The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-26
Steals March on Friends and Spends Afternoon in Subma-
 rIne Boat on the Sound
IS ENTHUSIASTIC OVER
 THE VESSELS MANEUVERS
Has Wanted to Take the Trip Before, But Friends and Associates Have Always Advised
 Him Against 1t.

oyster Bay, August 25.-Presdent Roosevelt late this evening made a de- scent into the waters of 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 fifty minutes, and in that time was put through all of the submarine feats of which she is cap able.
 The President expressed tonight his de- light 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 braving the dan- gers of submarine maneuvering the Pres ident has endeared himself to naval of- fcers and men the world over, and made Lieut. Charles H. Nelson, commander or the Plunger, 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 a submarine descent in 1t was reached after a conference with Lieutenant Nelson. The Plunger's com mander explained to President Roosevelt the operations of the boat and assured Inn that a trip on her and descent into the depths of Long Island sound would be as devoid of danger as would b. trip on a New York subway express train.
 Long Desired to See Boat Work.
 The President has long desired to watch the operations of submarine torpedo boat at close range, and before this would have made tiir in one had he not been deterrcd from ta1ing the risk by the ad- vice of bis fri, ,nds and official associates. Convinced by the logic of Lieutenant Nell son. he arranged to take a trip on the pnnger. and to have the little vessel per form all her wonderful feats when he was on board.
 The special trial of the boat with the President on board took place between 5 and o'clock this afternoon in Long island sound just off the entrance to Oyster Bay Shortly after o'clock 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
 ManhoIes Are Closed.
 As soon as the President had descended into the boat the manholes were closed and conveyed by the naval tender Apache the Plunger started for the Sound. No maneuvers were attempted until the ves- sel was we'll beyond the entrance to the bay. stiff northeast breeze which had been blowing since last night kicked up a heavy sea in the sound but the Flung CT behaved beautifully. The water where the trial took place is about forty feet deep too shallow in the opinion of Lieu al nd the vessel to do her best work. Soon after the vessel reached the necessary depth of water she was directed down. ward 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 difficulty in understanding the maneuvers which were performed.
 Storm Was Raging Above.
 While the President thus was resting on the bottom of the sound in subma- rine boat a storm forty feet above him was raging unnoticed. Rain descended in torrents and northeaster whipped the surface of the water into big rollers. but 1t was as quiet and peaceful where the President sat as a parlor could be.
 Explanation of the working of the yes sel completed Nelson begun to put the
  bottom purpoise was tried. that Is the boat would ascend to the surface of the sound for several seconds. long enough tn enable her commander to sight any warship that might be within view and then dived again immediately. After this rnaneuver had been repeated few times the Plunger was sent down distance of twenty feet below the surface and her engines stopped. Then the engines were reversed and the boat ascended to the surface backward. Lieutenant 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 com plete turn occupied only one minute.
 Subsequently the engines were stopped and the vessel submerged to a depth of twenty feet. There she could be kept mo- tionless 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 ading squadron which might be passing or repa assing a given point. After many maneuvers had been performed. Lieuten- ant Nelson ordered all the lights on board to be extinguished to demonstrate how thoroughly the members of his crew knew their business. They worked perfectly in the inky darkness. evidently with as much skin and ease as they performed their duties in the glare of the electric light.
 Shakes Hands With Crew.
 During the operations of the Plunger the tender remained within short distance prepared to render any assistance that moorings without an untoward incident. however, and the Plunger returned to her moorings without an untoward fncidnt. The President shook hands wifh all of the crew as he left the vessel to return to 9agAmore Hill. M
 Tn describing his experience tonight. President Roosevelt expressed great sat kfaction with the manner in which the
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