Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-08-02
UNDER THE SEA.


visits to the great threedecker which first spoke
of as sunken opposite was in a flutter of fright
and JOY such as youths who have only been down
in the bell of Polytechnic can form no idea Of
l had the perfectest confidence in the machine
and above all, in my friend Thomas, but still /
was in greater state OF "blue funk, than most
boys of fifteen had ever any reason to be. The
bell could hold but two, so took the place of the
other diver-though of course, without helmet
opposite Thomas. / had become quite accus-
toned by this time to his hideous apparel above
board and on land, but that terrible shake of his,
and his pipes, and his paraphernalia grew fright
fully unnatural to my perturbed vision and /
thought whether he might not be Davy Jones
himself, and the bell his sslocker." Now and
then some strange and dreadful fish glided in up
on us, but one glimpse of Thomas drove him out
in an instant, and didn'twonder. Nevertheless
il was far worse when w.ss left in the machine
alone-with the fullest instruction, of course, as
to air tubes, but also in the deadlest terror of
forgetting thcm-while my friend (the only friend
had in all the sea) went about his business over
the wreck-a very wondreiIs experience that, and
not easily forgotten. Many reflections of an orig
inal character ought to have occurred to me with
out doubt, which l should have now described,
but as said before, l was far too frightened to
think of anything except air tubes and getting up
again. After the longest half hour anybody ever
passed in their lives, my norman reappearcd.-
He had fixed his hooks and eyes round great
brass carronade, and was extremely buoyant i'll
consequence.
ssBut," said he, when we were in his snug par
Tor again that evening, and he had been congrat-
ulating me on my proves, "but Master James,
YOU must come down with hemlet some day and
then You win see wonders"
aThank YOU, Thomas" said /, .'all the same,
but enough is as good as a feast; have had my
duck, and enjoyed it, and do not want another
rof0 s,,fo
esting YOU may have met with under these cir
cumstances.' a
"Wel," said he, and he turned his quid in his
mouth and brought his right eye to bear stead
fastly upon me, as was his wont during compila-
ton; 81 will tell you an occurrence that happen
ed to my brother within the last few years; he
has become an altered man since | assure you,
and generally takes religious work down IN the
bell with him.
s.There was a friend of his, mate to a West In
dia-man that was outward bound in a few days
from Cork, and Bill, my brother and he had had
adherence; what the quarrel begun about don't
rightly know, but the mate abused Bits profess
sion, and called him an amphiberous lubber or
something like that, land BIZ abused the mate and
wished him under the sea,wtiout an air tube; and
the ship sailed without making itup. Ny broth
err was very sorry when it was too late-for am
phibcrous lubbers has their feelings ike other
sSiks-and greatly shook when news was brought
next morning, that the vessel had gone down not
three miles from shore, and with every soul on
board. just al starting, as it might be--with all
her passengers so full CT hope, going to join their
friends-settled down, as it was supposed about
midnight in a few minutes. There was good
cargo Of spccie, ard Bill was of course sent for
Immediately; there was but few bodies ioated to
shore, and knowing he would see some horrible
sights, he was not overpleased at the JOB but I'M
til they canld get more ers, there was choice
down he goes TO the vessel, aud finds her fal1-
en- betwixt two reefs of rock, bolt upright, with
masts standing and sails set Just as she settled
down She looked, he said, for all the word like
any ship upon the surface; except that there was
a hole broken III her side, where she had struck;
her boats were sllng almost uninjured, coils of
rope were lying ON the mandcck the patches and
door above the chief cabin stairs We're open; the
wet, swift fishes dared in and out OF it, and the
crabs were going about their work already when
my brother descended
There were six or seven men iii the cabin, gen.
teman passengers, and card or two that tloated
about showed they had been playing when the
vessel struck; some of them were even standing
upright just as they started from their seats when
they felt the shock, and had dreadful look with
pale, parted lips, as though cry OF agony had
just escaped them; a young man and glrl-So
like as to be sworn brother and sister; were emf
bracing for the last time; the heaving of the sea,
scarcely felt at such depth, swayed all the hg-
ures to and fro-without touch of decay, and
instinct with all but lfe was that ships company.
The captain i'll his cabin slept s last sleep quite
placidly. The sailors, for the most part, were
drowned in their hammocks, only those whose
duty necessiatcd their being on deck, were wash
ed off and driven ashore. The darkness had been
so deep as to render the best look futile the strong
est swimming of no avail. All these things were
sad enough, and Bilrs nerves, iron as they were
were shaken sadly. Wandering about that nv
ing charne house attired SO unlatpraly, seeking
for gold in the very heart OF the ocean, 1t was
terrible and yet, Master James, though you look
SO shocked, il was his honest business SO to do,
and a far less hateful way of getting on in the
world than is practiced in high places daily; STILL
when he had found what he wanted and laden
with as many bags as he could carry, was return
inc to the main deck by another way, IT seemed
to him the worst lob he had ever set TO do--and
lol at the foot of the companion ladder, he met
the man he knew so well, and parted with IN
wrath SO lately with one hand on the round, as
if in the act of flight. The lock upcn the drown
ed mans face seemed TO reproach HAN FOR his la
test wish, so that he dared not put him aside ana
pass by, but turned back and went upon deck
by the road he came; nor ever after that dread
full sight could brother Bill be brought to venture
down into the sunkea West Indiaman. ..s-
"Dear me, Mr. Headfurst," l said, Il never
heard so frightful a tale IN all my lie.
enough, and so my brother win tell you II you
ask him. | don't happen, just at present, to re-
member his address, but he dives good deal, OIL
the east coast of Ireland
AS we came on Brooklyn ferry boat
the other day, gentleman. one OF the fast
men evidently. drove on board at rapid
rate, and nearly ran over man, whoseized
his horse BY the bride, and brought him to
stand sill.
What do YOU mean said the driving in.
dividual, by catching hold Of my horse?'
| What DO you mean by driving oyerpeo,
pie in this kind OF way?'
Let go of my horse. | tell you?
1'lfsee you hung first.
The man leaped out Of his buggy. and
coming rapidly on the other, whip IN hand
cried out:
Let 90 of that horse
4 say I won't til get ready.
Well them said the driver, throwing
his whip into the carriage, Just hold him
viii you? and he walked into the cabin
Ha5per's.