The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-05
Fearful Adventure of a Diver.

'E. Il. Harrington, the renowned
diver, recently met with terribl,
accident, which came very near prov
ing fatal. He had been engaged u
raise small brass cannon, whicE
was lately lost overheard from tn,
Canadian gunboai Prince Alfred
about fifty feet from the ferry doeL
at Windsor, in thirty-five feet of wa.
ter. He donned his armor about one
o'clock, and, in company with his as.
sistants. proceeded to the spot an,l
began operations. The first time h.
went down he was gone about quar-
ter of an hour, when lie signaled 10
be drawn to the surface, which WAS
immediately done. He gave some
further instructions in regard to let
ting out line, etc, as he was walking
around on the bottom seeking to dis.
cover the object of his search and
again disappeared.
Just here il may he well to give
our readers = general idea of the
diving armor, in order that they may
more fully understand the cause OF
the accident, and the constant jeOp-
ardy in which the lives Of men en-
gagged in this hazardous business are
placed. The limbs and body are in
cased in 4 waterproof suit of India
rubber and canvass, while the head
10 nrpta.fab tv q. IN, NJ al bal,,,ot ao..,,,
what similar 10 those worn by the
in battle. Attached TO the
head gear is rubber hose, through
which the operator is supplied with
air by mesns OF force pump, work
ed by men at the surface, and it will
readily be seen that if the supply OF
pure air is not kept up, the person
under water must perish, if he is not
immediately relieved by being hauled
TO the surface ".-
Z" The second tine Harrington de-
,ended he was gone perhaps half an
iour. his course being easily traced
Dy the bubbles on the surface, eaus.
FL by the exhaustion of afr below
All at once a sudden report was
heard, and almost immediately after
v ard pull was felt on the signal
'ope. The men in the boat at once
began hauling in for dear life, and
word passed among the crowd ON the
shore that the air pipe had bursted
The effect of this announcement was
men rushed hither and
hither, pale and frightened, and
'rsntic rush was made toward the
,pot where he was last seen. After
what seemed IN hour of terrible sus-
1ense, Harrington's head appeared,
md then his left hand, feebly waving
pack and forth, but there was no
'ther signs OF life. Owing 10 the
immense weight attached to his dress
{ was found impossible TO lift him
nto the yswl-boat, and he was held
into the water about
when the ferry boat Essex
,ame along side Captain Jenkins
1t once sprang into the small boat,
md adding his gigantic strength to
hat OF the others, soon had rope
'assed under Harrington's arms,
Then he was hauled up out OF the
yater and placed on the lower deck
,f the Essex. The head piece was
instantly wrenchcd of, but what an
'~Cni spectacle greeted those who
ooked upon the surferer. DiVVu. .-as
'oLinS from every part of the body
rom the waist up, and gushed from
lis eyes, ears and nostrils, while he
'as putied and bloated beyond rec
'gnition. Both eyes were frightful- (
Y swollen, and his neck looked as if |.
e had been choked severely, while
With every movement blood gushed
rom his throat, his body and face,
leanwhile rapidly turning black"
After his removal to shore and
ledical aid had been summoned,
his body and head continued to
well, and, as tue blood slowly dris-
'ed at his feet, many turned away
ick and faint al the ghastly sight
liter u time he WAS taken to his
Dom at the Mansion House, placed
A bed, and carefully attended until
is wife should reach him, which she
id ut l0;l5 in the evening" u
AT last accounts he was much i'm
roved.