Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-01-20
The Two Divers.

L8EAE'a p 80 % ~ , 80 = -'s@j
a calling in which, if you choose to
face dangers for the sake Of higher
remuneration, perilous adventures
are common enough ] am not
too Presumptuous when / say / am
brave as most, naturally, and my
sense ol fear has been further blunt
ed by a constant companionship
with darger. The adventure | am
about 10 narrate was horrible O.
nough to me when / was a prin-
cipsl actor 10 it, and to this day an
involuntary shudder Of horror ac-
companies the recollection Of it.
Some years ago q vessel laden
with a mixed cargo was bound to
New York from South America. -
Striking a snnken roNf off the dam
gerous shore Of Florida, she was
wrecked, and very few Of the
passengers or seamen escaped
The owner, who was also captain,
was drowned. His heirs lived in
New York. II appears the vessel
had settled down in the ocean, bav-
ing escaped the attack of any storm,
so as might be supposed her cargo
would be pretty well recoverable |;
but it was useless and foolish.to at
tempt to try to get anything from
her in a lonely sea, and on a dan.
gerous coast. However, one of
those men whom nature has FORM
ed for the out.oEthe way modes Of
getting money instlis world, hav.
ing obtained the consent OF the
heirs in New York, fitted out q
large yacht, and promising money
only on condition Of success, / was
prompted to hazard the spec-it
agreed with my adventurous dis
position, and I signed articles, and
shipped myself. After a deal Of
trouble We picked up another d.
yer, a coarse, brutal, drunken ras-
cal, whose conduct, as hereafter
seen, will sufficiently Justify these
remarks. From the beginning /
had kind of antipathy against the
fellow, and shrank from his society
as from some loathsope reptile
His profile was chat ct a. baboon ;
his eyes peering from under his
heavy broWs, twinkledwith a SATAN
ic wickedness, and seemed to- be
looking all ways at once; and when
he laughed, his satanic majesty
himself might have envied his ug.
ly grin. My, employer Stunned
him, and would gladly have parted
with him, bat DO other could be
got to engage in such. a foolhardy
scheme. 81
Having got the diving bell and
other apparatus on bosrd, we al
last set sail on this novel pursuit of
Iucre. The voyage vas fine, and
having nothing to 10, ] enjoyed il
very much, and was even softening
towards my fellow diver when we
reached that part Of the coast of
Florida where the sunken wreck
lay. and where our fortunes were
buried beneath the waves.
+ We were a considerable time iu
discovering the wreck, but we found
| it at last far down in the dfpths Of
the still blue sea, where troops Of
sharks we're pursuing each cthei
about aud through it for want of
better prey. ( No pleasant sight
can assure you.- Ny fellow dive'
gave them a fearful curse, and took
an extra long pull at bis brandy
flask. AS for myself the afail
seemed more dangerous than ever
1 The vessel would have to BE- mooret
above the bed of reefs, and it
storm we're to arise, i'll fate woult
Ieatoh US, for there IS little mercy Y
be expected for ship f,om the cru
el and jaggered coral. = However
I '1Iplucked up the very best abeart
, saying to myself, aMy desr, fellow
; the more danger the more money.
Jim CroK-that was the diver
name-gaye utteranee 70 z nOFiis
pleasant oath about having bsel
sviiudled, muttstipe st. ESsa end
lnreT .siiiTaslVsF q rcB - sag sssEt ss,
do1sf TskIE ssIrs :.