The Portland daily press., 1870-04-27


After the usual preparations had been con.
concluded, and by sounding it had been ascer'
tanned that the deck of the Oneida was 1O3 feet
beneath the surface Of the bay after every
caution had been given to eight strong sailors
to keep the air pump constantly in motion
and allow not an instant of time of stoppage to
occur, as thereby depended the life of the bold
diver; after Charley Lougee had been helmet
ed, and shut from air, except that supplied
through the slender tube of the coiled rubber,
with lifeline around his body. and leaden
clogs 10 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 frames as we realized the fearful
risk undertaken by that man who was seeking
for truth in over 100 feet of water. Away to
leeward, borne by tide and wind, came float.
ing bubbles to the surface-life signals from
below. TIE men at the pumps were laboring
manfully, but becoming fatigued, ATTEMPTED
to change for fresh hands, and there was a
stop: Great God! you will murder my
brother! Quick! for Heavens sake, quickr'
of the air pump, the elder Lougee, with
blanched face and trembling lip, gave signal
on the lifeline below. For an instant there
came no response, and the face of that brother
seemed to turn to marble; but when we saw
the quick motions from the submarine station
and knew it 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: "My brothers life de-
ponds upon your efforts in keeping that pump
constantly in motion-stop again at your peril
The calm face and passionate eye told those
men not to stop again, and with Lieut.. Tanner
close by they kept at work until stopped by
orders from Lougee. Meantime, while we
were on the deck of that "sand- pau" counting
the tedious moments which heightened to hail
an hour, Charley 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 shroudea and panoplied in
weird garments. As he came TO the surface he
reached Minister belong sword and a lac
quered box, and then was his hemlet lOosed,
and our party crowded around to hear of the
gallant ship. Among our party were many
were VIM. Crowninshield, Capt. Clark, Mas
ter Yates and DR.. James Suddard, who were
intensely excited to learn the tidings.
Said the Diver: s'The water for the first
seventy feet was quite clear, as the sun gave
excellent light, and although my supply OF
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 1 was compelled to hold to the
lines from the rigging to keep from being
swept forward. I first examined the side Of
the ship; she was cut from the mizzen rigging
lat 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 in two, the wheel and steer
ing gear all carried away, and, in fact, the
whole side end of the ship stove in or cut away.
The ship is heading southwest and sits up
right on the bottom, and is making sand slow
ly. laid down on the deck and peered over
the broken end into the cabin, but did not dare
trust my airline in contact with the Jagged
timbers. The guns and armament,ex except one,
are in place aft; but did not go forward, as 1
was afraid of ENHANCEMENT in the rigging''-
Turning to Crowninshed. he said: "Your evil
dence, which read, described almost exactly
the injury, except that she was cut deeper than
you could have known" Lougee expressed the
belief that it will be impracticable to raise the
ship, but that the splendid battery, personal
effects, &C., can be saved if the government
sees proper
By this survey the testimony Of the livingis
verified and the memory Of the dead without
stain, for the position of the ship as found, and
the positions of both the Oneida and Bombay,
as testified to by the navigating officers, shows
that it was impossible for the captain of the
Bombay to have even seen the red light of the
Oneida, and that the order of"Port your
helm, by Capt. Eyre was wrong, and the
"Starboard, hard-a-starboard" of Master Yates
was right.-Japaa Cor. Sacramento Union.