Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-11-18
FIRST SUBMARINE,
The American Turtle Was Tried
Out at New York In l776.
GAVE THE BRITISH A SCARE.

OHtG tUE LntitOfi OCNnE.
Her Attempt TO Blow Up the English
Frisats Asia Didn't Succeed, but the
Enenny's Ships Fled In Terror--tIsr
Second Eseapade Sealed Her Fate.
The American Turtle deserved bet
ter fate II was the first submarine
war vessel Of the United Suites. II
was tried out in i776 in New York
harbor It's inventor aud builder was
David B1shnel Of Connecticut. OF
whom little Is known. The man who
went under water With II aud IN New
York bay tried to blow up the British
frigaie Asia. under General Wishing
tons orders. was Colonel Ezra Lee.
The Turtle was built at Saybrook
Conn. After its vlcissitudes Of being
captured. sunk aud resting for years at
the bottom Of the East river it was
raised and taken back to It's birthplace
There. after more years. Il 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 Is 0aken, 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 invenuveness. The coun
ell of safety Of Connecticut IN i1i7 d.
rected that be be paid f20o for big
services in annoying ships.r but there
is no record that be 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 fleet 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 submarine curiosity called
the American Turtle. which received
General Washington's approval for
that purpose. A brother uf tue IN
ventor was to operate the machiue Int
on trial he declined 70 hazarl BITS sery
ice. Colonel Lee. disiinaai.hl f9r hl~
courage and pairinIisni iaafiYgisl
his services. and after pFa ila with
the machine to discover rs powers a.
night was Fixed upon for the riieaat
General Washington and his asset
ates In the secret took their statanas
upon the roof Of house en Broad
way. anxiously awaiting the result
Morning came. but no intelligence 20
the bold navigator While the anxieus
spectators were about TO give him uA
as lost several barges were seen rpi
start suddenly from Governors islaEd
then in possession of the British and
move toward some object near the
Asia. ship Of the line. aud as sutldaalY
they were seen to put about and steer
for the island with springing oars. u
two or three minutes I'm explosion
took place from the surface of the wa-
ter. reselshHsnfa waterspout. vhE'li
aroused tie Whole city. The enemys
ships took the alarm. cut their e;a1les
and proceeded to the Hook X 81
possible dispatch. sweeping thAT bot
toms with chains and with difficulty
preventing their aGrighted crews from
leaping overheard.
Colonel Lee. coming to the surfap
during this scene Of Consideration
was Obliged again to descend to ag
the eneny's shot from the lslaH
After forcing his MA hine agshisg
strong current under water he hand
tafe At the Battery amid gre
crowd. General Washington expre
ing himself as much pleased thai tip
object was effected without the loss
life.
Colonel Lee had been under ill
Asia more than two hours endeavar
ing to penetrate her bottom. which g.
ing sheathel With copper, resisted il
attempts to attach the msgazine
the ship"
Apparently the American Turtle
made one more attempt To annoy the
enemy's shipping before She ended he
career. Another old diary preserved IS
Connecticut family mentions this ii
cident. II seems thar the Turi
manned By some nameless hero, pc
haps again by Colonel Lee, though IL
chronicler Goes NOT state. made an
tempt to blow up British ship in I'll
East river BY this time the Rriiis
appear 10 have discovered what natn
of craft Ii was that had essased 10 Gs
stroy the Asia and SO were %
lookout for anything suspicious tt
disturbed the surface OF the water y
any rate. the American submarine VII
discovered before she had made nh
progress on her second mission of DE-
siruetion.
The Brltlah boats gave chase. Coz
Eidering that he maximum speed
the Turtle was three miles an hes
the pursuit. eoe,d not have been vel
long one. AT any rate. an AneFle
vessel. probably some small sch0oal
was waiting for he submarine, aue
the Turtle red thither for protection
Hastily the odd locking craft wa
hoisfed aboard. san was set, and thi
American boat tried TO show clean
pair of heels 10 her pursuef, 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 wal
was over. however. the ship was raised
and the Turtle was recovered and ear
ried back to saybrook II every onc
else bad forgotten her and her aehiete
ments by hat time the people Of ref
inventors native town still held H..
Turtle in affeciionaie remembrance
Thaddeus S. Dayton in Boston Post