The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-17

From the Boston Advertiser, July 81


The novel submarine race on Saturday was
witnessed by about 10, 900 people, who assembled
on the piers and shipping, about the place of the
contest, and also on all sorts of craft in the har
Dor.
While engaged in watching the preparations
that were being made to get the divers in resdi-
ness for their tramp, the entire party seemed to
have forgotten that part of the programme was to
be an explosion under water; and, as if glad of
the opportunity to startle and surprise those of
the company who were afoat, the electrician ],
without any warning, communicated q spark to
the twenty kegs of powder he had previously sunk
10 the channel, when terrific explosion took
place, throwing large volume Of water from
n nety to one hundred feet into the air, while the
whole surface of the water, within a radius of a
hundred feet Of where the explosion occurred,
was most fearfully agitated.
The divers, duly equipped in their armor, lay
quietly hanging over the gunwaes of their attend
Ing boats, looking more like submarine monsters
than they did Ike walkers contending for prize.
Presently at ll:25 O'clock their heads disappeared
from the floating stage, which was anchored q
short distance from the head Of the Long wharf,
aud the men started on their perlous tramp of 2l00
feet to like stage, which was anchored off the
CUnRrd docks, on the East Boston side. There
were three entries in this race George Phillips,
OF Mansfield, who has been five years IN the BUSH
hess VIM. Lloyd, who has been ten years a diver
and Jacob Palmer, Of Boston, who has also had
an experience of FIVE years. Each man was pro.
yided with q guiding line to direct him on his
course, and each DIVER was also accompanied Oy
a small boat provided With air pumps, which were
kept constantly at work 10 supply them with air.
Extending from each boat to the diver was a life
line which is always in charge of some particular
person, who acts " tendern for the diver when be
j. under water. Directly after being lowered,
they set out on their tramp, and at the outset Mr.
Palmer seemed to be making the best progress.
Directly, however, he began to fall behind, and
soon was a long distance in the rear, which was
caused as was subsequently ascertained, by his
guiding line getting foul upon rock. Lloyd
made good Roadway, but could not keep up with
Phillips, who proved to be the champion subma.
rine wsker-Phillips completing his journey in
IL minutes, while Lloyd was Isl and Palmer Il.
On the arrival of each diver at the hsating stage
be was provided with a ladder, up which he
climbed till near the surface, when he was as
sisted out and Immediately dismsntled, all three
appearing TO be as fresh as when they first entered
the water. The crowd cheered, the divers waved
their flags, the guns doomed from every quarter
of the harbor, and thus terminated novel and
exceedingly interesting feature of the days pro.
gramme. To Mr.. Phillips was awarded prize OF
$75, to Mr.. Lloyd prize of $50 and 10 Mr.. Palmer
8 prize Of SIS, all Of which fairly earned, their
walk under water proving to be greater sue
cess than any Of the champion pedestrian" OF
the city have made in this vicinity on dry land.
What they undertook to do they accomplished,
and the public was neither deceived nor disap-
pointed,