The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-05-28
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
Thrilling Ad0enture ofa Dircr ,oho visited
the Oneida-- Terifcation Of the 7estt-
mony of the SdUed.

ced divers from San Francisco, went t
where the Oneida lies in 1913 feet of water
Alter the usual preparations had been con
clueded, and, by sounding, it had been as
certained that the deck of the Oneida wa
103 feet beneath the surface of the bay
after every caution had been given t.
eight strong sailors to keep the air-puml
constantly in motion, and allow not an in
slant Of time ofstoppage to occur, as there
by depended the life of the bold diver; a T.
ter Charlie Lougee had been helmeted and
shut from air, except that supplied through
the slender tube of coiled rubber with a
lifeline 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 sho.
through our frame as we realized the fear
full risk undertaken by that man who was
seeking for truth in over one hundred feet
of water
Away to the 'leeward, borne by tide and
wind, came floating bubbles to the surface
-lifc-signals from below The men at the
pump were laboriug manfully, but becom-
ing fatigued, attempted to change for fresh
hands, and there was stop. "Great God !.
you will murder my brother ! Duck . for
Heavens sake, quick" ~ And as the men
recommended the revolutions of the air
pump, the cider Lougee, with b!anced face
and trembling lip, gave signal on the life
line below. For an Instant there came
no rcspoDce, and the face Of that brother
seemed turned to marble but then we saw
two quick motions from the submarine
station, aud knew it was the welcome signal
Of "all right" and then Lougec turned to
the men at the wheel, who came so near
sending both below, and simply said -
My ouly brothers life depends upon your
efforts in keeping that pump in motion
stop at your peril" The calm face and
passionate eye told those men not to stop
again, and with Lieutenant Tanner close
by they Kept at work until stopped by Or
ders from Lougee.
Meantime, while we were CD the deck of
that "sand-pau," counting the tedious mo-
ments which lengthenged to half an hour.
Charlie Lougee was searching the Oneida
at the Tremendous depth mentioned. At
last came the signal for "surface," and in
stantly the lifeline was put in motion
slowly came the coiling hemp and rubber
on deck, and at last away in the deep blue
waves, came in sight the diver shorouded
and panoplied in weird garments. As he
came to the surface he reached Minister
DeLong a sword and lacquereG box, and
then was his helmet looscd, and our party
crowded around to hear OF the gallant ship
Among our party were many Of the survi-
vors of the Oneida among them were Will
liam Crownlnshield, Captain Clark, Master
Yates ,and DIR. James ShuGdards, who were
intensely excited to learn the tidings.
Said the diver The water for the first
seventy feet was quite clear, as the sun
gave excellent light, and although my sup
ply OF air was ooce choked for an instant, l
reached the deck of the ship just astern of
the mizzen-mast, and close by the mess
room hatch; the tide was ebbing quite
strong, and was compiled to hold on to
lines from the rigging to keep from being
swept forward. | first examined the side
of the ship; she was cut from the mizzen
rigging Cat an angle of about forty degrees,)
across the whole stern Of the ship, her tim
bers, far below the water-line, being chrushcd
and broken, the captains cabin cut in two,
the wheel and steering gear all carried away
and, in fact, the whole side and end of the
ship, stove in or cut away. The ship is
heading southwest and sits upright on the
bottom, and is making sand slowly. L laid
down on the deck and peered over the
broken end of the cabin, but did not dare
trust my airline in contact with the jagged
timbers. The guns and armament, except
one, are all in place aft but l did not 60
forward, as 1 was afraid Of ENHANCEMENT in
the rigging. Turning to 'CrowinshieId, he
said, "Your evidence, which l read, des-
cribed almost exactly the injury, except
that she was cut deeper, then you could
have known" Lougee expressed the belief
that it will be impracticable to raise the
ship, but that the splsnded battery, person
al effects, etc, can be saved if the Govern
ment sees proper.