The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-09-02
A SUBMARINE RIDE.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MAKES
DIVE WITH TOPEDO BOAT.
Was Aboard the Vessel About Three
Aours-one Time Boat Was Under
for so Mlnutes-President Delight
ed With Experisnes-Pleased With
Manner Of Boats Handling.

WANHGE " 10AA
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. Al one
time the little boat was submerged
for 50 minutes and in that time was
put through all OF the submarine
feats OF which she is capable, The
president has expressed his delight al
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 maneuyertns,
the president has endeared himself To
naval officers and men the world over
and made Lieutenant Charles Nelson,
the commander OF the Plunger the
proutest and happiest man IN the
United States navy.
The president long has desired toI
watch the operations Of submarine
| torpedo boat, and before this would
have made trip Ia one had be not
been deferred from taking the risk by
the advice og his friends and Official
associates.
The special trial Of the boat with
the president on board took place la
Long Island sound. Just on the en-
| trance 70 Oyster bay.
As soon as the president descended
into the boat the manhOlea we're
closed. and conveyed BY the naval
lteuder Apache. the Ptunger started for
the sound No maHsuysrs we're At.
tempted until the vessel vas we'll be
youd the entrance 10 the bay A stin
northeast breeze which had been
blowing kicked up heavy SEA la th"
sound. but the PIuhgsr behaved beau,
Itifully The water where the trial
took place Is about 90 tr~g deep. too
shallow In The opinion of Lieutenant
Nelson and experts, 10 enable the yss
sci to do her best work. soon after
the vessel reached the necessary
depth she vas directed downward uur
al abe rested on the bottom 81 the
sound Then the mechanism 81 III.
craft was explained infinitely To the
president by Lieutenant Nelson 40
that afterward be experienced no dlt.
aculty In understanding the maBsuy
ers which were performed.
| While the president thus was rest
Ing on the bottom ot the sound ia a
submarine boat. a storm 20 feet above
him vas raging unnotIced
Explanations OF the working % the
vessel having been completed. Lieu.
tenant Nelson began to put her
through her pacca From the bottom
lporpoise diving vas tried that IL. the
boat would ascend To tho surface u
the sound for several seconds. long
enough 10 enable her commander To
sight any warship that might be- ia
View. and then dive again Immediate
lily. After this vancouver had been ~
peated a few times tbs PlunEer vas
sent down distance Of 90 feet below
the surface and her engines stopped
/ Then the engines were reversed and
the boat assembled "a the surface hack
ward Lieutenant Nelson made his
boat perform The remarkable feat Of
diving to n depth Of 20 feat. and. while
going at full speed. reversing her on
gines Next the vessel vas sub.
merged to depth ot - fost There
she was kept motIonlcsa, drmoustra
tlon Of her ability 70 remain In that
position for hours. while awaiting m
opportunity To launch one uf her tor
pedoes Al vessel In bl1ekaaIus
squadron which might be passing 81
repaasiug given point. After many
maneuvers had been performed Lou
tenant Nelson ordered all LIGHTS on
board TO be extinEuished to demon
strate how thoroughly the members
OF his crow knew their business They
worked perfectly in the darkness. eyi
identity With as much skill and ease ~
n they performed their duties In thr
glare Of the electric light
During the operations Of the plum
ger the tender Apache remained with
in short distance, prepared to Aaudpt
any assistance that might be necaa
4ary. She was not needed. however
: The president shook hands with al
the crew as he loft the vessel 10 ro
turn to Sycamore hill
In describing his experience. Presi
8 dent Roosevelt expressed great salts
faction with the manner In which tn,
tiny vessel was managed He re-
. marked particularly on tho posslblIi
ties Of the submarine torpedo boat,
In actual warfare He related the de
tails OF his experience with eviden
pleasure
Nobody. not even the members o
his family, WIS aware Of the presi
dents intention to make the dascen
in the Plunger. except. OF course. Lieu
tenant Nelson.