Evening star., 1931-12-06

cast which was being modelled about
the contours Of his body.
This is my latest experiment" said
Simon Lake, submarine builder and in
ventOr, now seeking new achievement
in the project to sink a diving tube
to the torpedoed Lusitania. 1t is a
diving suit. It should reYOlutiOnize
work on the bottom of the sea
The old suits are pOnderous, so
heavy a man has difficulty using them.
With this, which you might call a
form fit one should be able to move
around with ease
Invites Inspection.
Mr.. Lake suggested a look at hls
laboratory. and his eyes flashed with
enthusiasm-he was a boy about to eX-
hibit his toys. In a small room of a
two-story building behind the Lake
mansion there is a tank. feet by 3
feet which looks like a great fish
tank. At the bottom is the miniature
of q steamship, representing the Lusi-
tania. 1t is listed slightly to port.
On the surface floats a tiny traWler,
with a strange tubular device attached,
folded under it like a jackknife.
Nov watch" directed the inventor,
eager at the thought of a demonstra-
ton. He pulled strings at the end
of the tank The jackknife unfolded
and the equivalent Of the blade opened
slowly, descending until the entire tube
was upright, with the tip of the blade
resting on the deck of the sunken
vessel
That's all there is to it," said Mr..
Lake. Simple. isn't it? When the
tube has been lowered you simply climb
down the ladder to a comfortable glass
compartment in which there is no
pressure, and from that enter the div
ing cell where pressure is applied be-
fore the diver steps into the sea-
Has Own Museum.
A room adjoining that in which the
model is kept resembles a museum.
There are photographs of great men,
with friendly autographs; a check from
the United States Government for 10
cents, under one from the old Rus
sian government for $50O,0OO point
ing out" smiled Mr.. Lake, my ap-
parent relative value to each at the
time
Most priced Of his countless souvenirs
Is the Lutine Bible, named fer a ship
which foundered off the Dutch coast
nearly two centuries ago with millions
in gold bullion. It's bell still tolls at
LlOyd's in London to announce when
a vessel has been lost There are deli
cate models of craft of all types, and
souvenirs picked up from the ocean
bed.
Farther along the corridor is a work
shop. Even late at night a man was
busy before lathe He was one of the
six skilled assistants trained in every
branch of knowledge that might be
f0GppCCaTyf for urprL 11g11pr
nodded briefly to his employer, and
bent his head over a delicate, whirring
piece Of metal.
Home Richly Furnished.
Mr.. Lakes home in Milford is one
Of those great white structures so
common in New England It's portico
faces the pleasant Milford Common.
Inside, visitor finds an atmosphere
OF authentic antiquity. There is an
ivory framed mirrCr given by Queen
Victoria to her husband, and in the
comfortable living room ancient oils
look down from the walls.
After a casual inspection. Mr.. Lake
talked shop. He told how he had been
enthralled by Jules Verne's 10000
Leagues Under the Sea-" as boy, and
how, by the time he was 25, he had
completed plans for his first subma-
rine. He was well equipped for the
work, for he had studied at Clinton
Liberal Institute, Fort Plain, N. Y. and
at Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.
In 1894, he related he sent plans
for a ship somewhat of the Verne type
TO the United States Government, but
no action was taken. He had a work
ing model, propelled by hand power.
which actually funCtiOned and ade-
fol y=nF FoI IL
problem was the development Of an
engine which would make a larger shin
Of practical use.
First Ship Unsatisfactory.
"My first submarine. the Argonapt
Jr:, was unsatisfactory" Mr.. Lake re-
called. so I went to work on the
Argonaut l. I think the greatest thrill
OF my life came on a day in 1907
when we left Baltimore and went down
the Chesapeake Bay in it. There were
i've OF us, and it was a great lark. We
could see the Oystermen hastily making
Tor shore, awed by what they thought
was buoy running against the tide. a"
Have you ever been in great danger
IN your submarine eXperiments?" Mr..
Lake was asked.
He waved a deprecating hand.
81, @NC4C may nave DeGn one or two
little difficulties" he replied but each
taught me something useful. For in
stance, We had trouble in Bridgeport
Harbor in 1900, and as soon as we we're
out Of it l had the genesis Of the idea
OF salyaging after the fashion we plan
Tor the LuSitania
We were salyaging q coal boat with
an oVerhanglng guard. The tide changed
ana forced us under the guard We
were trapped for fair. Some of the bows
were getting scared, so I brought out n
Geek OF cards and started a game. We
simply waited for the tide to change
and then we were free again, none the
worse.
Submarine Found UnfeaSibIe.
THE experience convinced me of the
untC2sibilIty Of the submarine alone a.
a salvage agency, and finally hit on
the idea Of the tube But don't let me
give you the impression" Mr. Lake
warned, that I am saying ANYTHING
against the submarine. I have built SO
OF them. and there will be more"
He glanced over some pamphlets,
whose texts would illustrate a point in
mind, and some idea came Of the pa
tenc2 Of this kindly man who seems
never TO become excited.
'~''' 4il.t.Ay 4la'a40 a Ntg 10 you give
your work." Mr.. Lake was asked
About IA. on the average. Some
times I work until after midnight, but
I always get up at 7.l5 o'clock and
have hearty breakfast. I find food is
most important when I am under a
strain.
When one gets into set habits like
mine. things run pretty smoothly. !
haze neved had q chance to play golf
base ball or anything else in nv life
I'VE been too busy-too happy in my
dreams and their fulhllment."
Books Are Hobby.
Mr. Lake paused, and pointed to his
Ilne library.
Outside Of the submarine, those
books are my hobby" he observed. i
read almost anything I pick up. But
frankly, aftec a hard days work. I like
a good detective story or something