Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-12
SUBMARINE ON BAR.
Octopus and CuttIefish Blow
Out Cylinder Heads.
FORMER IN GRAVE DANGER
Both, However, Are Pulled Off and
New in Navy Yard.
ACCIDENT HAPPENED FRIDAY
Secrecy Maintained by Navy officials
Regarding Mishap-Severe
Storm Experienced.
FORMER IN GRAVE DANGER
ACCIDENT HAPPENED FRIDAY

NEW YORK, October 12-That the
greatest danger which threatened the sub
marine fiotiila during the trip from New
York to League Island, ending Friday
night was the grounding of the Octopus
on Hen and Chicken shOal. outside the
Delaware breakwater, and the subsequent
blowing out OF two cylinder heads on the
little warship, thus placing the submarine
in danger of being sent to the bottom, be-
came known at the local navy yard yes
terGay.
The thrilling incidents which marked
the voyage of the flotilla and the many
dangers which they encountered. particu-
larry the grounding Of the Octopus, are
being kept secret as far as possible by
the officers of the submarines.
The submarine Cuttlefish. another MEM
ber OF the fotilla. was placed in similar
danger by the blowing out of a cylinder
head Had IL not been for the prompt &C
ton on the part Of officers and men OF the
Scorpion. the tender of the fleet, In rem
dering aid. the two submarines would
probably have foundered.
The accidents to the Octopus and Cut
fetish occurred early Friday morning in
a dense fog. which hung over the ocean
so thick that members of the little fleet
of warships were unable to see each
other.
octopus strikes Bar.
The submarines had just passed through
a thrilling experience in storm off
Sandy Hook the day before, threatening
disaster to the feet. The Octopus. the
flagship of the fleet and the largest SUBJ
marine of the fotilla, was making its way
through the thick fog when the officers
and men suddenly felt jar and the
next moment the little warshp grounded.
Realizing the danger they were in.
the crew of the submarine worked in
the crowded quarters below in an effort
to get the Octopus off the shOal. All the
power and pressure that the little war
sh.r was capable of, was put on when
suddenly the cylinder heads of the
CINE blew out.
The high power used. besides blowing
out the cylinder head, imposed SO great
a pressure in the forward batteries, that
Gaping from the batteries. threatened
su6ocaton to the crew, and further
placed the Octopus in danger of blowing
up.
crew. despite the conditions and the
strain which they had been under from
the time they left New York. quickly
transferred the power to the other CYL
plished when the circulating pumps,
which had been in operation to keep the
hold free from gas, gave out.
The placed the submarine in still graver
danger. The disabling of the pumps pre-
vented the gas from being drawn out of
the compartment and the fumes which
were quickly accommodating caused those
aboard to fear an explosion of the en-
gines.
Hatchways and air holes were quickly
thrown open. While the power was shut
OF the gases were permitted to escape
by this means.
Cuttlefish Breaks Cylinder.
During the thrilling incidents which
marked the grounding Of the Octopus the
Cuttlefish was endeavoring to make it's
way through the fog with broken clyin-
der head also. Fortunately for both SUBJ
marines the tender Scorpion came to
their rescue and managed to get both the
disabled vessels in tow with a hawser.
The Octopus. which was resting lightly
on the shoal. was drawn off, and, to-
Sether with the Cuttlefish, was towed to
League Island.
The feet had originally started out with
the Yankee as q mother boat for this port.
expecting to arrive to take part in the
naval pageant. Just after the fiotilla left
Newport the Yankee went aground in
Buzzards bay.
From there the hotilla made it's way
without q tender to New York. where the
sunboat Hist was ordered to convoy them
to this city. The Hist had been out but a
few hours when its engines became dis
abled. necessitating the Octopus towing
II back to New York.
Then the Scorpion a converted gunboat
was selected to tender the submarines to
this city. They had expected to make the
trip In thirty hours and had only taken
provisions for that time.
The severe storm Off Sandy Hook threat
ened to engulf the fleet, and the fog and
disabling Of the Octopus and Cuttlefish
held the f1otilla up outside the break
water for many hours.