The Lansing state Republican., 1859-12-20
THE SUBMARINE DIVING.


- .
The grand cause Of excitement yesterday
was the submarine diving. at the foot Of
Randolph street in search Of the body Of
Nr. tampau, to witness which large
crowd collected and lined the dock for some
distance up and down the river. Tie d.
yer Is a Nr. liewett, person of some con.
siderable experience in that line, though
hot a pr,tessonai diver The armor is
new and eXcellees one, and cost originally
some twelve hundred dollars. 1t was pu.-
chase By some gentlemen who proposed
starting 4 submarine diving corporation.
and came into the hands Of Mr. 5 Ii. Clapp,
who disposed Of it for the present purpose
for $500, generously donating so Of that
sum towards the object for which it was i'll
tended. The armoc was purchased 10y Nlr.
Alexander Campau, BROTHER of the missing
man.
The diver descended during the forenoon.
in the presence ot a great number of cltl
zens who collected 10 witness the operation.
\ scow was procured. On which the air
pumps were placed, with men to work them,
and the diver, having encased himself in
the armor, went over the SIDE The armor
consists simply of au India rubber sujt,
made in one entire piece, reaching TO the
shoulders, where 1t was fastened t. i heavy
copper shoulder plate, TO which was a..
tached t-c helmet, a copper globe Of suill-
cicnt size to cover the mead, and at the
same time allow it Z free action. Heavy
plate glass in front and on each side aifor-
ded the means for observation under water,
the whole being firmly joined in order to
entirely exclude the water. For purposes
Of respiration an India rubber tube con
ncctcd with this helmet through which air
was forced by the pumps, sort Of safety
valve supplying the means Of escape when
the pressure became too great, and a lQ9Eg,
lN-E - tuC .tI.'O ttiT ildSSd-c u 'hS
foul air which the diver had breathed Be-
fore he went into the water the armor was
inflated, the air circulating throughout from
head to fooi, and distendlng the dress to an
enormous size. This operation relieves the
diver Of the weight and stiffness Of the ar
NOR while under water, and allows him a
comparatively free use u his limbs. The
feet were enclosed by the armor itself, but
the hands weIc left free and were covered
r by strong woolcn and Indian rubber gloves
Weights were fastened to the outside suth-
, Gent to sink the whole apparatus IN the
water, aud with much prccaution, on ac'
count of the cumbroUs armOr tie diver de
scendcd 4 Ladder. and disappeared from
I sight His course was plainly marked by
the bubbles which arosc, made by the esca
ping air, and the crowd watched his NO
: tons with eagerness as he moved about cl
; the bottom, the long tube and strong safety
line paying cat to toaccommodatc his motions
: \ string tied about his wrist, and held ii
the Land Of one Of the assistants on IN;
D boat, tc!cgraphej his desires and regulate
the supply Of air,
= The diver found great difficulty in keep
: ing such a position as would enable him t.
= work satisfactorily, the current being S
= swift that he was nearly carried away b.
y it, lie proposes 10 remedy this difficult,
y BY having line attached to the dock, b.
" which he may steady himself The wa;e
Is 50 muddy i, present that It Is snpossIb
! to see at a distance, and lie can enly diStln
Il gush the bottom by lying down upon il
: lie can, however, feel about thorough,
It and. upon altering any obstacle, max
! such examination as Is necessary. Ih
? process Of getting in and out Of the wate;
: was attended with go,d deal cf difficulty
" and might be greatly facilitated by iisslL
n a tackle from above. When the diver cam
1t up he was in a partial perspiEation, !nstea
of being chilled through as most OF tn
y spectators expected.
10 TAe operations yesterday were more f9
y the sake of experiment than anything els
y aud all things being satisfactory, the sui
u marine explorations will be carried torwaT
:" as fast IS possible. rs the whole line
i, the dock VIII be searched. many thing
y will doubtless viii be found which will
of interest and value, aside from the re;
object of the search The descent vi
N probable be made from the same place t
2e day as yeSterday.-DetTol. Ere Press