The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT 3 a vantage point under the Eagle’s stern, but owing to the copper sheathing on the vessel’s bottom and the small downward resistance of the Turtle, he found it difficult to attach the torpedo. As daylight approached he became nervous and,probably because of the need of fresh air gave up the attempt, cutting adrift the torpedo and making his own escape. The torpedo exploded as was intended and as it had been timed to, but as it had drifted some little distance down stream from the Eagle, it did no harm other than to throw up a veritable geyser of water giving those on board a mighty scare. as those After this one attempt, notwithstanding the fact that the little vessel had demonstrated both the practicability of its maneuvering qualities and of its armament, Bush- nell s Turtle became the object of much ridicule and was never afterward given fair consideration. Bushnell thor- oughly discouraged at the treatment accorded his ingenious device and the lack of appreciation of its value soon dis appeared from the pages of the history of the submarine torpedo boat. marine Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat, was the next to make any practical advancement in the develop ment of the submarine, taking it up from the point at which Bushnell left off. He first laid his plans before the Ameri can Naval authorities in 1799 but received no encourage ment from them. Thereupon he journeyed to France where three years were spent in trying to gain recognition. Finally, Napoleon Bonaparte gave him audience. Bona- parte became at once interested in the proposition and appointed a commission to investigate and report upon it After due deliberation a favorable report was returned with the result that the sum of 10,000 francs was appropriated