Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-01
TAKES A TRIP
IN SUBMARINE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT GOES TO
THE BOTTOM IN THE
PlUNGER.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 2e.-President
Roosevelt yesterday afternoon made
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 so min.
utes, and in that time was put through
all OF the submarine feats of which
she is capable.
The president expressed tonight his
delight at 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 ma.
neuvering, the president has endear-
ed himself 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 United States navy. The
presidents intention not only to make
personal inspection of the tiny YES.
sci, likely to prove so deadly in naval
warfare, but to make a submarine
descent in it, was reached after a
long conference with Lieutenant Mel
son.
The president long has desired to
watch the operations of submarine
torpedo boat, and before this would
nave made trip in one had he not
been deferred from taking the risk by
the advice of his friends official as
sistants. Convinced by the logic Of
Lieutenant Nelson, he arranged to
take trip in the Plunger, and to have
the little vessel perform all her won
derful feats while he was aboard.
Shortly after o'clock the presi-
dent went aboard the Plunger in one
of the launches of the naval yacht
Sylph. AS soon as the president had
descended into the boat the manholes
were closed and, conveyed by the ma
val tender Apache, the Plunger start
ed for the sound. No maneuyers were
attempted until the vessel was we'll
beyond the entrance to the bay.
Put Through Her PAGES.
Explanations of the working of the
vessel having been completed, Lieu
tenant Nelson began to put her through
her PAGES. From the bottom porpoise
diving was tried; that is, the boat
would ascend to the surface of the
sound for several seconds, long enough
to enable her commander to sight any
warship that might be in view, and
then dive again Immediately. After
this maneuver had been repeated a
few times, the Plunger was sent down
distance of 20 feet below the sur
face and her engines stopped. Then
the engines were reversed and the
boat assembled to the surface back
wards. Lieutenant Nelson made his
boat perform the remarkable feat of
diving to depth of 20 feet and while
going at full speed at that depth re-
versing her course. Subsequently the
engines were stopped and the vessel
was submerged to a depth of 20 feet.
There she was kept motionless, a
demonstration of her ability to re-
main in that position for hours
while awaiting an opportunity to
launch one of her torpedoes at YES
sci of blockading squadron which
might be passing or re-passing a CIV
en- point.
After many maneuvers had been
performed, Lieutenant Nelson ordered
all lights on board to be extinguish-
ed to demonstrate how thoroughly
the members of his crew knew their
business. They worked perfectly in
the darkness, evidently with as much
skill and ease as if they performed
their duties in the glare of the cleo
trio light.
In describing his experience to-
night, President Roosevelt expressed
great satisfaction with the manner in
which the tiny vessel was managed.
He remarked particularly on the pos
sibilities of the submarine torpedo
boats in actual warfare. Tomorrow
at $3.50 in the morning the Plunger
will go out to the sound for another
test trip. The president and MRS
Roosevelt, with a party of friends,
will attend the maneuvers of the YES.
sci from the deck of the Sylph.