The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-11
RESCUE OF THE HOLLAND

From the Christian Science Monitor.
Irishman, who arrived in Boston in
1873, began his career in the United
States as a craftsman. Having for years
cherished the idea Of designing a subma-
rine vessel, and having secured finan-
cial assistance from friends, he succeeded
in constructing, in 1897, the Peacemaker,
the type now commonly in use, but his
Holland. a perfection of the Peacemaker
model, was constructed two years later
and has been called 1.-The mother of sub
marines This vessel was accepted by
the United States government and used
as a torpedo boat in the navy. She was
capable Of making 10 knots an hour on
the surface and of developing a speed
beneath the surface of four and half
knots an hour. At the time of her ac-
ceptance she was the talk of the country
and of the world.
Holland was not the first Of submarine
designers, of course. An inventor named
Day had launched boat of this class in
Plymouth sound more than 100 years
earlier. Robert Fulton. while in Paris in
1896, had experimental with underwater
craft. In 1853 a man named Delany in
Chicago patented an egg-shaped subma-
r.ne boat which came near meeting all
the conditions requisite. 1t had two
iron tanks. one for air. the other for
water. The engineer of the craft, by
pumping water out of or into the second
tank could lower or raise the vessel at
his pleasure. But the complications were
too many. Goubet. a Partisan, came so
close to success in the construction of a
submarine boat in 1882 that he received
an order from the Russian government
for 800 sets Of machinery. but. put to the
test, the model failed. Nordenfeldt. the
Swedish inventor, was another who al
most, but not quite. hit the right idea.
Later he became associated with Hol-
land, and the two improved upon the
original until the name Holland" and
submarine as applied to undersea ves-
sells became interchangeable terms. The
first Holland was used by the United
States government for many years, but
not long ago was pronounced Anticipated
and condemned.
DR.. Peter j. Gibbons and his son. Aus
tin Flint Gibbons Of New York. have
lcng been interested in the early history
of inventions. When the Washington
government decided to sell the Holland,
or. as it is commonly put, to scrap" her.
a former member Of her original crew.
Walter A, Hall of Elizabeth. N. J.. be-
came deeply concerned in the matter,
and communicated with the Messrs Glib
bcns. This led to the private purchase OF
the vessel at figure that has been
withheld. 1t is known. however. that her
price was determined by the value of the
old metal in her composition. She cost
about 100000; she brought probably
about s50O0 But as soon as she was pur-
chased her value was greatly enhanced.
A number of collectors made offers fol-
her: several cities wanted the mother
submarine for their museums. But Dr..
Gibbons and his son had plans for her
from the beginning of their negotiations
for her purchase. and the other day they
decided the Holland to the Museum OF
Peaceful Arts in New York city
Before the first of the modern sub.
marines finds permanent place in thia
museum she is to be exhibited for O
whole year In the Bronx international
exposition, which opens next May in
commemoration Of the three hundredth