The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-23
LIFE ON A SUBMARINE.


The first impressions received on de-
scending into the hold of 4 submarine
are those of discomfort and suffoca-
ton. The accommodations for a crew
of thirteen seem about right for half
a dozen. one is i'm too close proximity
to whirring machinery - enjoy the
sensation
on all sides are arranged electrical
devices and machinery to operate the
craft and the torpodoes, says Harpc"s
Weekly. A thin shell of steel separ-
ates the visitor from the torpedoes, and
the outside water is so close that one
can almost feel its moisture.
When under way on the surface the
Submarine huns and trembles. The
fumes of gasoline are almost suffocat-
ling. There is no escaping from them.
Some of the men contract what is
called gasoline heart" If under
water too long the fumes make one
sick and dizzy.
| A novice cannot remain in a sub
marine under water for any great
length Of time without suffering ex-
cruciatirg torture. In time, however,
one gets used to it and trip may
be one of enjoyment.
But IL is when the submarine dives
that the most unpleasant symptoms
come. There are ten compressed air
tanks supplied and these furnish suf-
lhcient air to keep the crew alive a
| .....-a inf did
live on compressed air? If not it will
Ibe a new sensation, especially if you
lare fifty feet below the surface of the
water There is a tingling sensation
all over the body, a pounding of the
ear drums and possibly a sense OF
nausea.
AS the air is automatically regulated
from the compressed air tanks one
lgets his share Of the oxygen, but
sometimes the supply may vary. II
lcertainly does i'm different parts of the
ship. one may be choking for lack OF
good air in one part and be cXhilar-
lated by a too abundant supply in an
lother.
Sometimes when the engines are
running to charge the batteries tho
fumes of the gasolenc become Sc
strong that men are rendered uncon'
scious. They must be taken up on decl
then to get Whit of fresh air.
For this reason the batteries are
lonly charged when above the water
But in time of war it might be neces
lsary to charge them while running be
How. Then indeed the man aboar'
the submarine might envy the aeria
navigator flying above the sea with hi
abundance of fresh air to breathe.
Cooking under water is pretty un
certain and disagreeable work. Th'
only appliance for this purpose is
lsmall electric heater. This is jus
about big enough to heat water t,
make cup of coffee, and nothing else
The crew have their food cooked
aboard the tender.
The submarine Is built on the prin
ciple of economlzing space in every
Thing. r'Ncrc g. 20 rocT fer arythinl
except the actual necess'tc~ cry
inch OF space is given over TO ma,
Ichinery. This is everywhere compac
land efficient, but multiplied so Otter
that one wonders what it is all for
There is machinery for running thu
boat. for guiding it under water, fo'
controlling 1t when IL dives. for com
pressing the air tanks, for regulatinl
the torpedoes and even for regplatinl
1.-THE power of vision above and below
water. when caught in a storm in
submarine life is really not worth liv'
ing. II consists Of a series OF intense
Istruggles to prevent death by beinl
battered against steel walls or to keel
lfrom becoming involved in whirrinI
wheels and dynamos.