The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-24
: 3 ~ + =
SUBMARINE BOAT
THAT CAN SEE
Bit Of Fiction That Brought Nor
gan Robinson a Small
Fortune.
"Fluorescent searchlight" That
Lights Up the Waters Of
the Sea.

inventor Quits Typewriter.
It is the last story Robertson ever
will write unless his mind is completely
changed. He is now connected with a
submarine boat company that manufac-
lures the Holland submarine torpedo
boat. It is said he got $4,000 in cash
for the idea that first appealed to the
Holland company, an idea he had de-
veloped to 60 in the magazine story
without any thought of practical appli-
cation.
From now on the fiction writer will
devote an his energies to putting his
literary creations into the form of prac-
tical inventions. He believes firmly
it will not be long before he can send
every submarine in the world to the
bottom Of the sea.
That he is no impractical visionary is
proved by the big price paid for his
periscope, which is now controlled by
the Holland company. ~
equipped his submarine destroyer with
fuorescent searchlight to light up the
waters Of the sea. So far scientists
and inventors have been baffled in all
attempts at making searchlight that
would light up the waters.
"An Invisible Searchlight.,
81 have invented an invisible search
light Is all Robertson will say for
publication. It is declared to be a
light that will be. as torch for two
miles around, and yet cannot be seen,
tho it stands high above the surface of
the water.
Robertson expects this light to be
transmitted thru the waters 50 subma-
rines Of the enemy may be discovered
mile away. He will not tell how the
light is constructed. In his story he
gives only vague hint, calling it a flu
crescent light. It Is known that the IL
Eliminating agent will be electricity.
Robertson is careful in guarding the Sc
cret formula by which he wells the light
SO that it may be unseen.
Robertson's debut as a practical in
ventor is as surprising to the public as
If q. g.. Wells were to build ssa war.
ship OF air, such as he used to such good
effect in the imaginary battles in the
WAR Of the Worlds. ;,
just about ten years ago Morgan
Robertson began to write tales Of the
sea-. Robertson knew how to write
stories Of the sea for he has been a
sailor. He sailed before the mast for
years and had positions on nearly every
sort of vessel afoat. Before he went to
sea he was cowboy, hotel clerk, miner,
prospector, railroad man and nearly
everything else. He has worked all
over the world and knows it. like a
book. ~. ls
The development Of submarines ap.
pealed to Robertson 8 imagination. He
began to write stories of submarines
Not long ago he wrote story Of Jap.
anese submarine that was equipped with
wonderful periscope. This periscope
enabled the submerged vessel to see
the horizon for miles in every direction
In fact, it gave a complete picture OF
the water and everything above it. The
story was called "rhe Mistake"
Holland Co. "Bit"r on Tale.
Submarine boat people have wanted
a perlscope that would show all the
horizon at the same time. One of the
officials, Of the Holland company be.
came interested in Robertson g story. He
To his surprise he learned that Rob.
ertson had not stopped at imagining a
vented it. Robertson even had gone SO
far as to patent his invention a5
The Holland company bought it. The
price is said to have been $4,000 cash,
$500 for each, boat equipped with a
periscope and $500 for each boat sold
without the equipment. This, with
other Inducements, has persuaded Mr.
Robertson to give up story writing for
more lucrative business Of building sub.
marines and submarine destroyers.
He has given only a hint Of his sub.
marine destroyer, which he believes will
be able to destroy every submarine in
the world, and do the job in few min
utes. He says he did not dare 60 be
yond the vague hints in his fiction
story. The submarine destroyer Of his
creation is curious craft Of circular
form, like two salad bowls with their
edges together, convex above and be.
low. and concave near the edges. The
edges extend sharply horizontally fol
about twenty feet from the termination
Of the convex curve making circu.
lar boat about eighty feet in diane.
ter. The boat has no rudder, no pro.
pe1ler and no visible meanst Of propul.
sion. It has a combination engine fol
liquid air and oil. In general aspect it
is big globe.