Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-08-31
President Roosevelt Took q Plunge
in the PIunger.
WAS UNDER WATER FIFTY MINUTES,
In order to Make q PERSONAL IN
spectiOn Of the Submarine
Torpedo Boat at Close
Range.

pIunper He was aboard the Vessel
about three hours At one ume tne
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
his delight at the novel experience
and said that he was immensely I'M
pressed with the boat and with the
manner In which she was handled.
In thus Drawing the dangers OF suoma-
rine maneuvering, the president has
eudeared himself TO naval officers and
men the world over and made Lieut.
Charles H. Nelson, commander OF the
Plunger, the proudest and happiest
4 man in the United States navy.
The presidents intention not only to
make a personal inspection Of the tiny
vessel likely to prove 80 deadly In
naval warfare, but to make a subma-
rine descent in It was reached after q
conference with Lieut.. Nelson
The Plunger's commander explained
to President Roosevelt the operations
of the boat and assured him that q
| trip on her and descent into the
depths Of Long Island sound would be
az devoid Of danger as would be trip
on a New York subway express train
The president long has desired to
watch the operations of a submarine
torpedo boat at close range and, be-
fore this would have made trip In
one had be not been deferred from TAX
ing the risk by the advice OF his
friends and official associates Con-
WINGED by the logic of Lieut. Nelson.
he arranged to take q trip on the Plum
ger, and 10 have the little vessel per-
form all her wonderful feats while he
was on board.
The special trial Of the boat with the
president on board took place between
three and six o'clock Friday afternoon
in Long Island sound, Just of the en-
trance to Oyster Bay. Shortly after
three o'clock the president went on
board the Plunger IN one OF the
launches Of the naval yacht Sylph
which he boarded at the J. West Roose-
welt pier.
As soon O. the president had de-
scended into the boat, the manholes
were closed and, conveyed by the
naval tender Apache the Plunger
started for the sound No maneuvers
were attempted until the vessel was
we'll beyond the entrance TO the bay.
A stifR northeast breeze, which had
been blowing since Thursday night
kicked up q heavy sea in the sound
but the PlungeF behaved beautifully.
The water where the trial took place
Is about 40 feet deep, too shallow In
the opinion Of Lieut. Nelson and his
experts to enable the vessel to do her
best work. Soon after the vessel
reached necessary depth Of water she
was directed downward until she
rested on the bottom Of the sound.
Then the mechanism Of the craft was
explained infinitely to the president by
the lieutenant so that afterward the
president experienced no difficulty In
understanding the maneuvers which
were performed.
While the president thus was resting
on the bottom Of the sound in sub
marine boat, q storm 40 feet above
him was raging unnoticed. The rain
descended in torrents and the north
easter whipped the surface Of the
water into big rollers, but II was as
quiet and peaceful where the president
sat az an easy parlor would be-
| Explanations Of the working Of the
vessel having been completed, Lieut.
Nelson began to put her through her
PAGES. From the bottom porpoise div
ing was tried. that Is, the boat would
ascend TO the surface Of the sound
for several seconds. long enough ia
enable her commander to sight any
warship that might be within view
and then dive again Immediately.
After this maneuver had been 70
peated q few times, the Plunger was
sent down q distance Of 20 feet below
the surface and her engines stopped
Then the engines were reversed and
the boat assembled to the surface back
wards. Lieut. Nelson made his boat
perform the remarkable feat Of diving
to a depth Of 20 feet and while going
. at full speed at that depth, reversing
her course. The complete turn occu'
pied only one minute. Subsequently
the engines were stopped and the yes
sci was submerged to a depth Of q
!. feet. There she was kept motionless
3 q demonstration Of her ability to re
I main in that position for hours whit
I awaiting an opportunity to launch on
; Of her torpedoes at q vessel Of a block
aiding squadron which might DO pass
s ing or re-passlng at a given point
! After many maneuvers had been per
d formed Lieut. Nelson ordersd all light
Q oY-board 10 be extinCtnsbeG % uemou
: strate how thoroughly the member
Of his crew knew their business. The,
worked perfectly IN the inly darkness
evidently with Is much skin and cas-
: az they performed their duties in Ii
glare Of the electric light
During the operations Of the Plunge
I the tender Apache remained within
short distance prepared to render an
,.ufrfanca that mfrht ha Necessary