The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-26
Suddenly ReconsideTed and
Went Down in The PIunger.
SUBMERGED FIFTY MINUTES
Was Greatly Impressed by The Results Of
Tests Made by Lieutenant Charles
P. Nelson, The Crafts Commander.

Oyster Bay, y. Y. Aus. s.-Pre.,dent
Roosevelt took dive in the Plunger yes
terday. He boarded tho submarine and
went down in her. remaining submerged
for 20 minutes
The president was on board the craft
for three hours. and ne expressed him
sole as greatly impressed with the tests.
which were carried out to tho entire
satisfaction Of Lieutenant Charles =.
Nelson. the Plungers commander.
After IL Was first announced that the
/ Plunger was being prepared for the pres-
dent. Mr. Roosevelt said that he believed
he would not go down. and he told Jacob
A Ris that ne had no intention OF max
ing the descent. But Lieutenant Nelson.
who lunchen with the president Thurs
| day, is an enthusiast on submarines and
Is especially enthusiastic about the
Plunger.
The early intimation that the president
might wish TO make the descent and re-
/ alize an ambition dating back TO the
/ days when he was reader OF Jules
/ Verne stuck I'm the young commander
mind. and he did all that in him Law 10
! induce the president 10 make the expert
/ ment. The president. however. according
/ 20 Lieutenant Nelson's statement, gave
/ him no assurance that he would make a
! trial.
Wednesday Mrs Roosevelt had observed
| the plungngs Of the Plungar from the
| Syipbs launch. So easily and dexterous-
| ly did Lieutenant Nelson and his crew OF
II men handle the boat on that occasion
/ that Mrs. Roosevelt was convinced OF
/ the safety or the thing
! That was exactly what the president
/ desired and yesterday ne notified T.ieuten-
| ant Nelson that he had decided 20 go
! down I'm the Plunger. 10 the great delight
| OF the officer and his crew.
PRESIDENT PRESSED BUTTON.
Yesterday dawn broke gray and gusty
! and a thick rain falling from leaden
/ sky. brisk northeaster kept lsshing the
| bay and IN short IL was the kind OF n
! day that the President likes TO be out.
The Sylph's fast launch Dart took the
President I'm his rainy day clothing from
the J. West Roosevelt pier and put him
aboard the Plunger.
Then the submarine. with the hawai- tug
Apache as tender. left her anchorage
opposite the wanhaka- -Corinthian
Yacht club and proceeded TO the place
where oyster Bay harbor Joins Long ISL
ana sound There the depth varies be-
tween 30 and 40 feet and there ii was de-
cided 10 submerge the Nooat.
In the coming tower Is a set OF but
tons which absolutely control the move
ments OF the little diver. Lieut. Nelson ex-
planned all these buttons 10 the President.
and under the commanders guidance II is
said the President pressed the proper but
ton and the boat slowly sank until IL
rested on the sandy bottom
Then Lieu. Nelson began TO put the
Plunger through her PAGES. He sent her
scudding through the water at various
depths and In various directions. The
Plunger was brought almost to the sur
face. then sent 20 feet below Then swift
ly the engine would be reversed and the
boat would return 10 the surface without
perceptible stop.
TRIED PORPOISE DIVING.
One stunt of the craft that greatly i'm
pressed the President was what is called
'Porpoise diving" This consists I'm COM
ing up to the surface for FIVE or six Sec
onds just long enough 10 enable the man
In command 10 take good look. and then
diving again.
The warships lying about I'm these wat
ers yesterday 10 be sighted were few. but
the porpoise diving nevertheless greatly
pleased the President and II was repeated
several times
Frequently the submarine dived TO
depth OF about 20 feet and by a manipu-
lation OF the steering gear was turned
completely around and straightened out
In the opposite direction I'm exactly one
minute. The steering gear OF the Plunger
is almost perfect.
She turns I'm three times her own length
The process OF suspendlng the boat at a
certain depth and keeping her stationary
also Interested the president very much.
This was done to show how the sub
marine can be kept motionless and sub
merged for hours NJ a time waiting for a
hlockading squadron that is passing and
repassing n given point.
Throughout all nnanoeuvres the presi-
dent pressed buttons and handled levers
10 start the boat on many Of her stunts
and he enjoyed II immensely one of the
jackies even said that tho president
pressed button and discharged the tor
pedo which the Plunger carries, bur this
could not be confirmed
Al one time Lieutenant Nelson sudden
ly put all the lights out by tho pressure OF
a button. hut he did not stop with that.
He went on pressing buttons and giving
commands and 50 thoroughly are the
members OF the crew familiar with every
detail Of the work that they handled the
boat perfectly in the darkness.
BY the time the Plunger had gone
through all Of these evolutions she had
been submerged for nearly an hour She
came 20 the surface finally and the presi-
dent again brsathed the salt air OF the
choppy bay
II was pitch dark by that time and he
told the lieutenant that no was tremen-
dously impressed with the experiences he
had gone through Never for n moment.
he said. did he feel the slightest sensa-
tlon OF danger. II had merely been
thrilling and pleasant experience.
The Plunger proceeded swiftly back 10
her place OF anchorage under her own
power and when the president stepped
from the Plunger back into the Sviph's
launch ne expressed himself as highly
pleased with his experience. For three
hours he bad forgotten all about the
peace conference and the Portsmouth
deadlock and all the grave matters OF
state that have 80 much engaged him Of