The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-26
PRES. ROOSEVELT MAKES
 DESCENT IN SUBMARINE
GOES TO THE BOTTOM OF LONG ISLAND SOUND IN THE
 PLUNGER.

Vessel Put Through About Every Ma
 neuver of Which She is Capable
 President Delighted at Novel ExDeri-
 ence-No One but Lieutenant Nelson,
 Not Even His Wife, Knew That He
 Intended to Make the Trip-Endears
 Himself to Naval Men by His Courage
 Had Been Advised Not to Run the
 Risk of the Trip.
 Oyster Bay, Aug. 25.-President Roosevelt late this afternoon made a 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 about fifty minutes, and in that time was put through all of the ble. The president expressed tonight his delight 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 brav- ing the dangers of submarine manoeu- vring, the president has endeared him. self to naval officers and men the world over, and made Lieutenant Charles H. Nelson, commander of the Plunger, the proudest and happiest man in the Unit ed States navy. :. .~..... ...
 The presidents intention not only to make a personal inspection of the tiny vessel, likely to prove so deadly in na- val warfare, but to make submarine descent in it, was reached after con- ference with Lieutenant Nelson.
 The Plunger's commander explained to President Roosevelt the operations of the boat and assured him that tripin her and descent into the depths of Long Island sound would be as de- void of danger as would be trip on any subway express train. ..- The president long has desired to watch the operations of submarine torpedo boat at close range, and, be- fore this would have made trip in one had he not been deterred from talk ing the risk by the advice of his friends and official associates. Convinc- ed by the logic of Lieutenant Nelson he arranged to take a trip on the Plunger, and to have the little vessel. perform Ill her wonderful feats while he was on board. vi - i .-...-t..s.. ..
 The special trial of the boat with the rresident on board took place between 8 and 6 o'clock this afternoon in Long Island sound, just off the entrance to Oyster Bay. Shortly after So'cleek the president went aboard the Plunger in one of the launches of the naval yacht Sylph, which he boarded at the J. West Roosevelt pier r...-
 As soon as the president had descend ed into the boat the manholes were closed and, conveyed by the naval tend CT Apache, the Plunger started for the sound. No manoeuvres were attempt ed until the vessel was well beyond the entrance to the bay. A stiff northeast breeze, which had been blowing since last night, kicked up a heavy sea in the sound, but the Plunger behaved beauti- fully. The water where the trial took place is about forty feet deep, too shal- low, in the opinion of Lieutenant Nell son and his experts, to enable the ves- sel 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 minutely to the president by Lieutenant Nelson, so that he afterwards experienced no diffi- culty in understanding the manoeuvres which were performed.
 While the president thus was resting on the bottom of the sound in sub- marine boat storm forty feet above
 Continued on Eighth Page.)