The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-03
Submarine Made
Memorable Trip

Submarine S-5I was tied UP at her
dock at the foot o Union Square The
men working On the smooth deck OF
the vessel were wei drenched by the
alternate rain and fog. PREPARATIONS
9 were underway for a day on and I'M
der the sound The engines were dis
charsing, large quantities of smoke in
the process of battery charging Fin
ally the signal Of <+a1I aboard" was
given and crane lifted away the
g1ngplank the process OF getting away
from the dock was started The en-
gines by now were silenced and the
motors in use to back the craft down
toward the Stratford avenue bridge
so that she might make the turn to-
ward the mouth of the harbor.
The boat sid gracefully down the
harbor, past the bug light, through
sound After a few moments the en-
gines replaced the motors in order
that the strength of the batteries
might be conserved for the under
water work for wf6ch the engines are
OF NO use The vibrations began 10 be
felt more as the powerful engines
forged the boat raDidly ahead
The fog was still thick and as
the hot exhaust from the engines
reached the water it caused more
Steam, adding to the thickness OF the
started "fuH speed ahead and after
being tuned I'D for few minutes,
the start OF the -Four Hour Full
Speed trial was officially under way.
L
ed the spray to be thrown up high
over the boat and all except the cap
tain on the brf6ge and the lookout
at the bow made for the inside of the
vessel
The lookout was necessary because
Of the fog which ''hunE like a blanket
so thickly that it was impossible to
see more than a. length ahead The
siren sounded its shrin warning TO the
various small GRAFT and an oyster boat
was soon passed a short distance Off
the port side
During the four hours the wealth
er ran almost its entire length ga
nut OF variations rain fog sunshine,
cold, warm and chilly. A descent into
TIE engine room proved in most con-
elusive manner that the top was the
best place The noise was terrific and
some OF the men had their ear drums
protected by cotton stuffed tightly
into their ears
After the completion of the run the
Interesting part of the program was at
since old SIS stood on her stern but
the men aboard We're thinking each
OF his own duties The matches Were
closed and the engines stopped and
a gradual descent was begun. which
no one would have noticed if they
had not taken a look at the depth
gauges. The gauges showed that the
boat was, now rs feet under water.
Five dummy torDedoeS were find
IN quick succession while the boat
was going full speed ahead under the
surface A slight -DOuwf' and eaCh
was on its way to nowhere in parti-
cIllar- Lunch ala Sheffield was then
distributed in pasteboard boxes and
coffee was made in the galley by the
chief cook and -bott1e-waSher.
Up again, on the surface. Air clear
ing SLOWLY and then raining again
Looking over the side i'm the rain, the
circular black sides resem bling the
top. side section of tremendously
proportional smogestack- tapering
gracefully forward and aft.> Going
home everybody believes this the
very best part of the day, back to dry
clothes. bed. show warm supper or
Just home, that's all
Passing Penfield Reef hight. Press |
down the siren to shrek Home, |
home, Bridgeport Light, Locomoibile |
darkness. beautiful yacht. barges, |
Steamer CITY of Brocton- near the |
dock.
MAKE fast Gangp1ank On the !
dock Into the station Locker room. |
Change clothes Walk along freight
sheds. Water street, State street, Main |
street and then home Nice under the |
water but the good old dry land is !
the best place after all