Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-02-27
THE FOUNDERED STEAMER.
A Scene i'm the Ocean Depths.

A Scene i'm the Ocean Depths
An appalling shipwreck occurred not long
ago, upon the widest part of the coast Of New
foundland. The tdngs of this calamity reached
the of thousands; but amid the crowd of acci-
dents which followed in quick succession, it was
soon forgotten. Not by our party of divers, how
ever We found the vessel had sunk upon a spot
where the water's depth was by no means great,
and that daring man might easily reach her
She was steamer called the MarniOn, and had
been seen going suddenly down without an in
stant's warning, by some fishermen near by. She
had undoubtedly struck rock, and had thus
been, in one moment, destroyed
spoke to my associates OF plan to reach the
vessel, and they approved it. No time was lost
in making the necessary preparations, and short
time behed us embarked in our small schooner
for the sunken ship. There were six of us, and
we anticipated extraordinary success. AS two
persons were needed, in order TO explore the
Marmion, / had selected my companion
young fellow whose steadiness and dauntless
courage had several times been fairly tested.
So deep was the water that no vestige of
ships mast remained above the surface, to point
out the resting place of the Marion. We were
compelled, therefore, to select the scene of oper
atoms according to the best of our ability. Down
went the sails of our schooner, and Rimmer and
put on our diving armor We fixed on our
helmets tightly, and screwed on the hose. One
by one each clumsy article adjusted. The
weights were hung, and we were ready.
1t locks terrible blackish, Berton,' said Rim
mer to me.
.'Oh,' Ireplied, gaily, Sits only little mist
all right'
'Ahr He uttered low exclamation, which
sounded hollow from his cavernous helmet.
'Al ready, cried in lond voice, which
they, however, could not easily distinguish
Then, making proper sign, was swung over
She side.
Down we went, first, aud Rimmer close be-
bind me- it did not take long time for us to
reach the bottom. We found ourselves upon what
seemed broad plain, sloping downward toward
fhe south, and rising gently toward the north
Looking forward, then, dim, black object alose,
which our experienced eyes knew to be a lofty
rock. motioned TO Rimmer that we should pro
eecd there.
cannot tell the strangeness of the sensation
felt by one who first walks the bottom Of the sea.
There are a thousand objects fitted to excite as
tonishment, even in the mind of him who has
dared the deed hundred times All around us
lay the plain, covered by water but here the eye
could not pierce far away, in the upper air, for
the water, in the distance, grew opaqne, and
seemed TO fade away into misty darkness There
was no sound, except the incessant gurgle which
was produced by the escape Of air from the breast
valve, and the splash caused by our passage
through the waters We walked on at good
pace for This armor, which seemed so clumsy up
above, is excellent below, and offers little incon
crowds were around us. Fishes of every shape
and size met our eyes, no matter where we turn
ed. They swan swiftly by us; they sported in the
water above us they raced and chased one an
other, in every direction. Here shoal of por
poiscs tumbed along in clumsy gambols, there a
grampns might be seen rising slowly to the sur
face here an immense number of smaller fish
flashed past us, there some huge ones, with pom
derous FORMS 1oatcd in the water lazily. Some
times three or four placed themselves directly
before us, staring at us, and solemnly working
their gills. There they would remain, until we
came close up to them, and then, with start,
they would dart away.
All this time we were walking onward, along
the bottom of the sea, while above u.s. like a
black cloud in the sky, we could see our boat
slowly moving onward upon the surface of the
water And now, not more than a hundred yards |
before us, we could see the towering form of that
ebony rock, which had at first greeted our eyes
from afar. AS yet, we could not be certain that
this was the place where the Marmion bad struck
But room a round, black object became discerni-
bic, as we glanced at the rocky base. Rimmer
struck my arm, aud pointed. | signed assent, and
we moved onward more quickly. few mo-
mens elapsed we had come nearer the rock
The black object now looked like the stern of a
vessel, whose hull lay there
Suddenly Rimmer struck me again, and point
cd upward. Following the direction of his hand
looked up, and saw the upper surface of the
water all toamy and in motion. There was a
fnOmeniary thrill through my heart, but il passed
over We were IN a dangerous condition A
storm was coming on. But should we turn back
now, when We were so near the object of our
search? Already it lay before We were
close beside ii. No, | would not. ] sgnaled to
Rimmer to go forward, and we still kept our
course.
Now the rock rose up before u.s. black, rugged,
dismal Its rough sides were worn by the action
Of the water, and, in some places, were covered
lxy plop on1
We passed onward, we clambered over a spur,
which jutted from the cliff and there lay the
steamer The Marmion-there she lay upright,
with everything still standing She had gone
right down, and had settled in such position,
among the rocks, that she stood upright here
just as though she lay at her wharf We rushed
eagerly along and clamberea up her side. There
low moan in the water, which sounded
warningly in our ears, and told of a swift-ap-
preaching danger. What was to be done, must
be done speedily. We hurried forward Rmmer
rushed into the cabin. / went forward to descend
into the hold. l descended the ladder walked
into the engineer room. All was empty here
all was water. The waves of the ocean had en-
tered, and were sporting with the works OF man.
went into the freight room. Suddenly | was
startled by an appalling noise upon the deck
The heavy footsteps of some one, running, as
though in mortal iear or most dreadful haste,
sounded in my ears. Then my heart throbbed
wildly for it was fearful thing to hear, far
down, down in the silent depths of the ocean,
Pshaw it's only Rimmer! j hurriedy ascended
the deck by the first outlet that appeared. When
l speak OF hurry. speak of the quickest move
ment possible, when numbered with so much ar.
NOR But this movement of mine was quick |
rushed upwards sprang on the deck.
Itwas Rmmer He stopped and clutched my
arm. He pressed il with a convulsive grasp, and
pointed to the cabin. ] attempted 10 go there
He stamped his foot, and tried to hold me back. |
He pointed to the boat, and implored me, with
frantic gestures, TO go up. 1t is appalling to
witness the horror struck attempt to express it. |
self by signs. 1t R awful to see these signs when
no face is plainly visible, but his eyes, through
bis heavy mask, glowed like Goals offre. Il will
go = sought TO exclaim. sprang from him.
He clasped his hands together but dared not fol
low. Good heavens l thought, what fearful
thing is here What scene can be so dreadful as
10 paralYze the soul of q practiced diver / will |