Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-03-26
Submarine Observation-Disclosures the Bsss
Tsms Of the MsatEeKs.

Correspondence Of the New York Tribunsl
OFF NORRIS ISLAND, December 24-D airing
; recent visit to Port Royal, 1 Witnessed with
considerable interest the operations of the di-
vsTs employed to clean the bottoms Of tbs mon-
itoTs, sud perform other operations under the
water. Messrs Joseph H Smith and James B
Phelps have contract with the Government tor
the performance of this work, and have been Of
great use here. The principal divsr-sppro-
pIiately named WateFs-is so used to this work
that be hss become almost smphibious remain
ing for FIVE or six hours ct time under water
A msn OF heIculean strength and. proportions
when clad in his submarine armor he becomes
monstIous IN size and appearances.
A more singular sight than to Ses him roll on
tumble in the water and disappear from sight;
or popping up, blowing, as the air escapes from
his helmet, like a whale, can scarcely be imag-
ined. Waters has his own ideas Of q ieke, and
when no has a curious audience will wave his
ssTsper about as "he 5obs around" in ths water
with the sir of veFitsble river god. One Of
his best iokes-ihe better for being veritsbie
faei-occurred last summer. While he was en-
ployed scTsping the hull Of one Of tho monitors
a negro from ons of the plantations came along
side with boat load of WaleTmalons. While
busy selling his melons the diver came up, and
rested himself sn the sid0 Of the boat.
The negro stared at the extraordinary sppaaI-
ancs thus suddenly coming ont of the water
with alarmed wonder, but when the diver seized
ons Of tho best melons in tie boat, and disap-
psRred under the water, the gurglingof the air
from the hslmet mixing with the muffl I'd laugh
ter, the fright of the negro reached climax.
Hastily se.ziDg his cars, without waiting to be
paid for his melons, he put of at his BEST speed,
and has not bssn seen in the vicinity of Station
Creek since. He cannot be tempted beyond the
81 h. hall
Yankees have brought river devils, to aid them
in making war.
The diver, when clothsd in his armor, is
weighted with lS5 pounds. Beside hisArmOr,
he has two leaden pads, fitting to his breast and
back. The soles of his shoes are of lead, an
inch and half thick. All ikis weight is needed
to overcome The buoyaDcy given by the mass Of
air forced into he ermor and dress, the latter of
india rubber, worn by the diver. When below
the surface, he can instantly bring himself up
by closing mementarily the aperture in the he'll
met for the escape Of the air. His buoyancy is
Immediately increased, and he pops up like 3
cork and floats at will upon the surface. The
work of scIkping the bottoms Of the monitors
is very sIduous.
The diver sits upon a spar lstked athwsEt the
bottom of the vessel, so arranged al to be moved
Ss the work progresses, and with q scIEpeT fixed
TO long handle, works on both sides of him
self as far ss he can reach. The mass of oysters
that become attached to the iron huIs of one Of
the monitors, even during the summer hero, is
immense. By actual measurement Ii WAS essi
mated that $50 bushels of oysters, shells and
sesweed were taken from the bottom of the
Montsuk a'one. The captains of the monitors
have sometimes indnleed in tbs novelty of a
mesa of oysters raised On the bulls of thsIr own
vessels.
Beside cleaning the monitors, the divers per-
form other important services. They have ran
sacked sthe interior of the Keokuk, attached
baoys to lost anchors, and made undsr-Hat
examinations of the rebel distractions. Waters
recently examined the sunken WeehRWken,
and met an unusuEldsngsr, even in his perilOus
calling. The sea was SO violent tina! hs was
twice thrown from the deck of the monitor.
Finally, getting hold of the iron ladder, he
climbed to the top of the tuIret, when heavy
sea cast him inside the turTet between tho
guns. Fearing that his air hose would become
entAnglsd, he made his way out with all posi-
Bile speed, and was forced to give up his investi-
cations until cSlmer weather offared a more
favorable opportunity.