Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-26

"Ah !" He uttered low exclamation
which sounded hollow from his cafernons
helmet.
" All ready" cried in loud voice, which
they, however could not easily distinguish
Then, making proper sigu, l was swung over
the side
Down we went, first, and Rimmer close
behind me. 1t did not take long time for 4,
to reach bottom. We found ourselves upon
what seemed broad plain, ,sloping dow inward,
toward the south, and rising slightly, toward
the north. Looking forward then, dim, black
object arose, which our experienced eyes knew
to be lofty rock.
l motioDed to Rimmer that we should pro
ceed there
cannot tell the strangeness of the sensa-
tion felt by one who first walks the bottom of
the sea.
There are a thousand objects, fitted to excite
astoulshment, even in tue mind of him who has
dared the deed hundred times. Ali around
us lay the plain, covered by water but here
the eye could not pierce far away, as in the
upper air, for the water, in the distance, grew
opaque, and seemded to fade away into misty
darkness. There was no sound, except the in
ceSsant gurgle which was produced by the
escape of air from the breast valve, and the
plaSh caused by our passage through the wa
teTs. We walked on at a good pace for this
armor, which seems so clumsy up above, is
excellent below, and offers little ncouT enience
to the practiccd wearer.
Fishes in crowds were around US. Fishes Of
every shape aud size met our eyes, no matter
where they turned. They swan swiftly by US;
they sported in the water aboVer US; they raced
! and chased one another, iu every direction
Here shoal of porposes tumbled along in
clumsy gambols, there a grampus might be
seen rising sIoElv to the surface here an i'm
mense number of smaller f,h flashed past Us,
| there some huge ones, with ponderoas tormS
foated in the water lazily. Sometimes three
or four placed themselves directly before u.s.
solemuy- working their gills There they
Would reman till we come close up to them,
and then, with a start, they would dart away
All this time we were walking onv ard along
the bottom of the sea, while above Us, like
ulack cloud in the sky we could see our boat
slowly moving onward upon the surface OF the
water. And now, not more than a hundred
wards before rs, we could see the towering
| form of that ebony rock which had at first
greeted cur eyes from Il far As yet,we could
not be certain that this was the place where
the Marmion had struck. But soon a round,
black object became discernibe as we glanced
at the rocky base.
Rium,r struck my arm, and pointed
signed assent, aud We hoved onward more
qucly.
A few moments elapse we hal came near
er to the rock The oack object now looked
like the stern of vessel whose hull lag there
Suddenly. Rmmer struck ME again. and
pointed upward Following the direction O.
! his hand, looked up,and saw the upper suriac
| Of the water all foamy aud in motion Thert
vas momeutary thrill through my heart, but
| il passed over. We were in a dangerous con
dtion. A storm coming on
| But should we turn back now, when W.
were so near the object of our search?
ready it lay before U.s. We were close hesd
! i No. | would not ] SigDallZ3d TO Rlmmel
to 90 forward and we still kept our con'se.
Now the rock rose up before US, black, rug
gcd, dismal. lis rCu5h sides We're worn by
| the action of the water, and in some places,
we're covered by marine plants, and nameIesS
ocean vegetation. We passed onward, we clam
! bered over spur, which jutted from the clitf,
and there lay the steamer.
The Marmion-there she lay upright, will
everything still standing. She had gone rgh'
down and had settled in such position,
among the rocks, that shelay as at her wharf
We ~ushed eagerly along and clambe'ei ny
her side There was low moan in the water
which sounded warning!y in our ears, and
told US of swift-approaching danger. What
was to Le done, must be done speedily we
hur led forward. Rimmer rushed to the cabin.
| went forward, to descend into the bold.
descended the ladder. | walked into the engl-
neer's room All was empty here, all va
water. The waves of the ocean had entered,
aud were sp )rting with works of man. l went
into the freght,room. Suddenly, was star
tied by an appalling noise upon the deck
The heavy footsteps of some one running, as
though in mortal fear, or most dreadful haste
sounded in NV ears Then my heart throbbed
wildly ; for it was fearful thing to hear, far
down in the silent depths of the ocean.
Pshaw it's only Rimmer.
l hurriedly assembled the deck by the first
outlet that appeared When | speak of'hurry,
| speak of the quickest movement possible,
when numbered with so much armor. But
this movement of mine was quick rushed
upwards sprang out on the deck
1t was Rimmer
He stepped forward and clutched my arm,
He pressed it WITH convulsive grasp, and
pointed 10 the cabin.
| attempted to go there.
He stamped his foot and tried to hold me
back He pointed to the boat, and implored
me, with frantic gestures, to 60 Up.
1t is appalling to witness the horror struck
soul trying to express itself by signs. 1t is
awful to see these signs when no face is plain
Iy visible, and no voice is heard. could not
see his face plainly, but his eyes, through his
heavy mask, glowed like Goals of fire.
Il will go /" exclaimed. sprang from
him. He clasped his hands together, but da-
red not follow.
Good heavens thought, what fearful thing