New-York tribune., 1905-08-26
PRESlDENr ON PIUNGER.
UNDER WATER 80 MINUTES

icy Telegraph to The Tribune.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 25.-Presdent Roosevelt
went Gown in the submarine boat Plunger this
afternoon while IA strong northeast wind kicbad
np nasty sea and sent the whitecaps rolling
high over tie bay He was in the vesse, while
1t made several dives. and was under water all
together fifty minutes
He left Saganore Hill about 3 o'clock and
took the Syiphs launch the Dart. which carried
him TO the submarine, lying beside the tug
Apache The President went aboard at once
and the scutue was closed. Accompanie by the
Apache, the boat proceeded up the Sound to a
point opposite the entrance to oyster Bay. There
the Plunger was put through all of her PAGES
for the benefit Of the President She dove she
reappeared on the surface. she went forward
and then reversed her engines. both above and
below the surface. Finally every light was ex-
tingushed and the boat went through many of
her performances in total darkness
No one except President Roosevelt and Lieu
tenant Nelson, commander of the Plunger had
an inkling of his intention of taking trip in her
this afternoon, ard certainly one dreamed that
the President would go beneath the surface in
The face Of breeze which sent waves five feet
member of the crew who visited the village
after the trip said that the President ran the
boat" most of the time that he was aboard and
beneath the surface of the water
The President pulled the lever that controls
the whole machinery said ore of the Plunger's
sailors. He was tickled to death with every
thing and seemed to catch on in jiffy. He
worked the levers that let the water in fore and
aft, guided her. started her. stopped her. pressed
the hutton that put out the lights and then
lighted them again"
Altogether the President was on board for
three hours, fifty minutes of which were spant
beneath the surface
The first intimation that Acting Secretary
Barnes had OF the trip was at O'Clock this
evening. when he called UP Sycamore Hill to
learn the programme for to-morrows ex.edi-
ton. when the President will view the Plunger
from the Sylph. The President announced the
plan OF the manRuvres. and added:
Here's little story for the newspaper boys
went out on the Plunger this afternoon my
self went down in her. and was immensely
impressed with the boat and with the way in
which she was handled"
The President then described 10 Mr.. Barnes
the various movements Of the boat while he was
on board. A depth of thirty or forty feet was
reached before the Plunger struck bottom. Then
that is came to the surface for four five sec
ends long enough for the in command to
sight an enemy. and dove again. The Piunger
reversed her course in the space OF a minute
came to the surface, dove half way to the bot
TOM and there remained motionless, to show
how, n necessary. the boat could remain for
hours waiting for a blockading squadron to
reach a given point The lights were put out /
and the boat was man9uvred in the darkness to
show how thoroughly the crew knew their busi-
ness. and that they could work perfectly without
the aid Of a light
After the rnanpuvres the PIunger was brought |
back 10 her anchorage below Sycamore Hill |
Before leaving the submarine. President RoOse- |
Welt shook hands with Lieutenant Nelson and
the ten members of his crew and complimented
them on their skill and the ease with which
they worked their boat.