The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-04
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
Thrilling Adventures OF Diver Vino Visited
the One Standardization Of the Testimony
OF the Saved-Whsre the Blame Rests
! Correspondence Sacramento Bee.

Correspondence Sacramento Bee.
On the 9th day of February the ''bor-
rowed" steamship Aroostock, with Charles
and ) Aougee, practical and experienced
divers from San Francisco, went to where
the Oneida lies IN % feet Of water. After
tEJ usual preparations had been concluded,
and by sounding, It had been ascersained
that the deck OF the Oneida was 1913 feet
beneath the surface of the bay after every
caution had been given to eight strong sail
ors to keepthe air pump constantly in motion,
and allow not an instant OF time OF stoppage
70 occur, as thereby depended the life OF the
bold diver; after Charley Lougee had been
helmeled and shut from air. except that
supplied through the slender tube of coled
rubber, with lite line around his body and
leanen clogs to his feet, with "Good bye"
and God bless you" from all aboard, he
was dropped over the side. and slowly dIsap-
peared in the blue waves, with nervous
tremor shot through our frame we reaiiZ-
ed the fearful risk undertaken by that man
who was seeking for truth in over one hun
dred feet of water
Away to the leeward, borne by tide and
wind came floating bubbles to the surface
life signals from below. The men at the
pump were laboring maufully, but becoming
fstigued, attempted to change for fresh
hands, and there was g stop. Great God
you will murder my brother Quick for
heavens sake, quick And as
the men recommended the revolu
tons of the air pump, the elder
Lougee, with blanched face and trembling
lip, gave a sinnal on the lifeline below.
For an instant there came no response, and
the face of that brother seemed to turn to
marble; but then we saw two quick motions
from the submarine station, and knew 1t
was the welcome signal of " ali right,
and then Lougee turned to the men at
the wheel, who came SO near sending
both below, and simply said: i" NV only
brothers life depends upon your efforts IN
keeping that pump in motion-stop again
at your peril" The calm face and passion
ate eye told those men not to stop again,
aud with Lieutenant Tanner close by, they
kept at work until stopped by orders from
Lougee.
Meantime, while we were on the deck Of
that sand pan, counting the tedious mo
ments when heightened TO half an hour
Charley Lougee was searching he Oneida
at the tremendous depth mentioned Al
last came the sigma tor surface. and 1t
stanly the lite line was put IN motion; slowly
came the coling hemp and rubber on deck
and at last, away the deep blue waves
came in sight the diver, shrouded and pan
oplIed in werd garments. As he came &c
tho surface he reached Minister belong &
sword and @ acquered box, and then wa.
hla helmet ioosed, and our party crowded
around TO hear of the gallant ship. Among
our party were many of the survivors OF the
Oneida; among them were William Crow
lnshieid captain Clark Master Yates, snC
DIR. james Suddard, who were intensely ex
cited to learn the tidings
SAID the diver: The water for the era,
seventy feet was quite clear, as the sun gave
excellent hight, and although my supply O.
air was once choked for an instant, | reached
the deck OF the ship just astern of the miz
mast, and close by the mess room
hatch; the tide was ebbing quite strong
and / was compelled TO hold TO lines from
the rigging to keep from being swept 70,
ward. | first examined the side of the sbi
she was cut from the mizzen rigging Ia
an angle of about forty degrees) across tn
whole stern Of the ship, her tim bers, fa
below the wafer line, being crushed an
broken, the Captains cabin cut in two, Ii
wheel and steer ing gear all carried AVA
and, in fact, the whole side and end of Il
ship stove in or cut away. The ship
heading southwest, and sits upright on Il