The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-11-29
FIRST SUBMARINE.
The American Turtle Was Tried
Out at New York In 1776.
GAVE THE BRITISH A SCARE.

Enemy's Ships Fled In Terror-Her
Second Eseapade Sealed Her Fate.
The American Turtle deserved a bet.
ter fate. 1t was the first submarine
war vessel of the United States. 1t
was tried out in 1776 in New York
harbor. Its inventor and builder was
David Bushnell of Connecticut, of
whom little is known. The man who
went under water with 1t and in New
York bay tried to blow up the British
frigate Asia. under General Washing
toms orders, was Colonel Ezra Lee.
The Turtle was built at Saybrook.
Conn. After its vicissitudes of being
captured, sunk and resting for years at
the bottom of the East river 1t was
raised and taken back to its birthplace.
There, after more years. it was taken
to pieces. Its metal went into grand
fathers clocks. which are still ticking
in the Railways of New York and New
England homes. Its oaken. pitch
smeared timbers were put to struc-
tural uses and all trace of them lost.
Bushnell did not get even a tardy re-
ward for his inveniveness.r The coun-
ell of safety of Connecticut in 1777 d.
rected that he be paid f2O0 for his
services In annoying ships" but there
is no record that he ever. got the
money.
Here is the story Of the American
Turtles first exploit as it is told in
the quaint phraseology Of the yellow
ing manuscript where 1t was set down
long ago:
, when the British feet lay in the
North river. opposite the city of New
York. and while General Washington
had possession of the city he was
very anxious to be rid of such neigh
bors. David Bushnell of Saybrook in
vented a submarine curiosity called
the American Turtle. which received
General Washington's approval for
that purpose A brother of the in
ventor was to operate the machine. but
on trial he declined to hazard bis serv-
ice. Colonel Lee. distinguished for his
courage and patriotism. volunteered
his services. and after practicing with
the machine to discover its powers
night was fixed upon for the attempt
General Washington and his associ-
ates In the secret took their stations
upon the roof of a house, on Broad
way, anxiously, awaiting the result
Morning came, but no intelligence of
the bold navigator. While the anxious
spectators were about to give him up
as lost several barges were seen to
start suddenly from Governors island
then In possession of the British. and
move toward some object near the
Asia, ship of the line, and as suddenly
they were seen to put about and steer
for the island with springing oars. In
two or three minutes an explosion
took place from the surface of the wa
ter. resembling a waterspout. which
aroused the whole city. The enemy's
ships took the alarm, cut their cables
and proceeded to the Hook with all
possible dispatch. sweeping their bot
toms with chains and with difficulty
preventing their affrighted crews from
leaping overheard.
Colonel Lee. coming to the surface
during this scene Of CONSERVATION.
was obliged again to descend to avoid
the enemy's shot from the island.
After forcing his machine against a
strong current under water he landed
safe at the Battery amid a great
crowd. General Washington express
ing himself as much pleased that the
object was effected without the loss of
life.
Colonel Lee had been under the
Asia more than two hours endeavor
ing to penetrate her bottom, which, be-
ing sheathed with copper, resisted all
attempts to attach the magazine to
the ship"
Apparently the American Turtle
made one more attempt to annoy the
enemy's shipping before she ended her
career. Another old diary preserved by
a Connecticut family mentions this in
cident 1t seems that the Turtle,
manned by some nameless hero, per-
haps again by Colonel Lee, though the
chronicler does not state, made an at
tempt to blow up British ship in the
East river. BY this time the British
appear to have discovered what nature
Of craft it was that had essayed to de-
stroy the Asia and so were on the
lookout for anything suspicious that
disturbed the surface of the water. At
any rate, the American submarine was
discovered before she had made any
progress on her second mission of de-
struction.
The British boats gave chase. Con-
sidering that the maximum speed Of
the Turtle was three miles an hour,
the pursuit could not have been very
long one. AT any rate, an American
vessel. probably some small schooner.
was waiting for the submarine, and
the Turtle fled thither for protection.
Hastily the odd looking craft was
hoisted aboard. sail was set. and the
American boat tried to show a clean
pair of heels to her pursuer. but 1t was
in vain. She was sunk by the English
guns
For long time the Turtle lay In the
submerged vessels hold. After the war
was over, however. the ship was raised
and the Turtle was recovered and car
ried back to Saybrook. If every one
else had forgotten her and her achieve
ments by that time the people of her
inventors native town still held the
Turtle in affectionate remembrance
Thaddeus S. Dayton in Boston Post