Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-01-05
THE DIVERS OFF CHARLESTON.

During a recent visit to Port Royal ! witness
ed with considerable interest the operations of
the divers employed TO clean the bottoms Of the
Monitors, and perform other operations under
the water. Messrs. Joseph II. Smith and James
b. Phelps have a contract with the Government
for the performance of this work, and have been
of great use here Their principal diver-ap-
proprately named Waters--is 80 used to this
work that he has become almost amphibious, re-
naming for five or six hours at time under
water A man of heroulean strength and pro-
portions, when clad in submarine armor he be-
comes monstrOus in size and appearance. A
more singular sight than to 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 "a joke, and when he
has n curious audience will wave his scraper
about as she hobs round" on the water, with
the dir of veritable river god. One of the best
| okes-the better for being yeritable fact-oc-
CURED last summer. While he was employed
scraping the hull of one of the Monitors, negro
from one Of the up-river plantations came along
side with boat load Of watermellons Whilst
busy selling his MELONS the diver came up and
resting himself on the side Of the boat. The
negro stared at Eie extraordinary appearance
thus suddenly coming out of the water with
alarmed wonder, but when the diver seized one
of the best MELONS in the boat and disappeared
under the water, the gurglng of the air
from the helmet mixing with his mutlled
laughter, the fright Of the negro reached q
climax. Has ly sezing his oars, without waiting
to be paid for his MELONS, he put of at his best
| speed, and has not been seen IN the vicinity Of
station Greek since lie cannot be tempted be-
You'd the bounds of the plantation, aud believes
that the Yankees have brought iser devils to aid
them in making war
The diver, when clothed in his aruor, is
weighted with one hundred and eghiy-Gy
pounds. Besides his armor he has two leaden
pads, fitting Il bis breast and baok. The soles
of his shoes are Of lead, an inch and half thick
All this weight is needed In overcome the buoy
ancy given by the mass Of mir forced into the
armor and dress, the latter Of India rubber worn
by the diver When below the surface he can
instantly bring himself up BY closing momen-
nrily the aperture in the helmet for the escape
of the air. His huoyancy is Immediately n-
creased, aud he pops up like cork, an floats
at will upon the surface. The work of sGrnping
the bottoms Of the monitors is very Hrluous.
The diver sits upon spar, lash aihwtrt the
bottom Of the vessel, so arranged as to be moved
as the work progresses, and with scraper fixed
to II long handle WORKS on both sides OF himself
as far as he can reach. The mnss oil
oysters that become attached to the iron bulls o.
one Of the monitors, even during one summe
here is immense BY actual measurement il
was estimated that two hundred mud fifty bushel
of oysters, shells, aud seaweeI, were taken iron
the Montauk alone The captains OF the moni
tors have sometimes INDUCED in the novelty o
a mess Of oysters rnisei On the huls Of the
own vessels.
Besides cleaning the monitors, the divers per
form cther important services. They hay
ransacked the interior Of the Keokuk, attaohe,
buoys to lest anchors, and make under waite
examinations OF the rebel distractions Water
recently examined the sunken Weebawken, an
met an unusual dagger for even his perilous call
ing. The sea was 80 violOnt that he was twic
thrown from the deck OF the monitor. Finally
getting hold of the iron-adder, he climbed to til
top of tho turret, when heavy sea cast him in
side the turret between the guns. Fearing thu
the air hose would become entangled he mad
his way out with all possible speed, and wa
forced to give up his Investigations until calme
weather offered more favorable opportunity
Cor Baltimore american.