Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-05-07
Perils of sea.Diring.

. we 14Q terrible excitement, one uay
last week, says correspondent writing
private letter home from one OF the Amer
lean expeditions in SebsstoPol harbor.
One of the divers, Harris, the English
marine, a first rate fellow, and bold as
lion, goes down examining the outside OF
the ship on which they we're at work. He
had been forward and was going aft,
along the bottom. in sixty feet of water.
when he suddenly signaIed for more air.
and though the pressure was instantly
increased, two more signals for "air" and
to "come up" followed in rapid success
sion, aud then ceased all reply to signals
given. Thinking the fault was in the air
pump, the speed was increased until a
pipe bursting near the engine showed that
the hose was foul. Then they shouted
TO the other diving party in row boat.
at n little distance. TO come TO the rescue.
That diver was broug ght ur by his tenders,
and they commenced rowing for the
steamer. Meanwhile, poor Harris, made
no more response to the anxious signal
ing Of his tenders, and they tried 10 vain
tohaul him up-the "life line" was also
foul. The pump was kept slowly in mo-
ton. aud we knew that no air was reach>
ing him. 24 "
The row boat was coming as fast
as possible, but l thought it never
would arrive. At last. they came along.
side. The divers helmet was closed
strong hands worked rapidly and silent
Iy. and in an instant he was lowered out
of.sight. the hose of his suffOcating com
paIiion in his hand there was an intcr>
n Al e f.. E,,l
pense, in Whichsno " ord was spoken By
any Of the score Of men who gathered
there, save the whisper--''It must be too
late" Suddenly second column OF
rising air bubbles appeared. The hose
is cleared--he has air." several voices
spoke eagerly. Then followed the signal
for rising. and they came. poor Harris.
stark and motionless. Stop the pump.
he is dead" said one. rewing the eye
glass through which he saw the ghaStly
countetance and frothy lips. But the
cold air striking his liyid face. the eye
lids half opened and closed again. "He
is alive" they all cried. and removing
the unsightly helmet and dashing water
on his head aud breast, he presently be,
gan to breathe percepuhly. and after an
hours diligent rubbing from as many
strong and willing hands a. could get
around him. he began to come to con
seiousness. He suffered great pain lor
hours in the head and breast. but is now
altogether recovered. and diving as
usual. tr,..
:. .On the whole, it was such AN occur
renee as ! hope may not happen here
again that ten minutes. in which We had
the consciousness that a man was dying
for want of assistance which we could by
no means give. cannot think Of without
shudder. The hose got fast under n
port cover in such way as to cut of
the air suddenly and entirely. The life.
line was fast on some old rigging down
in the mud under the bottom Of the ship,
where he had crawled in his Jealous
search after holes or injuries. He owes
his life to the GOODNESS and dexLeri;v OF
the other diver, who proyidentially fol-
lowed the hose and cleared it before de
Scending to him. thus giving him air two
minutes sooner than he could have other.
wise received it and it came late
enough. The diving dress is of gutta per-
cha or rubber cloth. large and loose, in
one piece, pants, boots. waistcoat and
sleeves. into which the diver is inserted
from the top by his tenders. after substitu-
ting heavy flannel drawers, socks. etc.,
for the ordinary apparel.
Once tucked into this ample casing.
the head is covered with a close .6ttinT
Wooleu cap. the breast plate and helmet
ofirou put on the latter, q hollow globe,
much larger. Of course. than the head
and provided with three little windows
grated and glazed, called eyeglasses
the front one is always open while dress
ing. The upper part of the dress is now
fastened to the breastplate. being placed
between its edge. aud covering metallic
Tim, which is then firmly screwed to It's
place by means OF wrench, making the
connection water-tight. Heavy cowhide
orogaus. with soles of lead, three quar-.
quarters of an inch thick. strong rubber
rings for the wrist. which prevents water
from entering the sleeve, and the piEtlle
OF shot weighing some seventh five
pounds, commplete the attirinq. The life.
line is is tied around the Waist ttbe
Sheath-knife placed in his left belt .he
pump is started, ye'glass screwed in and
he is ready to descend. The dress bsino
now filled with air, the shapeless bod
and limbs OF the monster swelling to :
size fitting that of his head. make alto
gether hideous figure, which you ar
not sorry to see vanish out of sight, won
dering what sort Of reception the mer
maids will give him, il he falls in thei
way. The fish are not afraid of them
they sometimes bring up pocket full.
Inc hose which supplies his air is Q