The Weekly register. (Ponola [sic] Panola, Miss.) 1843-1844, 1843-10-07

! days before. She was an old man-ot-
wars gig, with gunwales rather higher
than ordinary, and low thwarts, which
gave her q security better calculated for
our operations. | pulled round 10 the
!, beach, near the common, and took Wes-
ton and my contrivances on board, and
then we started again for the scene Of
my venture. There was very little
wind, and the sea was as calm as glass;
| which circumstances were of course in
our favor. When we got to the buoy
which marks the situation of the Royal
George, we fastened the boat to it, and |
commenced arraying myself in my di
virg ce4.Ifls This finished, with the
exception oftho hcad-piece, l threw O.
verboard rope ladder, having two
small ,grapnels attached to its inferior
extremities; and when had ascertained
that these had laid hold Of sorQe portion
ofthe wreck, made fast the upper ends
TO one of the seats of the boat, | next
sounded the depth with lead line, and
arranged my waterproof pipes accord
ingly, by means of some laps had pur-
chased at a gas-fitters; allowing an ex-
Ire length or two for my movements
In about half an hour from our first fix
ing the gig to the buoy, | had made all
close and ready, and prepared to de-
scend. | felt no timipity-the bare re-
/ collection Of the wealth reported to he
engulphed with the vessel, which |
might, perhaps, accumulate, drove eve
ry ether feeling from ny mind.
With last injunction for unremitting
work and attention, on the part Of Wes-
ton, stepped on to the top of the lad
der, and commenced my task. What
was my delight on finding that my
schemes answered, as | saw through
the glass in my hood, the green water
ascend higher than the level ofmy face,
and finally close over my head, whilst
my respiration continued free and I'M
embarrassed. There was one unpleas-
ant sensation, but this was not of suffi-
Gent consequence to annoy me. AT
every stroke of the pump above. that
forced fresh quantity ofaic down the
pIre, experienced feeling of tea1sa
paip on the drums of my ears, of which
| had heard the men in the diving bells
sometimes complain; but this in great
measure alleviated, by making frequent
attempts at deglution. My lantern, also
preserved the fame within it admirably
and its trilling consumption of air ten
ded, in a measure to relieve the pres
sure in the head-piece. | descended
, gradually aud carefully, step by step
ard at last to my great Joy, stood or 9
.3pdrtion ofthe wreck. | found that the
, g,apnels had caught on large spar that
lay completely across the ship, KEEP
f firmly in its place by gun, which hat
, probably relied over it when the acci
dent occurred. With some little eau
ton | crawled along it; and at length
t stood upon the deck. And here, for tn
first time, became aware of the Singh
r lar assistance of my light. Every thin!
. around me was plainly discernible
when the rays, cast through larg,
bulls eye, were directed towards tn
/, object, only appearing as if dull green
I ish mist encircled it. | well remember
h the stefns~cf the masts,wiih their coat
e ing of barnacles hemasses of shell
:. work and weeds that incrusted the guns
n still outwardly preserving their SHAPE
, the very bulwarks, with their ring
E of green and cankered metal attached
: and the blackened pieces Of timber tina
$ wersgrouped around ne, from whic
: my rods of range polypi threw GU
! theiFong streaming arms in quest Q
IS prey. The deck was nearly foot dee
: IN sand, and, as | had.supposed, not Lev
5, ell; but stillsthe declivity to larboar
i was not too steep to preclude my keeE
>, ing firm fooWg: An immense quar-
e THY of corrodded blocks, tackle &C., wa
+ lying about in confusion, enveloped b
5; perfect groves of tall seaweed; an
h these foated about like monstrous snake
| twisting and undulating in all direction
st cleared away few triAing imped