The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-09-03
TELEPHONE BUOY,
NEW WAR DEVICE,
SAVES SAILORS
Crew of Steamer Attracted by
Gong Off Buoy of Disabled
Submarine
SUBMERGED BOAT RAISED
A m a teur Wireless Operator
Spreads Help Call and
Steamers Race to Aid

Philadelphia, Sept. 3.-Radio
messages flashed from the army
transport, General Goethals, to
the Philadelphia navy yard told
of the rescue early today of the
officers and crew of the subma-
rine, SIS, after they had spent
nearly two days locked in the
disabled vessel beneath the At
lantic ocean, IS miles south of
Cape Henlopen. 1t was after
three o'clock this morning when
Lieut.. Com. c. M. Cook, who ex-
ercised his prerogative of being
the last man to leave his vessel
was taken aboard the steamer,
Alanthus. Nine hours had
elapsed since the plight of the
undersea boat had been made
public through a wireless call
picked up by an amateur opera
tor in Pennington, Conn.
Among those who responded to the
call Of the General Goethals was the
steamer Alanthus, which, with the ar
my transport, stood beside the SUD-
merged vessel and managed the army
to put cable about the submarine.
holding the submarine in vertical
position, a hole was bored and air
pumped to the crew. The air in the
submarine was practically exhausted.
Towing Submarine
The submarine SIS, which was par
TALLY flooded while making a dive
55 miles south Of Cape Henlopen is
being toWed to the Delaware break
water by the Alanthus.
The Alanthus is proceeding slowly
and is not expected to reach the Del
aware breakwater until about noon.
New Device Used
New York, Sept. 3.-The rescued
officers and men of the United States
submarine S-5, who were submerged
for more than AZ hours in their crin-
pied submarine off Cape Renlopen
owe their lives to, a hither too little
tested safety dash-the telephone
buoy-developing during the world
war. The steamer, plowing along the
course of the cape, cought the insist
ent clamor of a huge gong, sighted
a buoy where the mariners chart
showed no buoy ought to be, drew
closer and observed that there was
a telephone on the mysterious buoy.
A few minutes later the Goethals
had boat oversize and this message
came up:
"The submarine SIS has been sub
merged for 35 hours. Air is run
ming short. Machinery damaged. Send
for help"
The Goethals wireless flashed the
news ashore and within a short time
fleet destroyers and other naval craft
were rushing to the rescue. The
Goethals, in the meantime, got line
about the stern of the SIS, and draw
ing it to the surface, drilled a small
hole through the metal hole through
which air was pumped to the suffocat-
ing men until the submarine was pull
ed to the surface.
First Big Test
Yesterdays use of the telephone
buoy is said to have been the first
critical test to which the apparatus
had been put to since it's development
less than three years ago.
1t has been placed on but a few of
the newest submarines and many ma
val officers were ignorant even of
it's existence until it's dramatic entry
bo ,f ho
Action Explained
An officer attacked to the submarine
base at New London, Conn, explain
ed the operation Of the telephone
buoy to the Associated Press.
"The buoy with it's telephone and
signalling equipment, "he said" is
attached to the hull of submarine in
such a manner that it may be releas-
ed by an electrical control from with
in. When the buoy is released and
rises to the surface the gong capable
of being heard for mile goes into
operation"
The buoy also is equipped with
electric lights giving it even greater
signalling power in darkness.
when Lieut.-Commander Cook of
the S-5 realized while he was Grip
pled," said the officers, "all he had to
do was to push the telephone buoy
control and wait"
CREW SAFE
Washington, Sept. 3.-Informed by
wireless that all members Of the sub
marine SIS submerged off Cape Hen
lOpen had been rescued navy depart
ment officials today awaited further
details Of the rescue and a report
as to the cause of the submarines
disability.
The S-5 had been on special re-
cruiting duty at Atlantic ports. She
was commanded by Lieutenant-Com-
mander G.. NJ. Cook.
TOWING So
Boston, Mass, Sept. 3.-A message
from the Alanthus received today
said: "S-5 secured to Alanthus Fiji
teen feet of stern above water. Pos
sibly slight negative buoyancy. Nose
of boat on bottom. Towing S-5 to
Delaware capes. If Alanthus fails to
carry to the Bresas will do the tow