The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-01-23
The Divers in the Monitor Fleet.

A correspondent Of the Baltimore American
says: "During recent visit to Port Royal l
witnessed with considerable interest the opera
tions OF the divers employed to clean the bot
toms Of the monitors, and perform other oper-
ations under the water. Messrs. Joseph h.
with the Government for the performance OF
this work. and have been Of great use here
The principal diver appropriately named Wa
tcrs-is 80 used to this work that he has be-
come almost amphibious, remaining for five or
six hours at time under water. A man ot
herculean strength and proportions, when clad
in his submarine armor he becomes monstroua
in size aud appearance.
A more singular sight than to see him roll or
tumble into the water and disappear from sight,
or popping up, blowing, as the air escapes from
his helmet, like young whale, can scarcely be
imagined. Waters has his own ideas of joke,
aud when he has curious audience will wave
his scraper about rs "he bobs around" on the
water, with the air Of veritable river god.-
One Of his best jokes-the better for being YER.
liable fact-occurred last summer. While he
was employed scraping the hull OF one OF the
monitors, n negro from one fthe up.riyer plan.
tations came alongside with boat-load OF wa
ter.melons. While busy selling his melons the
diver came up and rested himself on the side Of
the boat.
The negro stared at the extraordinary ap-
pearance thus suddenly coming out Of the wa
ter with alarmed wonder, but when the diver
seized one of the best melons in the boat, and
disappeared under tho water, the gurgling Of
the air from the helmet mixing with the muffied
laughter, the fright Of the negro reached oil
max. Hastily seizing his oars, without waiting
to be paid for his melons, he put OH at his best
speed, and has not been seen In the vicinity OF
Station Greek since.
He cannot be tempted beyond the bounds Of
the plantation, and believes that the Yankees
have brought river devils to aid them In max
ing war.
The diver when clothed in his armor Is weight.
ed with lSi pounds. Besides his armor, 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 this weight Is need
mass of air forced into the armor and dress,
the latter of India rubber, worn BY the diver.
When below the surface ho can instantly bring
himself up by closing momentarily the aper-
turc In the helmet for the escape OF the air
His buoyancy is Immediately increased. and he
mons up like a cork aud floats at will Upon the
surface. The work Of scraping the bottoms OF
the monitors 10 very arduous
The diver sits upon spar, lashed athwart
the bottom Of tho vessel, so arranged as to be
moved as the work progresses. and with q
SCraDeT Uxtu w iou6 h"huse "S'"s
sides of himself as far as no can reach. The
mass of oysters that become attached to the
iron huls of one Of the monitors, even during
the summer here. is immense. By actual meas.
urement It was estimated that $50 bushel Of
oysters, shells and seaweed were taken from
the bottom OF the Montauk alone. The cap:
tains of the monitors have sometimes INDUCED
In the novelty Of a mess Of oysters raised on
the hulls Of their own vessels.
Besides cleaning the monitors, the divers
perform other important services. They have
ransacked the interior Of the Keokuk, attached
buoys to lost anchors, and made underwater
examinations of the rebel obstructions. -
Waters recently examined the sunken Wee.
hawken, and met m unusual danger for even
his perilous calling. The sea was so violent
that he was twice thrown from the deck OF the
monitor. Finally, getting hold Of the iron lad.
der, he climbed to the top OF the turret, when
heavy sea cast him inside the turret between
the guns Fearing the mir hose would become
eptangled, no made his way out with all posi-
BILE speed, and was forced to give up his inves.
tigations until calmcr weather offered more
favorable opportunity.