The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-16
SUBMARINES
SPEND 40 HOURS
UNDER WATER

Locked In the submarines Lake and Oc-
topus. more than a score OF men spent
yesterday afternoon and last night at
the bottom OF Narragansett bay and re-
mained there until this afternoon for the
purpose OF demonstrating the habitabil-
ity or the two submarines that have
peen undergoing the government COM
parative submarine boat tests under the
guidance or a specially appointed naval
irlal board. since April 80. in and about
lower Narragansett bay. -
None or the trial board was among
those who went below the surface for
the all-day test, the members deciding
that IL was hardly necessary for any OF
tnelr number TO submerge with tho
poats. and they therefore stayed on top
to watch and guard the spot where the
boats are lying TO see that neither OF
them came TO the surface, and also TO
prevent any preventable accident befalling
those under the sea.
Exactly % men subjected themselves TO
the test. these being the regular crews
OF the two boats. the Octopus OF the
Electric Boat company and the Lake OF
the Lake Torpedo Boat company. The
Octopus carried 10 beneath the surface
while the remaining eight went down on
the Lake, included In the number TO sub
merge being Capt Simon Lake, inventor
or the Lake type OF underwater fighter.
PLENTY OF FOOD
While under the water those In the
boats cook and prepare their meals. sleep
and amuse themselves during the long
test In any way they see At. and for this
purpose each boat carried below with II
a supply OF foods.uffs OF sort that
would not smoke when they were pre-
pared on the electric stoves with which
the boats are equipped: games OF vari-
Gus sorts. the morning papers OF yester-
day and various other articles for their
pleasure that would help 10 pass the long
hours away
RI a.fx2
accompanied by the Nina and several
other boats. including the two subma-
rines tenders, started UP the bay for
Bradford. the place the naval board had
tion both boats were given thorough
ventilation after the places had been as
signed where they were TO submerge. For
this the board had selected the slip be-
tween the coal shed and the government
dock, where at high water there is a
depth Of nearly 30 feet. which is sufficient
to have at least 10 feet OF water over the
boats even at low water.
The board ordered the boats sealed up
after they had been ventilated and 10 run
their engines and motors for four hours
10 determine IL there was any escape or
gases from them. and IL so what effect
they had on the atmosphere within the
boats. After this the boats were ordered
10 stop the engines and then drop to the
bottom OF the slip and remain there for
% hours In the submergence test.
. "
topus was sealed up. and the Lake soon
followed Each boat carried it's supply OF
compressed air. but IL was the intention
OF these inside to use only the free air In
the boats for breathing purposes, ana TO
test this air samples of IL are 10 be taken
In bottles. sealed and labeled every TWO
hours during the long test. this showing
the condition OF the atmosphere on the
boats at the different periods.
PERSONNEL OF CREWS.
The following is the crew OF the Octo-
pus: Frank T. Gable. captain; II. Monm.
mate; w F. Nindeman, gunner; j. w.
ing rudder; f. II. Payne, auxiliary kings
ton; G. Bergen. air valves: G. kuestel, ,
adjusting pumps; c. Morgan, main tank
kingston: G. b. Minor. engineer; c. Berg
strom. engineer; r. Phinney oiler; Z.
trician: H. S. Lathrop. electrician.
The crew OF the Lake follow: Simon
Lake. president OF the Lake Torpedo
Boat company; Edward 1. Peacock.
George L. Evans captain; j. X. T..
Meads. chief engineer; John Meehan,
assistant engineer: Edward @. Gallager,
electrical engineer; samuel ferguson
Last night the gunboat Hist and the
government tug Nina, with the trial
board on board, policed the vicinity OF
the government slip and the mouth OF
the slip was constantly under the light
of a powerful searchlight on the Hist,
this TO prevent any boat from approach
ing the spot where the boats lay at rest;
The submarine Octopus demonstrated
its underwater wireless system during
this test.
The Lake is equipped with a telephonic
system.
After the two submarines had sub
merged the members OF the trial board
turned their attention to a S7-foot model
of the Burger sub-surface boat which
they are to examine before they have