Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-23
THE RAISING OF THE SAFE OF
THE ATLANTIC. FACTS AND NOT
FICTION.


Our readers were several days since
highly amused by the fanciful relation of
the Detroit Advertiser, of the raising of
the safe of the steamer Atlantic, sunk in |
1859. This morning we were favored
with an interview with E. P. Harrington,
of West6eld, n. Y, the successful res
cuer of the safe, and give the items of
the occurrence, which if il be devoid Of
wonderful meetings with beautiful la.
dies" and "children," is, nevertheless,
very interesting and true. Mr.. Har-
ington has had three years experience
as diver, and during the past winter
has been engaged on the Mississippi in
his business. Associated with him in
this undertaking were Martin Quigley
and Charles o. Gardner of Chaiauque,
N. Y, and VIM. Newton of Detroit
They proceeded in the schooner Fletch-
er to the locality Of the steamer Atlantic,
which lies about three miles from the
extreme point of Long Point. They ar
rived there on the 18th Of June, and that
day was used in preparations. On the
18th, Mr. Harrington encased in Wells
d Gowen's sub marine armor, made his
first descent. This armor is made of two
layers of canvas and one of india rubber,
the rubber occupying the middle. 1t is
loose and flexible, and Of course resists
no pressure. From in front Of the mouth
proceeds tube composed of nine alter
nate layers of canvas and rubber, with
copper wire coiled inside to prevent col
lapse. This is flexible too, and being as
long AS the depth to which the diver
goes, and the upper end being in the
open air, secures proper respiration
The aperture is 3-SIhs of an inch in
diameter. A wreck.line had bcen pre-
viously dropped and rested against the
side of the steamer.
Dressed as above described, with lead
en- shoes, and with lead weights attach
ed to mis- body, amounting in all to 24S
lbs, with rope around his waist, by
which he could be raised TO the surface,
and check or signal line in his hand,
the adventurous diver commenced his
first descent. He was governed by the
wreck line, and struck the promenade
deck about forty feet aft the state-room
where the Express Company's Safe was,
which was in the third state room aft
the wheelhouse on the larbosrd side
He remained on deck but one minute
After descending from so 10 20 feet, de-
pending upon the clearness of the air
above, all is dark to the diver, and he is
governed entirely by feeling.
The eighteenth and last decent, he
was on deck eleven minutes, and during
it he succeeded in fastening line to the
end ring of the safe, and helping it out of
of the aperture, it was raised to the deck
of the schooner. The perilous work was
done, and the adventurous men upon
opening the safe, or rather iron chest 2S
by Is, by 16 inches in size, found them
selves the possessors of about $4,000 in
gold, and $4,000 in bills, small
portion of which were useless from the
action Of water and insolvency of banks,
and six watches, two of which were val
luable gold ones. The chest contained
papers foI the American Express Co.,
naved a handsome salvage. The At
lautic lies careened, her larboard side be-
ing 175 feet, and the water on her star
board l6O feet deep. The safe was about
157 #. from the surface. Upon her deck
Mr.. H. found light sediment of three
or four inches depth. He could, as we
have said above, see nothing, and en-
countered nothing but the wood work,
chains, glass and the chest. The water
was very chilly and Mr.. HIS hands
were so numb that he could not by mere
feeling distinguish glass from wood. 1t
was only by the formers breaking that
he knew its material. He thinks his
strength when below was not more than
one e-tenth that he has when in the open
air. He suffered but little from pressure
except two or three times when such was
the rush of blood TO his head, that he
says. he saw bright lashe. in his hem
Ilet, ike electric sparks"