Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-07
Correspondence Of the Boston Transcrlpt

DIVING AT SEBAsToPoL. OLD SHELLS. The
modus operandi of diving may thus be briefly
described The divers boat is 26 feet in
length by 6 in width The crew consists of
ten Russians, ton luborcrs and ten divers,
commanded by an American. The boat be-
ing moored mt the proper position, number
of the crew proceed to dress the diver, for it
is impossible for him to dress himself, as for
a fair Russiennc to fix for the ball, without
the aid of her femmes de toilette.
The outer garment is Of gutta-percha, fit
ting snugly to the person; the bracelets Of
India rubber, and water-tight, clasp the wrists
SO as to complete the imperviousness Of the
whole armor The heid-dress is a huge
heavy copper helmet, weighing 50 pounds,
containing in front a glass. 4 inches in
diameter, through which the diver may use
his eyes in the water to the depth of about
100 feet. Below this limit is " darkness
visible" The breast-plate consists of q fat
piece of lead, of is pounds weight, counter
balanced by IA corresponding one on the back,
The shoes are Of thick COW hide, with leaden
soles an inch thick. He now stands clad in
complete armor of the heaviest mould, shut
out from the world, as it were, dep. ndant
upon his faithful attendants at the air-pump
for the breath OF life, deprived of all verbal
communication with outsiders. he belongs to
the watery regions below he is now assisted
to the ladder pendant from the sides of the
boat he dtscends Immediately out of sight,
and in few moments, is cropping about the
| bed Of the harbour, with his axe, saw or
knife. with marvellous facility, as If, indeed,
he was TO the "manner born"
Attached to his costume are lines which
he uses for signals to the operators above. He
fastens rop1 or chain to an object, gives
the signal, and the object is at once dra En
up. For blasting, he takes und'r his arm n
gutta-percha bag containing 200 pounds OF
powder, which is connected with galyanic
wire, fixes the charge in the most available
position for the greatest effect, signallzes and
is drawn up. The battery is then operated
and the charge explodes, and havoc ensues
After few hours the disturbed water be-
comes clear enough for the diver to again de-
scend, and explore the effect of the blast In
Vulnerable fishes are stirred from theil
apathy by the explosion, and swim about thC
diver with the utmost familiarity, and by
their close inspection evidently regard him n
q strange fish. Oneof the divers was ono
accosted by monstrous ground shark, whicl
becoming altogether too affectionate in hi
salutations for human comfort, was repulstt
by stabs AMI kicks on the part Of the diver
who finding the encounter waxing keen, CAV
: the signal to his allies, and rose to the SUI
; face, hotly pursued by his pcrtinacious an
tagonist.
The bombshols thrown about the city du
ring the siege are still doing the work {
!. death. No less than eight deaths, ! think
! have been caused by explosions of these mi
siles since my arrival, hardly year sine
Only a few days ago, two seamen belougir
= to the English steamer "Boyrout,' can
IF ON shore near our shipyard, and Tor ie
> minutes were conversing with Mr., Cover
,, They then started for the Redan, quito nsa
Z our residence, and on reaching the broa4
, work, one Of them picked up an uncxplod,
~ detonating she'll, intending to keep It as
i relic, but finding it rather heavy, threw
y down, when it instantly exploded, and kill
7 him, almost severing the head from the bod
= and completely cutting of his right leg. T
:. remains were brought to our yard, when
70 they were buried. Ills companion escap
:, with slight scratch upon the lip On t
= - followiag day, two Russians wer5 killed in
80 similar manner, while picking out the sto
y per of shell.
y, ~ The lock by which tho conoussion ignit
IL the powder OF the shell is n curious q ,ir,
being a small equilateral cross, with a c.
ed sule at each point, and f0ar littl4 hanm
lg held by human hair. \ sudden jar brel
&. tho HAIR, causing tAo hammer 70 etriko