air, he said, seemed to DO as good
as in any other place, but it is warm.
The sailors on the Plunger are lost in adj
miration for the President and the GOODNESS
and interest he showed in the submarine
boat. The craft will leave here on Monday
Tor the Brooklyn navy yard.
baseball nine from the Plunger and
team from the Sylph played close game
on lot back OF President Roosevelt's |
residence this afternoon. When the Presi- |
cent took his trip in the diver yesterday |
ne was asked whether he would allow q |
game to be played at Sycamore Hill and |
ne readily consented.
After the Plunger had finished her marine
stunts this afternoon, her baseball team
put on In launch for Mrs. James A. Rose
velt's dock, and few minutes after they
1ad landed the Sylph's nine reached the
eock. Both teams were taken In charge
6y James Russell. superintendent Of Mrs.
hoosevelts country seat, who guided them
Up the hill to the Presidents house. At the
10y they found that benches had been pro-
SSided and that refreshments In the shape Of
them. 'o
The President did not witness the game,
out all the other members Of the household
Mere mere there, as we'll as Mrs. j. w. Roosevelt,
MSS Margaret Roosevelt and O number Of
Stner members OF the Roosevelt colony at
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