Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-05-12
General Salelligente.
THE ONEIDA.
Graphic sketch OF the Descent OF the
Diver to the Ili-Fated Vessel
Yokohama Correspondence Of the Sacramento
Union.

Yokohama Correspondence of the Sacramento
Union.
On the oath day of February the "bor.
rowed" steamer Aroostook with Charles
and J, S. Lougee practical and eY )erienced
divers from San Francisco wen. to where
the Oneida lies, in 1913 feet Of water, After
the usual preparations had been concluded
and by sounding, it had been ascertained
that the deck Of the Oneida was l03 feet
beneath the surface Of the bay; after every
caution had been given to eight strong
sailors to keep the air pumps in constant
motion, and allow not an instant of stop
page to occur, as thereby depend
ed the life Of the bold diver; after
Charley Lougee had been helmeted and
shut from air except that supplied through
the slender tube of cooled rubber with a life
line around his body and leaden clogs to
his feet, with Good. bye" and "God bless
you" from all aboard, he was dropped over
the side, and slowly disappeared in the blue
waves, while nervous tremor shot through
our frame as we realized the fearful risk
undertaken by that man who was seeking
for tnlth in over one hundred feet Of wa
ter. Away to leeward, borne by tide aud
wind, came floating bubbles to the surface
life signals from below. The men at the
pump labored manfully, but becoming
fatigued, attempted to change for fresh
hands, and there was stop. "Great God!
you will murder my brother! Quick for
heavens sake quick y And as the men
now commenced the revolutions of the air
pump, the elder Lougee, with blanched
foca an1 tran, Lliuc, lin, ftava a o;o,,ol ~,
the life line below. For an instant there
was no response, ana the face of that
brother seemed to turn to marble; but
then we saw two quick motions from the
submarine station, and knew it was the
welcome signal of 'all right" and then
Lougee turned to the men at the wheel,
who came so near sending death below,
and simply said, ''my only brothers life
depends upon your efforts in keeping that
pump constantly IN motion-stop again at
yom peril.
The calm face and passionate eye told
those men MOTTO stop again, aud with Lieu
tenant Tanner close by they kept at work
until stopped by orders from Lougee,-
Meantime. while we were on the deck of
that 's0nd-pan' counting the tedious mo.
ments which heightened to half an hour,
Oh riley Lougoe was searching the Oneida
ut the tremendous depth mentioned AT
last came the signal for Surface, and in
stantly the life line was put in motion:
slowly came the coil.ug hemp and rubber
on deck, and at last, away in the deep bue
waves came in sight the diver, shrouded
aud panoplied in weird garments As he
came to the surface he reached Minister
DE Long sword and hcQuered box and
then was his helme. loosed, aud our party
crowded around to hear of the gallaut ship.
Among our party were many of the sur
yiyors OF the Oneida; among them were
William Crogmnshield Captain Clark,
Master Yates and DR., James Suddered,
who were intensely excited to learn the
tidlngs.
Said the diver, The water for the first
10 feet was quite clear, as the sun gave
excellent light aud although my supply OF
air was once choked for an instant reached
the deck of the ship Just astern of the
mizzeu mast and close by the mess.room
hatch. the tide was ebbing quite strong,
and | was cowpelled 10 hold to lines from
the rigging to keep from being swept for.
ward | first examined the side of the
ship; she was cut from the miz2en rigging
at an angle Of about forty degrees) across
the whole stern of the ship: her timbers
far below the water line being crushed
and broken; the Captains cabin cut il
two; the wheel and steering gear all carried
away; and, in fact the whole side and enc
Of the ship stove in or cutaway, The shir
is heading southwest and sits upright on
the bottom, and is making sand slowly.
laid down on the deck and peered over th,
broken end into the cabin out did not dar,
trust my AIRLINE in contact with the agge,
timbers. The guns aud armament excep
one, are all in place aft; but did not Z,
forward, as was afraid Of ENHANCEMENT il
the rigging
Turning to Crowninshiald, he said
" Your evidence, which ! read, describe,
almost exactly the injury, except that sh
WAS eut deeper than you could hay
known
Longee expressed the belief that Il vii
be impractible to raise the ship, but tia