The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-06-17
The Dice,ss T5s1t to elIs Osej1la,

The Dtves's V5sit to tks O~eida.
of tAs eaezans1to Beal
On the 95th of February, the ''bo9owed"
Aroosteok, with Charles and J.
8. Lougee, practical and experienced divers
from San Fnancisco, went to where the
Oneida lies in 123 fest Of water. After the
usual preparations had been made, and, BY
It was ascertained that the deck
of the Oneida was 102 feet beneath the sur.
face Of the bay; after every caution had
been given to eight strong sailors to keep
the dir pump In constant motion, and allow
not ~ instant Of time Of stoppage 70 occur,
- thereby depended the life Of the bold div.
a; after Charles Lousse had been hel,neted
and shut from cir, except that supplied
through the slender tube of coiled rubber,
with lifeline around his body and leaden
clogs to his feet, with "Good BY, " and "0od
bless you" from Ill aboard, he was dropped
over the side, and slowly disappeared in the
blue waves, while . nervous tremor shot
through our frame - We realized the fear
full risk undertaken By that man who was
seeking for truth in over one hundred feet
Of water. r.s-..- ..a.=..a
Away to tho lecward. borne BY tide and
wind, came floating bubbles to the surface
life signals from below. The men at the
pump were lsboring manfally, but, becom-
ing fatigued, attempted to change for fresh
hands. and there was stop, "Great God !!
you will murder my brother! Quick! for
heavens sake, quickr' And as the men 70.
commenced the revolutions Of the cir pump
the elder Lougee, with blanched face and
trembling lip, gave I signal on the lifeline
below. For an instant there camc no re-
spolse; and the face Of the brother SEEM
ed 10 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 80 near sending both
below, and simply said, Ny only brothers
life depends on your efforts in keeping that
pump in motion stop again at your peril "
The calm face and passionate eye told these
men not to stop again, and, with Lieuten-
ant Tanner close by, they kept at work un-
til stopped by orders from Lougee.
Meantime, while We were on the deck Of
that "sandpan," counting the tedious mo-
ments which heightened into half IN hour,
Charley Lougce was searching the Oneida,
at the tremendous depths mentioned. Al
last camc the signal for ''surfsce," !" and In.
stsntly the lite line was put in motion; slow.
ly came the coiling hemp and rubber on
deck, and At last, away in the deep blue
waves, came in sight the diver, shrouded
and panoplied In weird garments. Al he
came to the surface he reached Minister De
Long . sword and lacquered box, and then
was his helmet loQsed and our party crowd
ed around to hear Of the gallant ship
Among our party were many Of the surviv'
or of the Oneida; among them were vii
liam Crowninshield, Captain Clark, Maste
Yates and DR.. sutldard, who were intsnsel,
excited to hear the tidings
Said the diver-''The water for the frs
seventy feet was quite clear, - the sun gav'
excellent light, and although my supply O
air was once choked for IN instant, reach
ed the deck Of the ship just astern Of th'
Nizzen mast, and close to the mess-roon
hatch; the tide was ebbing quite strong
and 1 was compelled to hold to lines from
the rigging to keep from being swept for
ward. lirst examined the side Of the ship
she was cut from the mizzen-rigging (at q
angle Of about forty degrees) across III
whole stern Of the ship, her timbers, fl
below the water-lins, being crushed IN,
broken, the Captains cabin cut In two, III,
wheel and steering gear all carried away
and, In fact, the whole sides and end Of tn
ship stove in and cut away. The ship
heading southwest, and sits upright on th'
bottom, and il making sand slowly. ! lai'
down on the deck, and peered over tn
BROKEN end into the cabin, but did not dar,
trust my cir hne In contact with jagged tim
Der. The guns and armament, except one
are sll in place aft but did not 60 forward
u was afraid Of entanglement In the rig
ging." Turning to Crowninshield, he said
"Your evidence, which read, describe
almost exactly the injury, except that sh
was cut deeper than you could have known.
Lougse expressed the belief that it win b
impracticabls to raiss the ship, but that III
splendid battery, personal effects, etc.. ca
be saved IL tho 0overnmsnt sees proper.
By this survey the testimony Of the livin
10 verified, and the memory Of the dea
| ,v3Ahn,,f q efain fns Aha r0siti0n nf thA shi