Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-28
Inventor of Submarine
Burton J. Hspdr1oE in wOria'. work


two. The dead John p Holland and he
will become immortal the inventor Of the modern
submarine
With the exception Of the submarine. Holland
had only one abiding enthusiasm lie ardent
Irish patriot his desire to Ireland freed
from English rule and made independent republic
His two ambitions supplemented each other. In con-
structins his first submarine Holland aimed at one
result: the liberation OF ireland from English rule
Born in County Clare in 1872 Hollands youth was
passed amid many the most stirring in the
nineteenth century Irish movement He passed HE
early years IN riot of absentee lsndordism
evictions and tenant disturbance; ant-English sen
ment, therefore his earliest inheritance. A boy
Of inquiring and Industrious mind. with particular
leaning toward mathematics and science, he received
excellent rudimentary education-enough
qualify a lay teacher in Christian Brothers
school It while teaching in such school that
his mind first turned toward submarines. In 1872
when Holland 20 years old, the Monitor fought
the Merrimac. Echoes Of the famous engagement
reached the quiet North Monastery at Cork where
Holland teaching The circumstance discouraged
him since II seemed to indicate continuance Of
British naval power. The event sgnified, the
youthful Holland reasoned, that the iron clad was
the warship OF the future; England. equipped with
fleet OF such vessels would absolutely fasten its naval
power upon the world That meant the pcstponement
OF the Hollands hesrt-that OF irish
freedom. Was there any way to destroy such fleet?
Holland had read Jules Verne: he also had heard OF
several attempts. notably those OF the Americans
David Bushnell Robert Fulton. to build sub
that could successfully challenge Engands naval
power In his solitary room in this Irish monastery
Holland worked over plans; he actually believed,
greatly to the amusement OF his clerical associates
that he had solved the problem OF underwater war
fare. Holland tried. then, to backing, but
one listened to the crazy boy.
In 1873 he came to Paterson " j.. as a teacher
in st. Johns Psrochal school Again submarines
occupied his mind completely than the educa-
tonal needs OF his charges And now the opportunity
seemed fairly have arrived. The Fenian excitement
had reached its height The Fenian Brotherhood
secret organization Of the most rSitant Irish ma
tonalists. Had It not been for the American civil
war indeed the Fenlan movement would probably
have gained little Roadway.
Irish patriots in America, mostly poor working
men and servant girls had contributed their pennies
and dimes to a collection known the Slirmishing
Fund-Money intended 60 be used for military OPP
erations against England. Holland now laid his sub
marine idea before the trustees who had about 3OoO
in the treasury. They appointed special committee
OF three-John ]. Bresin. who rescued stephens
the Fensn leader from Richmond prison in 1866.
Thomas F. Bourke. who had once been sentenced to
be hanged for high treason and John Dewey who had
five years in prison his patriotic activities
and who is the editor OF the Gaelic American
in New York. paper which still breaches rabid
antagonsm England and violently advocates the
German in the present
This committee of three decided to the skirm-
ishing fund to finance Hollands submarine. Holland
had to build two boats however. before he got
that fairly embodied his ideas. The first failed be-
cause OF faulty construction the machinery placed
so awkwardly that the vessel lay unevenly in the
water. the always resting somewhat higher than
the stern. This submarine. however, demonstrated
Of the principles stake. precisely
as had the unsuccessful boat OF few before.
II sank easily. stayed under the water at the
position desired the operator had difficulty In
breathing, and the compressed air chambers worked
exactly as the inventor had foreseen The practice
Irishmen encouraged that they decided TO
build boat, which would correct all the faults
Of the old This second vessel complete
All submarines TO that time had sunk
on keel. agonizng process that took ten
or fifteen mnutes-time enough for enemy's shot
to send It TO the bottom. But Hollands boat really
head first-takins only few seconds in the pro-
And now for several months Holland kept the
people on the waters around New York entertained
with his experiments The inventor had difficulty
In operating in all the waters about New York; his
boat handled easily deftly and safely the only troll
BILE being. always with the engine The
papers. which devoted columns to his underwater
voyages. dubbed the vessel the Fenian Ram,
more picturesque than descriptive II not
ram at ALL but a torpedo boat
Though Holland continued experimenting the
world heard little Of his submarine until 1890
Meanwhile mechancians in all countries especially
the United States and France. had worked the
problem and produced many boats. most of them
satisfactory In 1895 the United States advertised for
bids for a submarine to be built at the governments
expense Many plans were submitted; when tho best
was selected Il discovered that the inventor
Holland, OF the almost forgotten old Fenian Ram.
Holland obtained the contract; and the Plunger,
tied TO a dock at New Suffolk. L. l.. the result
And began Hollands protraeted struggles with
officials other professional people who
insisted improving his specifications
Holland disguised with the interference OF out
slders, made request to his company that
he be permitted construct one boat exclusively on
his plans and under his personal
vision. He willing 10 let the question OF success
failure be decided by this test His company
consented and the Holland representing his ideas,
constructed the Crescent shipysrds at Elisabeth
n j. In 1895. This vessel is probably the most i'm
portsnt warship constructed since the beginning
OF time. When 1t completed the submarine aues.
ton which had agitated naval experts for hundred
years was settled The submarine longer a
fad toy, a crazy idea OF amateurish inventors; IL
became In moment. Of the most terrible engines
OF practical warfare devised.
The boat was only fifty feet long; 1t carried only
one torpedo tube and Il amazed everybody with the
deftness with which It sailed In mobility II seemed
almost a thing alive; in diving skill, Holland himself
said. he had taken the porpose his model This
rapidly OF suhmerson, already noted, was the
quality which Holland regarded a important above
all others; speed and cruising radius desirable
but the ability TO TO the surface quickly take
observations. and drop below the before the
enemy could train a gun the prime essential 10
And this the Holland had in degree