New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-17

Q port. cover in such a way to cut oil the air
suddenly and entirely. The lifeline Was fast on
old rigging down hs,s .ne he af had rrars Iss
in his zeaous search after holes or injuries. He
his life 10 the GOODNESS and dexerfy OF the other diver
wlo providentiay followed the hose and cleared It
before descending to him, mus g.sag LIN, a,l Two
minutes than he couIa h"'o received
| il; and il came late enough . ,:,,
| ing with our friend -. we were both unin-
s .s.d a. .o the particulars, like many others who
bsve not seen the process / have since had sufi-
Gent opportunity to observe. The dress Is OF guta
n.rcbn or rubber CLOTH large and oose in one piece,
I1snts boo.s vaistcoat and sleeves INTO which the
foy IA inserted from the top by hi. tenders after
snbti,uti,p heavy flannel drawers, socks &c., for
the ordinary apparel Otce tucked INTO THIS ample
casing the head il covered with closehtng woo'en
c,n The bre art plate and helmet OF iron put on the
latter hollow globe, much larger, of course, than
tbe lead. and piovided with three little windows,
mated aud glazed called eyeglasses the from.
= nlways ouen wi lie dressing. The upper part Of the
drers Is now iasteLed to the breastplat, being placed
l., tween its edge and covering metallic rim which
is then firmly screwed to rs place by
means Of wreDe 1hns the vb oaS " ssd
three quarters Of an inch thick, strong rubber rings
for the wrist which prevent water from enterng
the sleeve, and the girdle OF shot, weighing some
seytlty-fve pounds, complete the firing The lifeline
i tied round the waist the sheath knife placed in his
bet the pupp is started the eye-glass screwed 10,
and he is ready TO descend. The dress being now
filed with air, the sbapeless body and limbs Of the
MOI ster swelling 10 size fitting that of his head,
make altogether hideous figure, which you are not
sorry to re vanish out of sight, wondering what sort
of reception the mermaids will give him ii he falls in
their way. THE fish not afraid of them-they
sometimes bring up pocket FULL The hose which
supplies his air is Of guta percha Of half inch bore,
and attached to the helmet Just at the bump Of self
esteem. The escape valve is below it. The lifeline,
by which signals are transmitted is passed through
loop on the right eye-glass, that the sghtes
tons felt He usually descends part OF the way,
at least on roIe ladder but is sometimes lowered by
the lifeline from the first. The pressure Of air
ia gradually increased as he goes lower, more
folce being required of course to supply the air. II
the pump i worked by hand il requires four men to
tend 1.-two turning at once, and frequently changing
Two tenders stand by-one holding the nose, the
divers life in bis hand inattenton TO signals fire.
Queitly might cause bis DEATH Once on the bottom,
or on tie ship, our merman walks about or works as
elsewhere. Our divers for three months past have
averaged perhaps four and half hours under water
al hard at work, per diem. They have frequently
however, been down six and even eight hours, in
from thirty to sixty feet deep. They can descend
in water one hundred and fifty feet, but do not like
TO work deeper than hundTed--the increased
pressure sensibly affecting the head at greater
depth. 1t would be interesting to know upon what
ply sica characteristics the ability to endure the
pressure inevitable in descending under water de-
pelds. can discover no difference in quantity or
quality of brain orlungs, between who can stay
down hours without inconvenience, and others who
cannot 90 at all, or who on trlal, have surered long
and severely after coming up from the merest expert
mental dive. And the regular divers of various
temperaments; but thing is common to all; that
is broad shoulders and deep chests thus large lungs
are indispensable, faccy; but that is not all, for
some of the best-provded in that respect have been
unable to stay.
The larger pay which divers receive, and the extra
accommodations which they have on board here
made all the forecastle men anxious to enlist when u
recrui. was requred but very many were obliged TO
give il up on single trial, while others like Harris
went regularly to work from the first day. They all
have sate-ro0ms to sleep in, and place at the mates
table; and, for OF them, who have always been
sailors before the mast at $40 sl5 per month, with
forecaste fare the change including triple pay, makes
quite favorable turn of fortune, and in appearance
q another man of them" IIarris-who is genuine
specimen Of rollicking tar named him at first sight
"Model Jack'), trim-but active fellow, with
curling bar and bright eyes, and all that reckless irre
sponsbty Of character for which his class famous
forever getting into scrapes, and never having dollar
due-has become one of the steadiest men aboard
one Of the few who are TO be trusted to go ashore
when he pleases, and is the most valuable diver ofthe
corps.
TIE wind and rain have come upon us again-there
is lumning and shrieking the cordage-great swels
are rolling in from the sea, and breakers foaming white
upon the shore opposite. am glad we are in the
hsrhor Alden. ;. l.. =.