The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-10-09
Then, making proper sign, I swung over

Then, making proper sign, swung over
the side.
Down we went, I first, and Rimmer close
behind me. 1t did mont take a long time fol-
us to reach the bottom. We found ourselves
upon what seemed broad plain sloping
downward, toward the south, and rising slight
Ily, toward the north. Looking forward then,
dim, black, object arose, which our expe-
rienced eyes knew to be a lofty rock.
motioned to Rimmer that we should pro-
ceed there.
cannot tell the strangeness Of the sensa-
ton felt by one who first walks the bottom Of
the sea.
There are a thousand objects, fitted to ex-
cite astonishment, even in the mind of him
who has dared the deed hundred times
All around us lay the plain, covered by wa
ter but here the eye could not pierce far
away, as in the upper air, for the water, in
The distance, grew Opaque, and seem to fade
away into misty darkness. There was no
sound, except the incessant gurgle which
was produced by the escape of air from the
breast valve, and the splash caused by our
passage through the waters. We walked on
at good pace for this armor, which seems
SO clumsy up above, is excellent below, and
offers little inconvenience to the practced
wearer. ..
Fishes in crowds were around us. Fish
es of every shape and size met our ewes. no
matter where they turned. They swan swift
ly by us they sported in the waters above
us they raced and chased one another in
every direction. Here shoal Of porpoises
tumbled along in clumsy gambols, there a
grampus might be seen rising SLOWLY to the
Surface here an immense number of smaller
fish flashed past us, there some huge ones.
with ponder6us forms, foated in the water
lazily. Sometimes three or four placed them
selves directly before u.s. staring at us and
solemnly working their gills. There they
would remain, iii we come close up to them,
and ten, with a start, they would dart
away.
All this time we were walking onward
along the bottom of the sea, while above us,
like a black cloud in the sky, we could Sc.
our boat slowly moving onward upon the
SUI face Of the water. And now, not more
than hundred yards before US, we could
see tie towering fo,ni of that Ebony rock
which had at first greeted our eyes from afar
As yet. we could not be certain that this was
the place where the Marmoin had struck
But soon round. black object became dis
cernible, as we glanced at the rocky base.
Rimmer struck my arm, and pointed.
signed assent, and we moved onward more
quickly.
A lew moments elapsed-we hal come
nearer 10 the rock. The black object now
looked like the stern of vessel whose hull
lay there
Suddenly, Rimmer struck me again, and
pointed upward Following the direction o
lis hand, | looked up. and saw the upper sur.
face # the water ali foamy and in notion
There was momentary thrill through my
heart, but il passed over. We were in dan
gerous ndition. A storm was coming on
But should we turn back now, when We
were 20 near tie object of our search Al
ready it lay before us. We were close be.
side it. No, l would not. l signalized tc
Rimmer to 90 forward, and we sill kept ou,
course.
Now the rock rose up before US, black, rug
ged, dismal. Its rough sides we're worn by
the action of the water, and, in some places
were covered by marine plants. and nameles'
ocean Vegetation. We passed onward, We
cambered over spur which jutted from ths
cliff, and there lay the steamer.
The Marmon-there she lay upright
with everything still standing. She hat
gone right down, and had settled in such {
position among the rocks, that she stood up
right here. just as though she lay at her wharf
We rushed eagerly along and clambered W
her side. There was low moan In the wa
ter. which sounded warningly in our ears,
and told us OF swift approaching danger
What was TO be done, must be done sPeedi
ly. We hurried forward. Rimmer rushed
to the cabin. went forward, to descend into
the hold. decended the ladder. walked
into the engineers room. All was empty
here, all was water The waves OF the ocear
had entered and we're sporting with th'
works OF man. went into the freight room
Suddenly l was startled by an appalling moist