THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



from the rudder hinge, and is spiked under the ship^s 

 quarter. Had he moved a few inches, which he might 

 have done without rowing, I have no doubt but that he 

 would have found wood where he might have fixed the 

 screw, or if the ship were sheathed with copper he 

 might easily have pierced it ; but not being well skilled 

 in the management of the vessel, in attempting to move 

 to another place he lost the ship. After seeking her in 

 vain for some time he rowed some distance and rose 

 to the surface of the water, but found daylight had 

 advanced to far that he durst not renew the attempt. 

 He says that he could easily have fastened the maga- 

 zine under the stem of the ship above the water, as he 

 rowed up to the stem and touched it before he de- 

 scended. Had he fastened it there the explosion of one 

 hundred and fifty pounds of powder (the quantity con- 

 tained in the magazine) must have been fatal to the 

 ship. In his return from the ship to New York he 

 passed near Governor's Island, and thought he was 

 discovered by the enemy on the island. Being in haste 

 to avoid the danger he feared, he cast off the maga- 

 zine, as he imagined it retarded him in the swell, which 

 was very considerable. After the magazine had been 

 cast off one hour, the time the infernal apparatus was 

 set to run, it blew up with great violence." 



ROBERT FULTON'S EXPERIMENTS 



The work begun by Bushnell in 1775 was taken up 

 ten years later by Robert Fulton whose diving-boats 

 so nearly fulfilled the conditions necessary for practical 



[98] 



