The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-16
ROTO TAKEN AZ COTTON or The SEA


through tho heavy glass window. the
other to act as lookout and to give or
dcrs to the deck crow overhead. SIM
pie ventilating device freshens the air,
50 that one may remain below indefi-
nitcly.
| 1t should he explained that tho raising
| and lowering of the observation cham
| Der is controlled by two chains that arc
| attached TO the chamber and run up TO
chain hoists on the deck. which shift
the position of the chamber. following
the wish of the observers below. AS the
tube is heightened for deeper and deeper
lowering into the ocean its bottom folds
are more and more squeezed together
under the increasing water pressure I'M
til at considerable depths, a section OF
tube that would be eleven feet long when
fully extended land would weigh toni
is compressed into about three feet, and
still weighs ton. In other words,
through this compacting given length
Of tube becomes heavier as it sinks deep
or, and this automatic adjustment in
surcs the proper balancing of the tube
in the sea.
Before explaining further the con-
struction and operation of this deep sea
tube. | may mention that Capt. William:
son had no thought of submarine motion
pictures when he made his invention.
His purpos" WAS to provide means OF
descending info tlp nht in
sronecs. pearls. lost treasure, etc. or to
examine and repair the hulls of vessels;
in fact. the captain saw so many appl
cations Of his tube, each requiring sep
aratc patent protection, that several
years passed. after tho first model had
been successfully tried, before any prac
teal results were obtained.
In the summer of 1872 however. came
a memorable evening when the captains
eldest son. Ernest Williamson. who was
then working as a cartoonist and photog-
rapher on the Nirginian Pilot the was
about twenty mine at this time) happened
to think of the sunken cities of Yucatan.
He was passing a tall apartment house
in Norfolk as the sun was setting, and
the steep side of the building seen in a
golden haze with long. slantins shadows
over it. suggested a mysterious fortress
under the sea. And this brought to his
mind some motion pictures of fish taken
in an aquarium tank. Then flashed the |
tube as a means of taking motion pic |
lures under the water? Straightway the |
Young man laid this idea before Capt. !
Williamson. who. strangely enough, took !
little interest in the plan; but he finally !,
agreed that such thing might be at
tempted. Whcrcupon Ernest secured the
cooperation of his brother. George Will
hanson. and these two. fired with youth
full enthusiasm. proceeded with ready in
dustry to work out Il new method of
taking submarine pictures.
AS quickly as possible the Williamson
tube was rugged up and lowered from the
barge Ada to n depth of about thirty
feet: but the waters of Norfolk Harbor
see through them for more than a few
feet in ordinary daylight. So the young
men decided to try artificial light and.
after some difficulties. they succeeded in
a large battery of tungsten
electric lamps so that these would con-
tinue to shine after they had been low
cred into the sea.
This being arranged, Ernest William
son climbed down through the tube into !.
the observation chamber and took UP his
position. with camera ready. behind the
heavy glass window. A baited line was
lowered, the electric lights were turned
busy swapping pictures of fish that
swarned about the strange apparatus.