Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-19
THE GAZETTE.
DIVING ar sLBA,IOpUL.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1855

DIVING AT SEBAolOpOL"
A letter describing tie op.rail""s 81 oe-
bastopol for raising the snnk"n hess'an
shins' relates the following iDclde't
"Noyember 5.-We had terrible eAc"e,
man, IN hoard one day lest week ohe 81
ths divers Harris, tic English maine
c., ,.,e fellow. and bold as lion, shes
dovn examining the OUTSIDE ct the ship on
.h;.h ,hev are at work. He had been for
v.rd and was going afr. along the botty m, in
.;,tv feet of water, when he suddenly sis-
nsIed for more air, and though the pressure
vss instantly increased, two more signals Tor
"sir" add 'to come up" followed in rapid
succession, and then ceased all reply to sly
malls given. Thinking the fault was IN the
sir-pump, the speed was Increased until a
pipe bursting near the engine, showed that
the bose was foul. Then they shouted t. the
other diving party. 10 a row-boat az little
distance to come to the rescue. That diver
was brought up by his tenders, aud they
commenced rowing for the steamer. Mean
while, POOR Harris made no more response
20 the anxious signalling OF his tenders,
and they had tried 10 vain 10 haul MIN up
tho "life lioe" was also foul. The pump was
kent SLOWLY in motion, but no bubbles came
M from the water, and We knew that no air
was reaching him The row toat was COM
Jog as fast as possible. but thought it nes-
or would arrive At last they came along
side. The divers helmet was closed, strong
hsnds worked rapidly and s,lently; aud in
On instant be was lowered out of sight, the
hose Of bis suffocating ccmpaolon IN his
hand; there was an interval OF two or three
minutes of fearful suspense. in which no
word was spoken BY any of the score OF men
gather ed there, save one whlsper--"lt must
be too late"
Suddenly a second column of rising air
bubbles appeared. THE hose is cleared
be has air." several voices spoke eagerly
Then followed the signal for rising, and up
they csme-poor Harris all stark ard mt,
Goelesss. "Stop the pump. he IS dead"
said one, unscrewing the eyc-siass, through
which be saw the CHASTITY countenance and
frothy lips. But the cold air striking bis
hvid faoe the eyelds half opened and closed
again. "He is alive" they all cried joyful
II, and removing the unsightiy helmet and
dsshing water on bis head and breast, be
presently began to breathe perceptioly, and
after an hours diligeut rubbing from AS
many strong and willing hands as could get
around bin. be began to come TO conscious
ness. He suffered great pain for hours 10 the
head and breast, but is now altogether re-
covered, and diving as usual. On the whole,
il was such an occurrence as L hope may
not happen here again; that ten minutes, III
which We had the consciousness that man
w. dying fer want OF assistance which we
could by no means give, cannot think oil
without q shudGer. The hose bad got last
under port-coVer iD such way as to cut
OF the cir suddenly and entirely. The HE
line was fast on some old rigging down
10 the mud under the bottom oil the ship.
where he bad crawled in his Jealous search
after holes or injuries. Ii" owes his LIE to
tho oooloess and dexterity of the other diver,
who providentislly followed the hose and
cleared it before descending to him, thus
giving him air two minutes sooner than he
could otherwise have received it, and IT came
late enough.
remember laet winter discussing divers
and diving with our friend -. We were
both uninstructed ns to tn. articulars, like
many others who have not seen the process.
] have snce bad sufi cient opportunity to OF
servo. The dress is Of gutta percha, or rub
ber cloth, large and loose in one piece, pants,
boots, waiscoat and sleeves, into which the
diver is inserted from the top ty his tenders
after substituting heavy fiupel drawers,
socks, &c., for the ordinary apparel Once
tucked ioto this ample casing, the head is
covered With close-fttiDg WOODEN cap, the
breast plate and helmet OF iron put on, the
latter hollow globe, much larger OF course,
than the head, and provided with three little
windows, grated and glaz I'd. called eye glass
%; the front one is always open while dres'-
ing. The upper part Of the dress is now fas-
tened to the breast-piate. being placed be-
tween its edge and a covering metallic rim
which 10 then firmly screwed to Its place by
means OF Q wrench, making the connection
water-tigbt. Heavy cowhde brogans, with
soles Of lead three quarters OF an inch thick'
strong rubber rings for the wrist which pre-
vent water from catering the sleeve, and the
sirdle OF shot. weighing some seventJ hive
pounds, complete the firing The lifeline Is
tied round the waist, the sheath-kite placed
in his belt, the pump is started, the eye-slass
screwed 10, and be is ready to descend The
dress being DOW filled with air, the shape
less body and limbs of the monster swelling
20 size fitting that of his head, making a.
together hideous figure which you are not
sorry 70 see vanish out Of sight, wondering
what sort of reception the mermalds Will
give him if he falls 10 their way. The fish
are not afraid of them they sometimes
briugups pocketful The hose which sup
plies ebis air is of guita percha, OF halt inch
bore, aud attached to the helmet just at the
bump of self.esteem. The lifeline, 10y which
sigosis are transmitted, is passed through a
loop on the right eye-glass. so that the eight
ess motions are felt. He usually descends
part Of the way, at least on rope-iadder'
but 10 sometimes lowered by the lifeline from
tho fret.
The pressure of air is gradually increased
- be goes lower, more force being required
Of course, to supply the air. If the pump
10 worked by hand it requires four men to
tend it two turning at once. and frequently
chan iog. Two "tenders" stand bJ-one
holding the bose, the other the lifeline the st-
tor literally holding the Divers life 10 bis
hand, as inastention to Signals frequently
might oause bis death. Ooce on the bottom,
o. Oh the ship, our norman walks about
or works as elsewhere. Our divers for three
months past have averaged perhaps four and
Q half hours under water, and hard at work,
Der diem. They have frequently, however
been down six and over eight hours, IN wa
Ter from thirty to sixty feet deep. They can
\ e a.. IAA