The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-13
FIRST SUBMARINE.
The American Turtle Was Tried
 Out at New York In 1776. .
GAVE THE BRITISH A SCARE.

Her Attempt to Blow Up the English
 Frigate Asia Didn't Succeed, but tho
 Enemy's Ships Fled In Terror-Her
 Second Escapade Sealed Her Fate.
 The American Turtle deserved bet ter fate. It was the first submarine war vessel of the United States. It was tried out in 1T76 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 toh's 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 it 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. It's 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 inventiveness. The coun- ell of safety of Connecticut in TIT di- 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 1t is told in the quaint phraseology of the yellow lng manuscript where it 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 a submarine curiosity called the American Turtle. which received General Washington's approval for that purpose. \ brother of the in- ventor was to operate the machine. but on trial he declined to hazard his serv. tee 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 ass0ci- ates in the secret took their stations upon the roof of 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 md with difficulty preventing their affrighted crews from leaping overheard.
 Colonel Lee. coming to the surface during this scene of consternation. was obliged again to descend to avoid the eneIny's shot from the island. After forving 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. It seems that the Turtle. manned by some nameless hero. per- haps again by Colonel Lee. though the chronicler does not state. made ana tempt to blow up d 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 sideiing 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 it was in vain. She was sunk by the English guns.