Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-11-30
FIRST SUBMARINE.
The American Turtle Was Tried
Out at New York In ITS.
GAVE THE BRITISH A SCARE.

Her Attempt 70 Blow Up the English
Frissts Asia Didn't Succeed. but the
Ensmy's Ships Fled In Tsrrer-tisr
Second Eseapade Sealed Her Fate.
The American Turtle deserved a bet
ter fate. II WAS the first submarine
war vessel of\the Unite. States. II
was tried out IN 1y76 in New York
harbor. Its inventor aud builder was
David Bushnell or Connecticut. OF
whom little Is known. The man who
went under water with IL 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 II was
raised and taken back to its 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 Its oaken. pitch
smeared timbers were put to struc-
Bushnell did not get even a tardy re-
ward for his inventiveness- The coun-
ell of safety of Connecticut In 1TT7 di-
rected that he be paid ECO for bis
services in annoying ships" but there
is no record that be ever got the
money.
Here Is the story OF the American
Turtles first exploit as II Is told In
the quaint phraseology Of the yellow
ing manuscript where It was set down
long ago:
when the British neet 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. 4 brother of the In
ventor was to operate the machine. but
on trial he declined TO hazard his 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-
ntes In the secret took their stations
upon the roof OF Il house ON Broad
way. anxiously awaiting the result
| Morning came, but no intelligence OF
the bold navigator. While the anxious
| spectators were about 10 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 q waterspout. which
! aroused the whole city. The enemy
ships took the alarm. cut their cables
and proceeded to the Hook with al
possible dispatch. sweeping their bot
toms with chains and with dificulty
preventing their affrIghted crews from
lea ping overheard.
Colonel Lee. coming TO the surface
during this scene OF CONSERVATION
was obliged again 10 descend 10 AVOID
the enemy's shot from the island.
After forcing his machine against &
strong current under water he LANDED
safe at the Battery amid a grea
crowd. Genera Washington express
ing himself as much pleased that tn,
object was effected without the loss o.
life.
Colonel Lee had been under tn,
Asia more than two hours endeavor
ing to penetrate her bottom. which. be
. ing sheathe with copper. resisted III
! attempts to attach the magazine t
the ship"
Apparently the American Turtl
: made one moro attempt to ''anney tn
enemy's shipping" before she ended he
career. Another old diary preserved b
q Connecticut family mentions r5is In
cident 1t seems that the Turtle
manned by some nameiess hero, pei
haps again by Colonel Lee. though til
chronicler does not state. made an a
tempt TO blow up British ship In III
East river. BY this time the BIRTHS
appear to have discovered what natuI
Of craft 1t. was that had essayed TO d.
: stroy the Asia and 80 were on II
lookout for anything suspicious til,
: disturbed the surface Of the water. !
any rate, the American submarine WI
discovered before she had made an
progress on her second mission OF d
struction.
The British boats gave chase. Co
:. sidering that the ma ximum speed
the Turtle was three miles an hou
the pursuit could not have been u vel
long one. At any rate. al America
vessel probably some small schOOue