Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-13

With songs I'd enter endless day,
And live with my loved friends forever.
DEMETRIUS THE GREEK DIVER.
STORY OF THE GREER REVOLUTION.
After the terrible massacre at Scio, in
1928, by the Turkish army under com
mand of KaraIi Pacha, those of. unfortu-
nate Inhabitants, who escaped only with
their lives, made the best of their way
across the seas to other lands. Those
who had the means took refuge on the
French and Italian shores Of the Medite-
ranean, portion Of them in the southern
port Of France, the city of Marseillcs.
Among the latter was one Demetri
! Omros. None knew much about him,
save that he was a Sciote, and had esca.
ped after the massacre ; that he was quite
alone, and very poor. He was fortunate
enough to possess a somewhat rare ac-
omplishment, which made his earnings,
although precarious, considerably more
remuneratlve>than those Of his. .fellowcoun-
trymen occupying tie station to which he
appeared to belong. Demetri Omeros
iwas most expert swimmer and diver
EaHad Demetri Omeros lived in our days
he would have been professor to cer-
tainty the walls would have been cover
ed with posting bills and wood cuts, por-
traying his achievements ; and he would
have had a convenient exhibition room,
and a sliding scale of prices for his enter
tainment. In eighteen twenty-three he
con!ented himself with the exhibition Of
his talents in the open port of Marseilles,
and W satisfied with the stray francs,
haIi-francs, copper sous, and lizards flung
to him when he emerged from the water,
soaked and dripping like Newfoundland
dog.
In 1924, the Turkish government wish
ing to strengthen their navy, and Euro
pean artisans being rather shy of trusting
their heads under the power of the Pa
dishah, an Efendi was sent to Marseilles
to engage the construction of four fri
ates. AS the offer was made to pay for
each Grigate in advance, the contract was
soon made, and the shi p builders set
about their work with alacrity. By the
spriuv ue 1926 two of them were reau,Iv
for launching.
1t was observed by the French work
men that Demetrius, the Diver, appeared
to take great interest in the process OF
ship building. Day after day he would
come into the ship where the frigates
were being constructed, and, sitting upon
a pile of planks, would remain there for
hours. Other Greeks would come occa-
siOnally, and launch forth into fierce in
vectives against the Turks, and against
the French too, for lending their hands to
the construction Of ships which were to be
employed by infdels against christians
In these TRADES Demetrius the Diver sci.
dom, if ever joined. He was man ot
few words, and he sat upon the planks
and looked at the workmen, their tools
and theit work. Nobody took much no.
tice of him, except to throw him few
sous occasionally, or to say what lazy,
skulking fellow he was.
AT length the day arrived which wa'
: liked for the launch of the first frigate
the Sultani Bahri. Half Marxeilles wa.
present. The subpreicct was there-no
officially. but oticiously (whatever tha
beautiful ladies, as beautifully dressed
were in the tribunes round the sides 0
the slip; the SutaEi Bahri was dressed
l out with flags, and aboard her were tn
g great EGcndi himself. with his secretary
his interpreter, his pipe-bearer, and tn
q armateur, or ship builder.
Now, everything had been looked tc
thought of. prepared for, the triumphan
Q launch of the Sultani Bahri. The onl
t obstacles between her and the water
b were certain pieces of wood technically
called in England l know not what thei
: French name may be) dogshores, an
o these were being knocked away by th
e master ship-wright. This operation,
e may remark, was considered so danger
IL GUS that in the royal dockyards it was Ut
t dertaken by convicts, who obtained the
3 liberty if they accomplished the task with
n out accident. Just as the first stroke (
\ the hammer became audible, Demetriu
: the Diver, who had hitherto been concea
n ed among the crowd, plunged into the VI
'r ter, swan right across the track that the fl
n gate would probably take on its relea
$ from the slip. A cry of horror bur
is from the crowd as he swan directly t
ID ward the ships stem (stern ? for IL
IN vessel had began to move, and every Oh
Sc expected the rash diver to be crushed
S, drowned. But when he was within
ct few feet of the ship, Demetrius the Div
. threw up his arms, held them ,aloft for
moment in msnacing manner, then q