nteers to go below the water in a submarine boat
of a type hitherto undreamed of, and to attach an explosive to the
hull of a British man-of-war, the sentries upon which were
presumably especially vigilant, being in a hostile harbour, was an
adventure likely to attract only the most daring and reckless
spirits. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, other portions of which we
shall have occasion to quote later, Bushnell refers to this
difficulty in finding a suitable operator and tells briefly and with
evident chagrin the story of the failure of the attempts made to
utilize successfully his submarine:

[Illustration: Photo by U. & U.

_A Bomb-Dropping Taube._]

After various attempts to find an operator to my wish, I sent one
who appeared more expert than the rest from New York to a 50-gun
ship lying not far from Governor's Island. He went under the ship
and attempted to fix the wooden screw into her bottom, but
struck, as he supposes, a bar of iron which passes 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 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 so far that he durst not renew the
attempt. He says that he could easily have fastened the magazine
under the stem of the ship above water, as he rowed up to the
stern and touched it before he descended. Had he fastened it
there the explosion of 150 lbs. of powder (the quantity contained
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 magazine, 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 internal apparatus was set to run, it blew up with great
violence.

Afterwards there were two attempts made in Hudson's River, above