, 1869-07-30
Narow E.cape Of Two Dlver..

ing bell, and dive up into the air in balloon.
1t may be necessary for somebody to do
these dangerous things, though about that,
in most cases, have my doubts, and l can
conceive Of some possible situations where
might be laughed at as a coward, for retus'
ng to make such venture. But candid
confess that, with my present soruples,
neither wounded pride nor heroic ambition
would be strong enough to cause me to ven.
ture from terra frnG very far, either 10 an
upward or downward direction.
That splendid break-nec plsything Of
science, the balloon, cannot, however, quite
rival in fearfulness the mysterious instru-
ment called the diving,bell.
During the attempt made some years ago,
to raise the vessels sunk in the Crimean
war, off SebaStopOl, two divers we're making
descent in large diving-bell. By some
strange accident the heavy vehicle became
detached from the chain tackling that held it,
and sank, with fearful rapidity, toward the
bottom.
For the moment the terrified inmates look
ed at each other without speaking a word.
Both realized at the same instaht, the ap-
paling nature of their disaster. Even BY
the dim light that penetrated through the
deep water and glimmered through the lenses
of their submarine prison, the fear and con-
sternation pictured on their features, showed
plain enough never to be forgotten.
The jerk of the separation, from the lower
ing chain, had broken their breathing,pipe,
In minute the poor divers felt their few feet
of air growing thick and poisonous.
I'VE are lost !" one Of them gasped
81 know it." returned the other, in tone
of surly despair.
Vainly their hammers rung upon the sides
Of the belI-the signal of distress. Vainly
they looked out, if perchance the cable was
yet in sight Then with blood shot eyes and
dizzy brain they clung to each other, expect
ing soon to expire.
Creatures of the sea founced and wallow-
ed around them as they sank down, or slid,
and wriggled close beside their ill>fated ark,
as if insulting their misery.
The bell was sinking in a deeper place
than any that had been previously tried for
as the exploring company had but just
changed their point of operations, this was
the first descent.
ANY possible hope, therefore, that might
have sustained the unfortunate divers, of ass
sistance reaching them from the surface be-
fore it was too late, was cut off by the con-
sideration of the unfamiliar soundings and
the unknown nature of the bottom below.
The edge of the huge diviug>bell might
catch projecting rock, or some part of the
rigging of sunken vessel, and be overset,
in which case, of course, the water rushing
in would drown them in an instant.
Besides, the terrible sense of suffocation
rapidly put it out of their power to do any
thing to help themselves, even had their
desperate condition presented the chance 10
them.
The last that either could remember, as
his senses drifted slowly into the fatal as
phyria which precedes death by poisoned
breathing, was the husky voice of his com.
paniOn in bis ear, painting out, dying,
dying-good BY"
All was CONSERVATION in the ship, and air
boat, as soon as the parting of the cable and
lfe>tube was observed Was there any
hope, even the least, of rescuing the hapless
divers so suddenly and distressingly cut off
from the cheerful upper world.
The repeated signals of the poor fellows
were heard coming up distinctly. with the
peculiar sound made always by an under
water blow.
Graphing were at once thrown out
by the plying crew, but to no purpose.
The signals continued, though fainter.
Soon they ceased. Were the men dead?
Provideutially, diver in submarine ar
NOR was above water at the moment, in one
of the nearest ships of the squadron, and
just ready to go down again.
He was hailed, and few strong strokes Of
skilful oars brought him to the spot with
such dispatch, that the signals had hardly
ceased from below, before he stepped into the
air-boat where the lost mariners broken life
tube lay.
Attaching additional weights to his feet,
the diver Immediately dropped himself over
the side, and with hook attached to cable
in his hand, shot to the bottom like a deep
sea plummet.
He fastened the hook, and gave the sig
nal, when, as rapidly as muscle and wind.
lass and good will could do it, the bell and
its human occupants we're heaved to the sur.
face, and hauled aboard.
At first it was thought that the two divers
were dead but the air and the attentions Of
the capable surgeon, soon awOke in them the
little remnant of life that remained, and they
breathed again.
1t was some time before they we're sufh.
cientIy conscious to realize their escape from
death bat after that, their recovery wau
rapid, and in day or two, though still feel
ing weak from the terrible pressure their sys.
TENS had suffered, they we're walking aboui
deck with thankful hearts.
They however, were never able to go down
iu diViDg>bell again-nor did they evel
Wisht to.
'BR1DaET, BRIDGET why don't you bring
up the lemonade I? said Mrs. s., on the
| Fourth of July. from the ton of the kitchen