SUBMARINE VESSELS 



submarine navigation. As America was at peace at 

 this time, and as her financial condition was at the 

 lowest ebb, Fulton transferred his skill and energy to 

 Europe which was then involved in the Napoleonic 

 wars. Several attempts were made to interest the 

 French government in his invention, but although cer- 

 tain commissions reported favorably on his ideas, noth- 

 ing came of them for a time. In 1800, however, Fulton 

 succeeded in interesting Napoleon in his scheme, and 

 the following year he was given the opportunity of 

 building his first submarine boat, the Nautilus, This 

 boat was cigar shaped, about twenty-one feet long and 

 seven feet in diameter, and made of copper supported 

 by iron ribs. When operating at the surface this boat 

 used a peculiarly shaped sail; but when submerged it 

 was propelled by a screw actuated by machinery turned 

 by hand. In this boat, Fulton, with three companions, 

 descended to a depth of twenty-three feet and remained 

 submerged for twenty minutes; and at a depth of five 

 or six feet they are said to have remained submerged 

 for six hours, air being supplied by a copper vessel, 

 probably containing oxygen or compressed air. 



The first experiment made in attempting actually to 

 destroy a vessel with the Nautilus, was successful, a 

 small vessel being sunk. Encouraged by this success 

 Fulton proposed to build larger boats of this same type 

 capable of destroying the largest battle-ships. In re- 

 turn he asked that a reward be paid him for each 

 vessel destroyed, the price of his diving boat reim- 

 bursed, and a patent be given himself and the mem- 

 bers of his crew, so that in case of capture they would 



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