M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-06-05
StletttA Stories.
THE OCEAN DEPTHS.
A DIVERS TALE.

il, and the inteminable succession of excl
ting events renders il dear to its professor
Not to the common diver Of the East, who
can remain but for fraction Of time be-
meath the wave, and gTope fearfully among
rugged ocean -moundsbut to the adept in the
civilized mode of diving, who, in his pro.
tective Amor, may remain submerged for
hours, and wander, with impunity, for miles
along those unknown regions far below the
sea. To him are laid open the horrors Of the
watey creation, and he may gaze upon
such scenes as Arabaian story tells us were
presented 10 the fearful eye OF Abdallah.--
To him the most thrilling occurrences of the
/ upper world seem frivolous for. in his mem
ory, he retains thoughts that may we'll chill
the soul with dread.
| am a diver-a diver from choice-and
am proud OF my profession. Where is such
a courage required as is needed here II is
nothing 20 be a soldier: diver, however,
but | forbear l will tell my story, and leave
Others to judge concerning it.
An appalling shipwreck occurred, not long
ago. upon the widest part of the coast OF
Newfoundland. The tidings of this calam-
ity reached the ears Of thousands; but, amid
the crowd of accidents which following in
quick succession, II was soon forgotten.-
Not by US, however. We found that the
vessel had sunk upon spot where the wa.
teTs depth was by no means great; and thai
daring man might easily reach her.
She was a steamer called the Marinion
and had been seen going suddenly down
without an instant's warning. BY some fish
erman near by. She had, undoubtedly
struck hidden rock. and had thus been, ir
moment, destroyed.
spoke to my associates Of the plan, ant
they approved it. No time was lost in ma,
king the Necessary preparations, and short
schooner for the sunken ship. There were
six Of us, and we anticipated extraordinary
success.
| was the leader, and generally ventured
upon any exploit in which there was un,
common danger. Not that the others wert
towards; on the contrary they were all brave
men, but was gifted with GOODNESS ant
and presence of mind OF which the othert
were destitute. AS two persons were need
ed, in older to explore the Marmion, | haC
selected as my companion yonng fellow
whose steadiness and dauntless courage hat
several times before been jearlully res ted.
~ 1t was ca pH0pd pleasant day. but thC
southern and edsSsfn horizon looked deceit
ful. Small, suspicious clouds we're gather
ing there, i'll Of aspect, and "sneaking fel
lows, regular hang-dog fellows" as my com
rade, Rimmer, remarkedo me. Neverthe
less, we were not 10 be put off by littl,
cloudiness in the sky, but boldly PREPARED
10 venture.
So deep was the water, thatn vestige of
ships mast remained above the surface, Il
point out the resting place of the Mormion.
We vert compelled, therefore, to select tn
scene of operations according to the best @
ability. Down went the sails Of our schoon
er, and Rimmer and put on our diving al
NOR. We fixed on our hemlets tightly, an
! screwed on the hose. One BY one eac
clumsy article was adjusted. The weight
, were hung, and we were ready.
|. at looks terrible blackish, Berton," sal
Rim.
"oh" | replied, gaily, "it's only litt
mis--sll right |"
= "Ah!" He uttered a low exclamation
which sounded hollow from his cavernoI
hemlet.
GAIL ready" cried, in loud voice, whiC
they, however, could not distinguish
Then making proper sign, | was swun
over the side.
Down we went, first, aud Rimme
close behind me. 1t did not take Ion
time for us to reach the bottom. We foun
ourselves upon what seemed broad plaiT
sloping downward, toward the south, an
rising slightly, toward the north. Lookin
forward then, dim, black object afos
which our experienced eyes knew to be
lofty rock.
], mentioned to Rimmer that we shoul
proceed there.
cannot tell the strangeness Of the sensa
tion felt by one who first walks the bottoI
of the sea.
There are thousands Of objects, fitted to excit
astonishment, even in the mind Of him WI
has dared the deed hundred times. A
around us lay the plain, covered by waite
but here the eye could not pierce far ava
as in the upper air, for water, in the di
tAnce, grew Opaque. and seemed to fat
u away into misty darkness. There was |
ie sound, except the incessant gurgle whi,
was produced by the escape ofair from L
4; breast valve, and the plash caused by o
/; passage through the waters. We walked {
at good pace; for this armor, which seer
SO clumsy up above, is excellent below. al
offers little inconvenience to the pract,s
wearer.
\ Fishes in crowds were around US. Fish
y OF every shape and size met our eyes,
matter where they turned. They swa
swiftly by US, they sported in the wat
above us; they raced and chased one anot
er, in every direction. Here shoal
porpoises tumbled along in clumsey gal
bols, there grampus might be seen risi
slowly to the surface; here an immense nul
Der OF smaller fish flashed past us, the
some huge ones, with ponderous forms flol
ed in the water lazily. Sometimes three
four placed themselves directly before |
staring at US, and solemuly working tn
gilIs. There they would remain, till '
came close up to to them, and then, with
start. they would dart away.
All this time we were walking onwdl
along the bottom Of the sea. while above
like black cloud in the sky, we could S
our boat slowly moving onward upon I
surface Of the water. And now, not mo
than hundred yards before us, We cou
see the towering form Of that ebony ro'
which had at first greeted our eyes from ala
As vet. we could not be certain that tb