Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-05-05
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DlvIug nj saVastOpOI.

ships, reiatos Tue lOllONlnS lncluent.
November 5.-We bad terrible ex.
element on board one day last week. One
of the divers Harris the English marine, j
a first rate fellow, and bold IS q lion, goes
down examining the outside Of the ship
on which thly are at work. He had been
forward aud was going aft, along the bot
tom. in sixty feet of water, when he sud.
denly sgnalled for more air, and though
the pressure was instantly increased, two
more Signals for %oir," and ITO come up, )"
followed in Eapid succession, and then
eeased all reply to signals given.
thinking the fault was in the air pump,
u speed was increased until pipe burst.
iDg near the engine showed that the hose
was foul. Then they shouted to the other
diving party in row boat at a distance,
to come to the rescue. That diver was
brought up by his tenders, and they com.
menced rowing for the steamer.
Meanwhile poor Harris made no more
response to the anxious signaling Of bis
tenders. and they had tried in vain to haul
him up-the "life line" was also foul. -
The pump was kept in motion, but no
bubbles came up from the water, and we
knew that no air was reaching him.
The row boat was coming as fast as pos
sible, but l thought it would never arrive.
At last they came alongside. The divers
helmet was clOsed--strong hands worked
rapidly and silently, and in an instant he
was lowered out of sight, the hose of bis
sufFocating companion in bis hand; there
was an interval Of two or three minutes Cf
fearful suspense, in which no word was
spoken by any Of the sccre Of men gath.
cred there, save one whisper-"A must be
too late"
Suddenly a second column Of rising air
bubbles appeared. "The hose is cleared
he has air." several voices spoke eagerly.
Then followed the signal for rising, aud
up they came--poor Harris all stark and
motionless. "Stop the pump. be is deadr'
sid one, unscrewing the eye-glass though
which he saw the ghastly countenance aud
frothy lips. But the cold air striking BIZ
livid face, the eyelids half opened and cIo-
.sed again.
ale is alive" they all cried joyfully,
and removing the unsightly helmet and
dashing water on his head and breast, be
presently began to breathe preceptibly, and
after an hours dilligent rubbing from al
many strong and willing hands as could
get around him, he began to come to con
sciousness. He suffered great pain fol
hours In the heal and breast, but is now
altogether recovered, and diving as usual
On the whole, it was such an occurrence
as l hope may not happen here again
that ten minutes, in which we had the con
sci0usness that man was dying for tbC
want Of assista ce which we could BY ne
means give, cannot think of without {
shudder. The hose had got fastened un'
der a port cover in such way as to cu
off the air suddenly and entirely. The
life line was fast on some old rigging dowr
in the mud under the bottom of the ship
where be had crawlel in his Jealous search
after holes or injuries. He owes bis life t.
the GOODNESS and dexterity of the other di
yer, who providentially followed the hosc
aud cleared it before descending to him
thus giving him air two minutes soone
than be could otherwise have received it
and it came late enough.
l remember last winter discussing di
vers and diving with our friend-. w
we're both uninstructed as to the particu
lars, like many others WHO have not seel
the process. l have since had sufficien
opportunity 10 observe. The dress is o
gutta percha, or rubber cloth, large AM
loose in one piece, pants, boots, waistcoa
and sleeves, into which the diver is insert
ed from the top by his tenders after sub
stituting heavy flannel drawers, seeks, &c
for the ordinary apparel. Once tucked in
to this ample casing the head is covere
with close fitting woolen cap, the breast
plate and helmet of iron put on, the latte
= : hollow globe, much larger, of cours'
than tho head, and provided with thre
little windows, grated aud glazed, calle
eyeglasses; the front one is always ope
while dressing. The upper part Of th
dress is now fastened to the breast-platt
being placed between its edge and a GOV
ering metallic rim which is then frml
screwed to its place by means of a wrencl
making the connection water.tight. Heav
cOwhide brogans. with soles of lead thre'
quarters of al inch thick, strong rubbt
rings for the wrist which prevent watt
from entering the sleeve, and the girdle
shot weighing some seventy. FIVE pound
complete the firing.
The lifeline is fled ROUND the waist, IL
sheath'knife placed in his belt, the pun
is started, the eye-glass screwed in, an
he is ready to descend. The dress bein
now filed with air, the shapeless body an
limbs of the monster swelling to sii
fitting thai of bis head, making altogeth,
a hideous figure, which you are not sorI
to see vanish out Of sight, wondering VIII
sort Of reception the mermaids will CIV
him If he falls in their way. (The 6'
are not afraid of them-they sometim
bring up pocket full.) The hose wEic
supplies the air is of gutta percha, of h'
inch bore, and attached to the helmet ju
at the bump of self-esteem. The escal
valve is below 1t. The lifeline, by whit
signals are transmitted, is passed throue
a loop on the right eyeglass, SO that i
slightest motions are fet. He usually d
scends part of the way, st least, on rol
ladder, but sometimes lowered by the Ii