Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-03
4 Tbrilling skettg.
From Pu,nam's Magazine.
A DIVERS TALE.
TIE OCEAN DEPTHS.

ries Of the sea, is not more perlous than
| fascinating The charm Of terror hangs
around il, and the interminable succession of
exciting events renders il dear to its profess
sor. Not to the common.dver OF the East
who can remain but for fraction of time be-
meath the wave, and grope fearfully among
rugged ocean mounds, but to the adept in the
civilized mode of diving. who. in his protective
| armor, may remain submerged for hours. and
wander with in,lunity, for miles along those
unknown regions far below the sea. To him
are laid open the horrors Of the watery crea-
| tion. and ne may gaze upon such scenes as
Arabian story tells us were presented to the
fearful eyes Of Abdalah. TO him the most
thrilling occurrences of the upper world seem
frivolous for, in his memory. be retains
thoughts that may well chill the soul with
dread.
| am diver--a diver from choice-nnd
am proud of my profession. Where is such
courage required as is needed here? 1t is
nothing to be q soldier; diver. however,
but forbear. ] 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 calamity
reached the ears Of thousands but amid the
( crowd of aooiI-...- -I:-i t''i""Sn Ia -; =
! succession, IL was soon iOIpOtltll. NV W
US, however We found that the vessel had
sunk upon spot where the waters depth
was by no means great, and that O daring
man might easily reach her
She was steamar called the Marmi"n. and
had been seen going suddenly down. Without
an iustantS warning, by some fishermen
near hy. She had. undoubtedly struck hid
den rock. and had thus been, III one momen,
DESTROYED,
spoke to my associates Of tho plan. ant
they approved it. No time was lost in ma
king the necessary preparations, and shor
time beheld us embarked in our small schoo
ner for the sunken ship. There were six o
u.s. and We anticipated extraordinary success
was the leader, and generally venturet
upon any exploit in which there was uncom
mon danger. Not that the others were COW
ards ; on the contrary. they were all bray
men, but was gifted with coolness and
presence OF mind Of which the others wer
destitute AS two persons were needed. !
order 10 explore the Marmion ] had seecte,
as my companion young fellow, whose ste'
5 diness and dauntless courage had sewers
times before been fearfully tested.
1t was calm and pleasant day. but n
% southern and eastern wind looked deceitml-
% Small suspicious clouds were gathered ther
% i'll of aspect, and "sneaking fellows. reenli
70 hang dog fellows" as my camrade, Rlmme
u remarked to me. Nevertheless, We were NJ
h to be put off by little clouSiness IN the sb
/, but boldly prepared to venture.
So deep was the water. that TO vestige
a ships mast remained above the sni ace
point out the resting place Of the Marmio
"A We were compelled therefore. TO select Il
scene of operations according to the best
our ability. Down went the sails OF O
schooner. and Rimmer and pat on onr ,
wing armor. We fixed our helmets tight
and screwed on the hose. One by one ea
clumsy article was adjusted. The weigh
were hung and we were ready.
ut looks terrible blackish, Berton," sa
Rimmer to me.
"oh," ] replied gaiy, tits only little nj
20 all right !"
"Ah?" lie uttered low exclamatiC
which sounded hollow from his caverno
helmet.
IAN ready,"I cried in loud voice, viii
they however, could not easily distinguish.
Then, making q proper sign, ] was swu
IS. over the side.
ch Down We went. first, and Rimmer eli
ry, behind me-. 1t did not take a long time
us to reach the bottom. We found ourselN
upon what seemed broad plain slop!
downward toward the south, and rising slig
Iy towards the north. Looking forward tn
old dim, black object arose, which our exp'
es' enced eyes knew to be lofty rock.
rd' ! mentioned to Rimmer that we sho
proceed there.
cannot tell the strangeness Of the sen
- ton felt by one who first walks the bottom
the sea.
ch, There are thousand objects fitted to
mp cite the astonishment, even in the mint
lin him who has dared the deed hundred tin
All around us lay the plain. covered by
ter; but here the eye could not pierce
). away, as in the upper air for the water,
Pa. the distance, grew opaque. and seemed
fade away into misty darkness. There
- no sound, except the incessant gurele wi
was produced by the escape Of air from
breast valve. and the pash caused by
passage through the waters. We walked
aich at good pace, for this armor which Sc
so clumsy up above. ia excellent below.
offers little Inconvenience TO the pract
wearer.
Fishes in crowds were around us. Fl
ook Of every shape and size met our eyes, no
Coal ter where they turned. They swan sw
by rs; tbay srorted 10 tbs water sbovs