The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-29

oyster Bay. August 25.-Tresident
Roosevelt late this afternoon made q
descent Ill Long Island sound on board
the submarine tcrpe 10 boat Plunger.
He was aboard the vessel about three
hours. At n time the little boat was
submerged for fifty minute:,. and in
that tisac Was put through all Of the
submarine feats Of which she is ca
l"atle. The President expressed de-
light at the navel experience. and aid
that he VAS l~lnnlense ely IMPRESSED with
she was handled. In thus Drawing
the dangers of submarine n~lanoeuver-
ing. the President has endeared him.
self to naval officers and men the
WCrlo ever. and made Lieutenant
Charles H. Nelson. commander of the
Flung"r. the proudest and happiest
man in the United States navy.
The Presidents intention no only
to make a personal Inspection of the
vessel. likely to prove SO deadly in ma
val warfare. but to make a submarine
descent in it. was reached after 2 con-
Terence With Lieutenant Nelson.
Inc ElungerS commander explain
ed TO President Roosevelt the opera
lions Of the boat and assured him that
a trip On her and a descent into the
Gcplhs Of Long Island sound would
be as devoid Of danger as would be a.
trip on a New York subway EXPRESS
tt lain.
AS 500 as the President had de-
scelided into the boat tho manholes
were closed. and conveyed by the
naval tender AGache. the Plunger
started for the sound.
No m~cneouVers were attempted un-
til the vessel was we'll beyond the en-
trance to the bay. A stiff northwest
breeze a been blowing Since last
night. ard kicked a heavy sea in the
sCuLd. but the Plunger behaved beau
titully. The waite: Where the trial
took place is about forty feet deep.
too shallow in the opinion of Lieutrn-
ant Nejson and his eXL"rts to enable
the vessel tt do her best work. Soon
after the vessel reached the necessary
depth Of waller she was directed down
ward until she rested on the bottom
of the sound. Then the mechanism
of the craft was explained
to he President Ey Lieutenant Nell
son. so that he aftcrWarl had no diff
Guilty in understanding the m~alloeuvers
which were performed.
While the President thus was rest
ing on the bottom of the Gun in a
submarine boat q storm forty feet
above him was raging urnoticed h
rain descended in torrents and the
n~orrheaster Whipped tn: surface Of
the water into big rollers. but it was
as quiet and peaceful whore the Presi-
de,it vas us a Darlor would be.
Explanation of the working Of the
yes sci having been completed. Lieu
tenant Nelson began to pat her
through her PAGES. From the bottom.
rtrroise diving was tried. that is. the
boat would ascend to the surface OF
the sound for several seconds lone
Enough to enable her commanded to
sight any warship that might be with
in view and then dive again immr1i-
ate.y. After this had been
repeated q few times the Flunger was
sent down a distance of 20 fee. 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 TerfCrm the remarkable FEAT
Of diving to a dcpth Of 90 feet and
while going at full speed at tina. deDth.
reversing her course. The complete
turn occupied only one minute Sub
s%eauently the ngine were stopped
ard the vessel was submerged to a
6epih of 20 feet. There she was kcps
motionless. giving a demonstration Of
her ability to remain IN that position
for hours while awaiting an %ont'ortu-
rity to aunch IN of her t%orbedoes at
a vessel of a blCckadiilg squadron
which might he passing or reDassing
a given point. After manoetIvers had
E.en performed. Lieutenant . Nelson
ordered all lights TN board to be ex-
trnguishcd to demonstrate how thor
ouehly the members of his crew knew
their business. They worked perfectlv
IN the inkv darkness. evidently with
as lnuch skill and ease as they per-
formed their duties in the glare of the
electric light
During the operations of the Piung-
err the tender Apache remaining within
a short distance. Drepared to render
cry assistance that might be neces-
sarv. She was not needed. however.
and the Flnnger returned to her moor
ings near the j. West Roosevelt pier
without an untoward incident. The
President shook hands with all the
crew as he lefI the vessel to return
to Sasamore Hill.