Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-02
FIRST SUBMARINE.
The American Turtle Was Tries
Out at New York In 1776.
GAVE THE BRITISH A SCARE.

The American turtle deserved be!
ter fate. 1t was the first submarine
war vessel of the United States. II
was tried out in 1776 In New York
harbor. It's inventor and builder was
David Bushnell of Connecticut, of
whom little is known. The man whu
went under water with it and In New
York bay tried to blow up the British
frigate Asia. under General Washing
tons orders. was Colonel Ezra Lee.
The Turtle was built at Saybrook
Conn. After its vicissitudes Of being
captured. sunk and resting for years ut
the bottom of the East river 1t was
raised and taken back to its birthplace
There. after more years, 1t 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 inventiveness. The coun
Gil of safety of Connecticut in 1711 di
rected that he be paid 600 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 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 i'll
vented submarine curiosity called
the American Turtle. which received
General Washngton's approval for
that purpose. \ 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 ard after practicing with
the machine to discover its powers Il
night was fixed upon for the attempt
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 We're about to give him "
rs lost several harCcs were seen to
start suddenly frul 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 Srrnging oars In
TWO or three minutes an explosion
.Cnk place from the surface of the wa
ter. resembling wlterSpout. which
aroused the whole city. The cnemy's
ships took the alarm. cut their cables
and proceeded to the Hook with all
possible dispatch. SWcepn! their bot
TOMS with chains and with difficulty
preventing their AltriGhtod crews from
leaping overheard
Colonel Lee. coming to The surf Q
during this scene # CONSIDERATION
was Obliged again to descend to AVOID
he cnemy's shot from the island.
After forcing bis ma hine az inst
strong current under water he landed
afe Mt the Battery amid great
crowd, General Washington express
ing himself as much pleased thai the
object was effected without the loss of
life.
Colonel Lee had been under the
Asia more than two hours enieavur-
ing to penetrate her notion. which. be
in" sheathcd 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
Il Connecticut family mentions this in
cilent. 1t seems that the Turtle.
manned by some nameless hero. per-
haps again by Colonel Lee. though the
chronicler does not state. made an 1T
tempt to blow up II 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 - We're on fl,
lookout for anything slkpit ious thai
disturbed the surface of the water At
my 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
>idprinr that the ma Ximum speed Ot