Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
BUILDER APPALLED,
At SINKING Of S-51
Sound Apparatus Should
Have Given Warning,
Simon Lake Says.
Special Dispatch to The star.


BRIDGEPORT. Conn, September
26.-Simon Lake, inventor of the even
keel type of subma rine. of which the
Ssh was one, and whose firm, the
Lake Submarine Boat Company, built
four submarines for the Government,
Of which the SOL was the last, was
appalled," here today when he
learned about the disaster.
He pointed out that the S-51 was
equipped with the latest electrical
sound detecting devices, designed to
give ample warning to those in the
control room of the approach of an
other vessel, so that they could
change their course while running
submerged.
The S-5l was the last ship in sub
marine boat construction and was
equipped with electrical devices to
permit the men in the control room
an opportunity to cha nge their course
if another vessel is bearing down upon
them.
Should Avoid Ships.
In the early days of the submarine
there We're many narrow escapes due
to the fact that ii is almost impossi-
BILE for the lookout of a steamship TO
pick out the line of white foam which
is left by the periscope of subma-
rine running submerged.
Two of the members of the crew OF
the Ssh formerly were employed by
the Lake Submarine Boat Company
here and helped build the S-51.
James NJ. Schoefield. q, radio opera
tor. first class, whose four-year enlist
ment period would have been up next
Friday. lived in this city.
with electrical sound-detecting APP
paratus the crew of a modern sub
marine should be able when the boat
is running submerged TO take steps
to get out of the way of an approach
ing vessel. even if the lookout on the
surface vessel has not seen the sub
marines periscope.
The inventor, commenting on the
accident, said:
Il can't understand how the S-5l
should be running submerged AT that
time in the evening. III the time OF
the collision was as reported from
New London it must have been I'M
POSSIBLE for the steamship lookout to
see the periscope of the submarine.
Occurring only 20 miles or so of
Block Island. it is probable that the
sea was covered with white caps and
the foam whipped up by the periscope
would undoubtedly have been lost
sight of at that hour of the night in
the midst of the white caps
Sister Ship Of SAB.
Mr.. Lake declared he had seen
motion pictures of the Sol running
half submerged only last week and
she seemed to him to be functioning
perfectly. He also said he had re-
cefved othing but good reports con-
corning her ever since she was
launched in August, 1921.
The S-51 was a sister ship of the
S-4S, which failed to come to the sur
face after she had made a quick dive
in response to her comma nder's or
ders miles off this city in Long
Island Sound on the morning Of
December (, 1921. Some one appar
emily failed properly to fasten deck
manhole cover when the S-4S sub
merged and the water rushed into the
engine room.
After II hours struggle with the
encroaching sea and the chlorine gas
fumes which the sea water generated
upon coming in contact with the bat
teries, the crew of the S48 managed
to tighten the bow sufficiently by
shifting the ballast and pumping air
into the emergency tank so that 1t
finally protruded 10 feet above the
water.
The entire crew OF the S-4S, num-
bering Al officers and men, were
reasoned