The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-05-02
The Submarine Life Of % PROBES
siOHdf Direr.

About twenty years ago Hiram flill, then well
known In Carlo, accepted employment on Messrs,
Eads and Nelson's wTecking or submarine bell
boats. In time he was Installed ~ diver, and as
such We propose 10 speak Of him. He remained
In the employ mcnt Of Ness. Eads Nelson period
Of eighteen years. lie is now on Messrs. Dugan
4 Cos Underwater, where we saw him yesterday,
and learned something OF the life OF diver The
use OF bell In diving is now discarded. The
diver wears a water tight armor over bis entire
person, accept the head, which l. covered By an
inverted metallic pot. In which the bead can tura
and move OF case. Thick transparent glass is hxed
In front 10 serve as windows and TO prevent
accident this glass Is protected By steel guards
or fenders.
Equipped In his armoF, the diver puts on q pair
Of lead soled shoes, weighing each twenty pounds,
lashes 10 his back and breast q piece Of lead
weighing forty pounds attaches the tube, through
which he receives air, 10 the back Of his hsad-pot,
and then Is ready for his submariHe explorations.
lie generally descends TO the bottom oi the river
by the use Of ladder, but can, without incurring
any risk jump from the boat and sink 10 the bot
tom. The moment he disappears under the wa
ter the air pump commences its work Of supply
ing him with constant stream OF fresh air. II,
at any time, the air creates too great q pressure
upon him, the pressure s relieved BY q selfactlng
valve, fixed at the aide Of the head. 1.-THE pump
does not furnish sufficient air. the diver indicates
"
Mr.. It'll informs us that he has remained under
water Eve hoars at time. The great weight Of
lead fastened upon his feet and body ls necessary
10 eountcract the buoyaney Of tho air furnished
him By the pump While on the boat, the ar.
NOR and weights form q load for Q strong man
Under water they impose no reallzabls weight,
and In no way impede motion. Mr.. Hill informs
Us iha, he bas,. while under water. ofsen clam
bcfed up slanehions, jumped down hatchways a
distance Of twelve and fifleen feet, with much
greater ease aud lees risk than he might have per
formed the same feats out OF water. Taking with
him his Tools he has frcquently worked for hourl
at Q time, patching up the bottoms Of snagged
steamers, saving boards, boring holes, driving
nails, kc, with perfect Ease aud accuracy. When
The water Is clear he can recognise shapes at Q
distance Of two or three feet, and at distance ol
sx inches be can delermins the dInsrent kinds ol
timber. When the rivers are high and the water
ls muddy, everything is impeaelrable black, ren.
dering u immatcriai whether bis eyes are open
OF shut. But with him the character OF the VA
ter is immalerial. lie has been at The business
90 long tha, by the mere sense Of toueh he cau
Instantly determine what portion of the wreck hs
is exploring can cork up the cracks. or patch
mp holes can determine the character ol the
sunken cargo pAas from hatch 10 hatch through
the hold, and DO every thing else under waisI
that an expert blind man might do on land He
says that be bTeAtkes fuii and satisfactory thai
there u no sitting sensation, no odds how long
be temalhs undsr. indeed, 20 accustomed is Be-
70 lle aud labor under water, that be feels some.
what lost when bis stay On iand q prosrsclsd. Hs
is of opinion that about three years of he Iii.
hare been spent under water, yet be has noseaisi
ou bis body, no signs Of Gus Or gills not even
web feet. lie is, 10 eli inisnls and purposes
human being, not even partaklng Of the natur,
q mer-man-or any other ash ! Caro-, m.,
Dsmocrai.