Arkansas intelligencer., 1858-04-30

got fast under port-cover in such way a.
10 cut off the air suddenly and entirely. The
life line was fast on some old rigging down in
the mud under ths bottom Of the ship, where
he had crawled in bis Jealous search after
holes and injuries. lie owes his life 10 the
coolness and dexterity of the other diver, who
providentaly followed the hose and cleared
it before descending 10 him, thus giving him
air two minutes sooner than he could other
wise have received it; and it came late esough.
The diving dress is of gutta percha 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 substituting heavy flannel drawers, socks,
&c, for the ordinary apparel.
Once tucked into this ample casing. tho
head is covered with a close fitting woolen
cap, the breast plate and helmet Of iron put
on the latter, hollow globe, Euch larger, of
course, than the head, and provided w;ih
three little windows. grated and glazed, saa-
ed eyeglasses; the front one is always open
while dressing. The upper part of the dres,
is now fastened TO the breastpate, being pla-
eed between is edge, and covering metallic
rim, which is then firmly screwed 10 its place
bv means of wrench, making the connection
wHtcr-iiLht. Heavy cowhide brogans. with
soies Of lead three quarters Of an inch thick,
strong rubber rings for the wrist, which pre-
vents water from entering the sleeve, and tho
girdle of shot, weighing some seventy five
pounds, complete the tiring. The life line is
tied round the waist, the sheath-knife placed
in his belt, the pump is started, eve glass
screwed in, and he is ready To descend The
dress being now filed with air, the shapeles.
body aud and the imLs Of the monster swell
linz to size fitting that Of his head. make
altogether = hiaeous fgure, which you are
not sorry 10 see vanish out Of sight, wondering
what sert of reception the uermaids viii
give him il he falls ia ihc.r. w@v. The ti>h
are not afraid Of them-they sometimes bring
up pocket fall.
The hose which supplies lis ais is Il Cutts
percha. Of half.inch bore, and attach.d ~ the
helnet just al the bump Of so!fezteem. ihe
escape-v5,vc Is below Il. Tie lifeline, by
which signals are TRANSMITTED, Is passed thu
loop OF ihs right eye-.iaSs So that tie
slightest muti6I.s are f.Il. lie usually &c
ScenIs part II the way, AZ least. OH a ToI,e
ladder, but IS something's lowered by ilr !ife
line from the first. Ike pressure Of sir j. grad
uaily increased a, he goes .Jwer, more forge
being required. e cur'~e, % supply the sir
If the pump i worked by hand, it rec aires
four men TO Ernd it-twu " them turning at
once, and frequently changing. Two lend
err" stand by-oue holliEg thc hose aud the
other the !llc. line; the latter literally hulIin.
the divers lie in his hands, as ANY inaiteu
ton to the signal frcqa- n,ly g,ight cause his
death. ONCE on tie bottom, or IN the .hig,
Our mcrmaa walks aboat az works as else
where.
Our divers iur months last have averaged
perhaps, toU. sad ,.aif hours nndrr water
aad hard at WORK. ref den. They hav, ire
qurntly, howe.er, Lren IoRu six, and even
eight hours, IN wafer f,uw thirty 10 sixty feet
deep. They can descend in water one hun
drea aal II y feet. bg, do not Ike 10 work
deeper than one hundred fcet-the increased
pressure sensib,y affecting the head at a urea-
ter del'.h. The large pay which di,ers r.
cclIc, .uI the extra Recommendations which
they have on board here, made all lie fura-
castle men anNloi,s to cul-i when a recruit
wa required but very Tpany were ol1igcI to
-i'e j. up Ola single tri,l. wi:lc Others. tl!ke
I!1rrs,) went regularly - work from tl.e fr>t
day. HEY al. have ,tater1ums tu sleep IN,
and place 2; the mate, l.,b,.; AMI. fyr ,ou.,
Of them, who have always been sailors p. fore
the mast, at ten or fifteen dollars per m ,rt,.
with torecas;ly fare. the eliange. iurIuL.u.
tnl!e pay, makes quite a favorable turn OF
fortune.