New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-15
4 Divers Tale,

q Divers Tale.
The life Of one who explores the mysteries Of the
sea il III. perilous than fascinating. The charm
of terror hangs around it, and the intermnable sue
cesson OF exciting events renders it dear to its pro-
fessor. Net to the common diver Of the East who
can remain but for a fraction Of time beneath the
wave and group fearfaly among ocean mounds, but
to the adept in the civilized mode of diving, who in
his protective arnor may remain submerged for hours
and wander with impunty for miles along the I'M
known regions far below the sea. To him are laid
open the horrors Of the watery creation and he may
gaze upon such scenes as the Arabian story tells us
were presented to the fearful eyes Of Abdaah. To
him the most thrilling occurrences of the upper world
seem frivolous; for in his memory he retains
thoughts that may well chill the soul with dread
| am diVer-a diver from choice-and am proud |
OF my profession. Where is such courage required
is needed here: 1t is nothing to be soldier diver
however, but forbear, will tell my story and leave
! others to judge concerning it,
An appalling shlpwreck occurred, not long ago, |
upon the widest part OF the coast of New Found
land The tidings Of this calamity reached the ear Of
thousands, but, amid the crowd of accidents which
followed in quick succession it was forgotten.
Not by Us, however We found the vessel had sunk
upon spot where the waters depth was by no means
great and that daring man might easily reach her
She was steamer called the Marrnion and had
been seen going down suddenly, without an instants
warning, by some fishermen near by. She had un-
doubtedy struck hidden rock, and had thus been in
one moment destroyed.
I spoke to my associates of the plan and they ap.
proved it. No time was lost in making the necessary
preparations, and short time behed embarked in
our small schooner for the sunken ship. There were
six OF us, and we anticipated extraordinary
] was the leader. and generally ventured upon any
exploit in which there was uncommon danger. Not
that the others were towards the contrary, they
were all brave men, but was gifted with q GOODNESS
and presence of mind of which the others were des
ttrte. As two personsSwere needed in order to ex-
plore the Marmion had selected as nv companion
young fellow whose steadiness and dauntless cour-
age had several times before been fearfuly tested
It was calm and pleasant day, but the southern
and eastern horizon looked deceitful Small, suspi
clous clouds were gathered there, i'll Of aspect, and
sneakinS fellows, regular hang-dog fellows my
comrade, thinner, remarked to me. Nevertheless,
we were not to be put off by little cloudiness in the
sky but boldly prepared to venture.
So deep was the water that no vestige of ships
mast remained above the surface to point ont the rest
ing place of the Marmion. We were compelled, there
FORE to select the scene Of operation according to the
best oour ability Down went the sails ofour schooner
and Rimner and put on our diving armor We fixed
on our helmets tightly, and screwed the hose. One
by one each clumsy article was adjusted The weights
were hung, and we were ready.
sit looks terrible blackish Berton" said Rimmer
to me-
"oh,' Irepled gayly, its only little mist-all
right
All = he uttered in low voice, which sounded
hollow from his cavernous helmet.
"A ready cried in loud voice. which they,
however, could not easily distinguish. Then, making
proper sign was swung over the side.
1t did not take long time for to reach the bottom
We found ourselves upon what seemed broad plain
slopns downward toward the south and rising slight
y towards the north. Looking forward then, dim,
black object arose, which our experienced eye knew
to be lofty rock. | motioned to Rmmer that we
should proceed there.
cannot tell the strangeness of the sensation felt
by one who first walks the bottom of the sea.
There thousand objects fitted to excite aston
lshment even in the mind of him who has dared the
deed hundred times. All around us lay the plain,
covered by water but here the eye cannot pierce far
away as in the upper air. for the water in the dist
ance grew Opaque and seemed to fade away into misty
darkness. There was no sound except the incessant
gurgle which produced by the escape of air from
the breath valve, and the splash caused by pas
sage through the waters. We walked out at a
good race for this arnor, which seems clumsy up
above is excellent below, and offers little inconven.
ience to the practiced wearer.
Fishes i'll crowds were around us. Fishes of every
shape and size met our eyes, no matter where they
, turned They swan swiftly by us: they sported in
: the water above us they raced and chased one
another in every direction Here shoal of porpoises
c tumhled along in clumsy gambols there grampus
might be seen rising slowly to the surface here an
immense number of smaller fish flashed past us: there
some huge ones with ponderous forms, oated in the
water laZy. Sometimes three or four placed them
selves directly before us, staring at u.s. and solemny
> working their tails. There they would remain till
" came close up to them, and then, with start, they
J would dart away
. All this time we were walking onward along thu
- bottom of the sea, while above US, like black clout
in the sky we could our boat slowly moving along
upon the surface Of the water. And now not more
!, than hundred yards before us, could see thu
" towering form of that ebony rock which had at frs
greeted our eyes from affair." AS yet we could not bt
4 certain that this was the place where the Marmiol
had struck. But soon round, black object became
:, discernibe, as we glanced at the rocky base
Rlmmer struck my arm and pointed. | signed
q assent, and we moved on more quickly.
q \ few moments elapsed; we had come nearer tt
the rock The black object now looked like the stern
n of vessel whose hull lay there.
f Suddenly, Rlmmer struck me again and pointed
:, upward Following the direction ofhs hand, looked
up and saw the upper surface of the water all foamy
:, and III motion. There was moments thrill through
! my heart, but it passed We were in dangerous
condition A storm was coming on.
But should we turn back now, when we were so
near the object of our search Already lay before
> us. We were close beside it. No, | would not,
signied to Rmmer to go forward, and still kept
: our course.
y Now the rock up before us, black, rugged dis
: NAL. Its rough sides were worn by action of the
water and in some places were covered by marine
= plants and nameess ocean vegetation. Wepassed on
q ward, we clambered over spur which jutted from
= the cliff, and there lay the steamer.
The Marmon-there she lay upright, with every
y thing still standing. She had gone right down and
had settled in such position among the rocks that
she stood upright here just as though she lay at her
! wharf We rushed eagerly along and clambered up
= her side. There was low moan in the water which
sounded warnngly in our ears, and told us of swift
= approaching danger. What to be done must be
e done speedily. We hurried forward. Rmmerr rushed
y, to the cabin. went forward to descend into the
=, hold. descended the ladder. l walked into the
, engineers room. All was empty here-all was water
= The of the had entered, and were sport
~ ing with the works of man. went into the freight
I Suddenly was startled by anappalling noise
II upon the deck The heavy footsteps of some one
- running though in mortal fear most dreadful
" haste sounded in my Then my heart throbbed
= wildly, for it FEARFUL thing to hear, far down in
+ the silent depths of the ocean.
) Pshaw it's only Trimmer.
u hurricdly assembled the deck, by the first cutie
% that appeared When speak of hurry, speak o.
e the quickest movement possible when numbered Will
: so much arlnor. But this movement of mine was
20 quick: rushed upward; sprang out the deck
e 1t was Rmmer!
= He stepped forward and clutched my arm. HI
pressed with convulsve grasp and pointed to thu
cabin. attempted to go there. He stamped his foo
, and tried to hold me back. He pointed to the boat
Il and impored ME, with frantic gestures, to go up.
1t is appalling to witness the horrorstruck soul try
ing to express itself by signs 1t is awful to see thes
= signs when no face is plainly visible and voice
heard. could not see his face plainly, but his eyes
- through his heavy mask glowed like Goals of fire.
10 81 will go!' l exclaimed. sprang from him. II
If clasped his hands together, but dared not follow.
u Good heavens! l thought, what fearful thing i
here? What scene can be so dreadful as to paralyz
~ the soul of practced diver? I will see for myself
y walked forward. l came to the cabin door.
,r entered the forward saloon, but saw nothing.