Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-29
MisteIlanp.
DIVING AT SEBASTOPOL.

A letter describing the operation at Sc
hastopol for raising the sunkcn Russian
ships, relates the following incident
"a Noaember 5-We had terrible excite
,nent on board one day last week. One of
the divers Harris, the English marine,) a
first rate fellow, and bold as a lion, goes
down examining the outside of the ship on
which they are at work. He had been for
ward and was going aft, along the bottom
in sixty feet Of water, when he suddenly
signaled for more air, and though the pres
sure was instantly increased, two more sig
mails for "air," and 4to come up" followed
10 rapid succession, and then ceased all re-
ply to signals given.
Thinking the fault was in the air-pump,
the speed was increased until a pipe burst
ing near the engine showed that the hose
was foul. Then they shouted 10 the 9TH
er diving party in row boat at a distance,
TO come to the rescue. That diver was
brought up by his tenders, and they COM
menced rowing for the steamer.
Meanwhile, poor Harris made no more
response 10 The anxious signaling of his
tenders, and they had tried in vain 10 haul
him up-lhe "life line" was also FOUL
The pump was kept slowly in motion, but
no bubbles came up from the water, and
we knew that no air was reaching him.
The row boat was coming as fast as pos
sible, but thought it never would arrive.
At last they came alongside. The divers
helmet was closed. strong hands worked
rapidly and silently, and in an instant he
was lowered out of sight, the hose of his
sufocating companion in his hand; there
was an interval of two or three minutes Of
fearful suspense, in which no word was
spoken by any ofihe score of men gather
ed there, save one whisper--@lt must be
too Iate." i t.s.. f-a 5-r,z 4 ,s
4 Suddenly second colum of rising air
bubbles appeared. 'The hose is cleared
he has air." several voices spoke eagerly.
Then followed the signal for rising, and
up they came-poor Harris all stark and
motionless. "Stop the pump, he is dead"
said one, unscrewiug the eye-glass through
which he saw the ghastly countenance and
ffothy lips. But the cold air striking his
lived face, the eyelids half opened and clos
cd again. ta
u99Iie is alive they all cried joyfully,
and removing the unsightly helmet and
dashing water on bis head and breast, he
presently began to breath perccptibly, and
after an hours diligent rubbing from as
many strong willing bands as could get
around him, he began to come to conscious
ness. He suffered great pain for hours in
the head and breast, but is now altogether
recovered, and diving as usual. gs.asg gle
O1 the whole, it was such an occurrence
as hope may not happen here again; that
ten MINUTES, IN which he had the conscious
ness that man was dying for the want of
assistance which we could by no means
giye, / cannot think of without a sbudder
The hose had got fast under a port cover
in such way as to cut off the air sudJen.
ly and entirely. The lifeline was fast on
some old rigging down in the mud under
the bottom Of the ship, where he had crawl
ed in his jealous search after holes or in
juries. He owes his life to the GOODNESS
and dexterity of the other diver, who prov
identially followed the hose and cleared it
before descending to him, thus giving him
air two minutes sooner than he could 9th
erwise have received it; and it came late
enough. s 5an q
Iremember last Winter discussing div
ers and diving with our friend We
were both uninstructed as 10 the particu-
lars, like many Others who have not seen
the process. l have siuce had sufficient
opportunity TO observe. The dress is Of