Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-31

CLEANING THE BorToMs Of THE MONITORS A let
ter in Northern paper from correspondent of
Charleston describes the cleaning of bottoms OF the
iron clads 10 the harbor which have bomc very much
toued 1t says:
The principal divtr-al trcpi ID ely named Waters
IN 50 used to this work that tie has become almost
phbous remaining tor FIVE or SIX b. urs at time IN
der water A man of heSculean strength and proper
tons, when clad in his srhm"rine armor ne becomes
monstrous in size ard appeatance more sh gular
sight than 10 him re or tumble 10 the water and
disappear from sight, Or popping up blowing as the
air escapes from bis helmet like whale can scarcely
be imagined. Waters has his own ideas of a joke,
and when he bas cur ous aud ence will wave his scra-
ner about as " he hobs around 10 the wafer with
the cir OF a veritabe river god. One of bis best
iokes-the better for being yerltable act-occurred
last summer. WhiIe he wus employed scraping the
hull Of one of the Monitors negro from one of the
up river plan tations alongside with boat load
of watermeons. While buay selling his melons the
diver came up and rested himself on the side OF the
boat.
The negro starcd at ihe Extraordinary appearance
thus suddenly coming out OF the water with alarmed
wonder but when the diver sez d OF the best mel
ons in the boat and disappeared under the water the
gurgling OF the trtm the helmet mixing with the
mufled laughter the frigh Of the negro reached eli
Hastily Selling his cars without waiting to be
paid for his melons, he put Of at his best spet d. and
has not been the vicinity of Station Greek since
He cannot be tempted beyond the bounds OF the plan
tstion and believes that the Yankees have brought
river devils to aid them in making war.
The diver wbeE clOtl ed in his armor, Id weighted
with 1875 pounds B. side his he has two leaden
pads fitted to his breast and back. The soes OF his
shoes OF lead, inch and halt thick. ALI this
weight is needed to the buoyancy given by
the of air forced into the and Dress the lat
ter of india rubber, worn by the diver When below
the surface he Instantly hiring hmsl( up by closing
momentarily the ap the helmet for the escape
of the air His buoyancy Immediately increased, aid
he pops up like cork aud floats at will upon the sur
face. The work CT scapiDg he bottoms of the m9nl
tors is very arduous
The diver sits upon spar dashed athwart the bot
tom of the vessel, arranged to be moved as The
work progresses, and with q scraper fixed TO a long
handle works both sides OF himself as far as be can
reach The OF oysters Ia It become attached to the
iron huIs OF one OF the Monitors, even during
the summer here is immense. b actual measurement
it was estimated that $50 bushels If oysters, Shells and
seaweed were taken from the bottom OF the MOntauk
alone. The captains OF the Monitors have sometimes
INDUCED in the novelty OF 1888 OF oysters raised Oh
the huls OF their own vtsses.
Beside cleaning the MOitOrS the divers perform other
important Sc vices They have ransacked the interior
made under water examinations Of the rebel obstruc-
tons Wsters recently examined the sunken Weehaw
KEN and met an unu ual niger for his perilous
calling. The sea was 80 violent that be twice
thrown from the deck Of the Nor itor Finally, getting
hold of the iron ladder he climbed to the top OF the ur
ret when heavy SEA cast him ns de- the turret be
tween the guns. Fearug that his air hose would be
come entanged he made his way out with all possible
speed and forced TO gave up his Investigations un
til camer weather offered favorable OppQr tun