The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-02-07
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
Frisate Asia Didn't Succeed, but the
Enemy's Ships Fled In Terror-Her
Second Eseapade Sealed Her Fate.

Z
Second Esearade Sealed Her Fate.
The American Turtle deserved a bet
ter fate. 1t was the first submarine
war vessel of the United States. 1t
was tried out in 1716 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 it 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 ard resting for years ut
! the bottom of the East river ii was
raised and taken back to its birthplace.
There. after more years. it was taken
/ 20 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-
( turaI 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 lII di-
rec;ed 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 phnseOlogy 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 in
! vented a submarine curiosity called
| the American Turtle. which received
Genera! Washington's approval for
/ that purpose \ brother Of the in
ventOr was to operate the machine. but
OH 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 a
night was fixed upon for the attempt.
! General Washington and his associ-
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 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 and with difficulty
preventing their affrighted crews from
+ leaping overheard.
Colonel Lee. coming to the surface
during this scene Of CONSERVATION.
was obliged again to descend to avoid
the enemy's shot from the island.
( After forcing his machine against a
strong current under water he landed
safe 1T 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 sheatheu 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
Connecticut family mentions this in
cident. 1t seems that the Turtle,
manned by some nameiess hero, per-
haps again 10y Colonel Lee. though the
chrOnicler does not state. made an at
tempt TO blow up 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 OH 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-
sidering 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 lied thither for protection.
Hastily the odd looking craft was
hOisted aboard. sail was set. and the
American boat tried to show clean
pair Of heels to her pursuer, but il was
Shn hA .,