Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-14
FIRST SUBMARINE.
The American Turtle Was Tried Out
at New York in 1T76.

The American Turtle deserved a
hetter fate. 1t was the first submarine
war vessel of the United States; -
was tried out in 1875 in New fork
harbor. Its inventor and pullaer "as s
Doyid Rushnell Of Connecticut, ol
wbom little is known. The man VINO
vent under water with 1t and In New
YORK bay tried to blow up the Britlsti
frigate Asia, under General Wasliiie
toms orders, was Col. Ezra Lee;
The Turtle was built at Say
Conn. After it's vicissitudes ol peS
90 injured. sunk and resting Tor years
30 Tho bottom of the East river 1t was
aaisad and taken back to its birthplace.
There. after more years, it was taken
to nieces. Its metal went into granu-
sether's clocks, which are still tcKins
IN the hallway of New York ana New
england homes. Its oakeh' pilo'
smeared timbers were put 10 slluI-
tmroI uses and all trace of them losl.
bushnell did not get even a taruy re-
ward for his inventiveness. The coun- =
oil Of safety Of Connecticut IN
directed that he be paid t2Oo Lor ms
services in annoying ships pu. p
there Is no record that ne ever so'
tho money. ~ ,r,erican
Turtles first exploit as II Is toiu In
the quaint phraseology OF the yeilom,
ing manuscript where 1t was SET oo"h
long ago: a. ,o,, ,n the
North river. opposite the city OF New
work and while General Washlng-
TON had possession Of the city ne was
very anxious to be rid of such nelgn-
bors David Bushnell Of Saybrook IN,
wanted a submarine curiosity calleo
the American Turtle, which received
General Washington's approval LOT
that nurpose. A brother OF the IN
ventor was to operate the machihe,
hut on trial he declined to hazara ms
service. Colonel Lee, distinguished
for his courage and patriotism, VOL
unteered his service, and after prac-
ticing with the machine TO discover
its powers a night was fixed upon lor
the attempt. IL. osso-
ciates in the secret took their slatloiis
upon the roof of a house on broau
way, anxiously awaiting the result
Morning came, but no intelligence Oh
the hold navigator. While the anxious
snectators were about to give him up
as lost several barges were seen 10
start suddenly from Governors IS
land. then in possession OF the Brltlsn'
and move toward some object near the
Asia. ship of the line, and as suddenly
thew were seen to put about ana steer
for the island with springing oars. In
two or three minutes an explosion
took place from the surface or the
water. resembling a waterspout, Whlch
aroused the whole city. The enemys
ships took the alarm, cut their caples
and proceeded to the Hook with all
possible dispatch, sweeping their DOT
toms with chains and with dihculty
preventing their affrightened crews
from leaping overheard.
face during this scene of 'consterna-
tion, was obliged again to descend TO
avoid the enemys shot from the IS
land. After forcing his machlne
against a strong current under water
he landed safe at the Battery amid
great crowd General Washington
expressing 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, Whlch,
being sheathed with copper, resisted
all attempts to attach the magazine
to the Ship
Apparently tIe AiHeIiSdii iui|
made one more attempt to annoy
the enemy's shipping before she end
ed her career Another old diary
preserved by a Connecticut family
mentions this incident. 1t seems that
the Turtle, manned by some nameless
hero, perhaps again by Colonel Lee,
though the chronicler does not state,
made an attempt to blow up British
ship in the East river. By this time
the British appear to have discov-
cred what nature Of craft 1t was that
had essayed to destroy the Asia and
so were on the lookout for anything
suspicious that disturbed the surface
of the water. At any rate, the Ameri-
can submarine was discovered be-
fore she had made any progress on
her second mission Of destruction.
The British boats gave chase. Con-
sidering that the maximum speed of
the Turtle was three miles an hour,
the pursuit could not have been a
very long one. At any rate, an Ameri-
can vessel, probably some small
schooner, was waiting for the subma-
rine, 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 1t was in vain. She was sunk by
the English guns.
For a long time the Turtle lay In
the submerged vessels hold. After
the war was over however, the ship
was raised and the Turtle was re-