Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-05-20
Chr Dailp SPY.
FRIDAY, MAY go. 1858.
TAYLoR's suBMARINE ARMoR.-O

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, Dy tne pOHteuess VI AVA S'9'
B. Pratt, submarine navigator, of This city, we had
an opportunity Of witnessing, at Long Pond BRIDGE
the mode of operating under water with the sub
marine armor, invented by the late Capt. Taylor.
1t is well known to many Of our readers, that MIR
Pratt acted with Capt. Taylor in the capacity of
assistant, for several years prior to Capt. Tay-
lor's death, and that to his enterprise, courage,
aud skill in submarine navigation, many persons
are indebted for the restoration Of their property
from the depths Of ocean, lake, and river. The
submarine armor enables diver TO descend TO
any depth, and move about on the bottom with
perfect ease, and its construction is such that an
unlimited supply of fresh air can be comnu''-
Gated, so that person may remain Tor houfs u"-
der water, and come up as dry as when ne went
down Ii consists of strong India rubber, and Is
divided into two parts; one the trowsers aud
boots, and the other the jacket, which, alter be-
ing put on, are joined together by means of two
copper rims. between which the edges Of the two
garments are inserted and secured by means Of
buttons, fastened by wrench, 10 be air
tight, and SO as that the two become one coat Of
mail. The wrists are Tapped tightly, SO as 10 ex-
clude the air. Attached TO The neck Of the jack
ct is copper helmet, which protects the head
from the pressure Of the water, and serves, at the
same Time for the insertion of the air tube for the
admission of fresh air, and the valve for the ennis
sion of foul air In the face of the helmet is IN
serted strong piece of glass, for the purpose of
enabling the diver TO see objects in the water
Although the weight of The armor is about 60
pounds, it is necessary to hang weights to the
amount of about one hundred pounds around the
armor, so as TO counterpoise the effect of the air
that is pumped into it by means of force pump,
and sink the diver, which is rather slow opera
ton, especially near the bottom, owing to the
great pressure fthe water. 1t requires two men
pumping at the air pump all the time, to resist
that pressure, and supply fresh air.
AS sooh as one of the men in Mr. Pratt employ
had encased himselfin the armor he was let down
into the water by means Of strong rope attached
to the top Of the helmet, and two men upon the
bridge commenced with a small air pump 10 fur
nish him with supply of air through The hose.
the neck Of which is also screwed into the top of
the helmet. Slowly he descended, and after
reaching the bottom he commenced his travels
among the eels and horn pouls upon The bottom.
Though no part of his person was visible, the
course he pursued was easily discernibIe by those
above, from the escape Of surplus air, which
caused The water over his head TO boil like pot
After remaining at the bottom some fifteen min
ules, during which time he had explored an area
ofsome fifty feet from the place Of starting, the
diver gave signal by means of rope attached
to his left wrist, and was drawn up perfectly dry,
without any appearance Of exhaustion or fatigue,
ard another and another were SUCCESSFULLY en-
cased and let down in the same way, The es-
pecal object Of the experiments made on Tues.
day, 10 Test the courage and capacity ofsome
new men that MIR Pratt has engaged to assist him
the present season, in exploring the wreck Of the
British frigate ''EIussar.''
The "Hussar" frigate was a British vessel, en-
ployed by that government TO convey munitions
of war and money, for the royal army engaged in
the attempt to subjugate the revolted American
Colonies. On the 18th of December, 1880, this
frlgate, while passing along East River struck
on the rocks at Hurlgate, and sustained so much
injury, that the efforts of her crew were unable
to prevent her from rapidly filling. In this emer-
gency, the captain ordered the vessei to be run
on shore at Stoney Island he not being aware of
the abrupt nature of the coast at that spot. The
Hussar, however, sunk before reaching the island,
carrying down part of her crew, all her warlike
stores, and also the treasure on board, known to
have amounted to one million eight hundred
thousand dollars,) together with nearly twenty
American prisoners, who, heavily ironed, were
confined in the hold. Portions of the skeletons
OF these unfortunate men, have from time to time
been brought up and on some of the bones, the
rusty manacles still remaining.
The valuable nature of the contents of the
wreck has induced many attempts for its recovery;
but most of those attempts, we believe, met with
very limited success. The diving bell has been
employed, and saving to pieces and blowing up
resorted to, but the result never equalled expec-
tation, or repaid the cost.
few years ago, however, Captain Taylor, the
inventor Of the submarine armor, commenced opera.
tons and prost cute the wo Of taking The wreck to
pieces, with every prospect ola successful Issue un-
I'll he was removedby death. While upon his death
bed Captain /. enjoined il upon bis successor, Mr.
Pratt, TO persevere until the object was accomplish
ed. Although the wreck lies in seventy two feet of
water at low tide, the main and a portion of The
lower deck were removed during the last season ,and
many interesting, and some valuable relics we're OBJ
tanned, and it is confidently expected that before the
close OF The present season, Mr.. Pratt and his asso
ciates will handle the guineas that were put on board
by his Britanic Majesty, seventy three years ago,
for the purpose oirewarding the foes Of American
Independence, and, at the time, give to the
world another Illustration Of Yankee enterprise and
perseverance, which defes all dangers, and over
comes all obstacles hat stand in The way Of sue,
cess.
"a On Monday next, the favorite steamer
Connecticut resumes her place on the line be
tween Norwich and New York She has Just
come off the dry dock, where extensive improve