Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-06-08

Thrilling Adventures of a Diver,
Who Visited the Oneida.

y
Who Visited the Oneida.
The following is from correspondent
Of the Sacramento Bee, dated at Yokoha-
iAa, and the divers mentioned were form
residents of Manchester, n. H.:
On the Oath day of February the 'bor-
rowed' steamship Aroostook, with Charles
and is. Lougee, practical and experien-
ced divers, from San Francisco, went to
where the Oneida lies in 1913 feet of wa
ter. After the usual preparations had
been concluded, and by sounding, it had
been ascertained that the deck OF the
Oneida was 1903 feet beneath the surface
of the bay; after every caution had been
given to eight strong sailors to keep the
air.pump constant in motion, and allow
not an instantof time of stoppagc to oc-
cur, as thereby depended the life of the
bold diver; after Charley Lougec had
been helmeted and shut from air, except
that supplied through the slender tube of
coiled rubber, with lifeline around his
body and leaden clogs to his feet, with
"Good-bye" and "God bless you" from all
aboards he was dropped over the side, and
slowly disappeared in the blue waves,
while a nervous trem mor shot through our
frame as we realized the fearful risk un-
dertaken 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-life-signals from below. the
men at the pump were laborng 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, quick
And as the men recommended the revou-
tions of the air-pump, the elder Lougee,
with blanched face and trembling lip, gave
signal on the lifeline below. For an
instant there there came 10 response, and
the face Of the brother seemed to turn to
marble; but then we saw, too, quick mo-
tions from the submarine station, and
knew it was the welcome signal of sail
right" and then Lougee tnrned to the
men at the wheel, who came so near send.
ing both below, and simply said "My
only brothers life depends upon your ef-
forts in keeping that pump in motion
stop again 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 orders from Lou
gee.
Meantime, while we were on the deck
of that "sand-pan," counting the tedious
moments, which heightened to half an
hour, Charley Lougee was searching the
Oneida at the tremendous depth mention
ed. AT last came the signal for surface"
and instantly the lifeline was put in mo-
ton; slowly came the coiling hemp and
rubber on deck, and at last, away in the
deep blue waves, came in sight the diver,
shrouded and panopied in wierd gar
ments.
As he came to the surface he reached
Minister lie Long sword and lacquered
box, and then was his helmet loosed, and
our party crowded around to hear Of the
gallant ship.
Among our party were many OF the
survivors of the Oneida; among them
were William Crowninshield, Captain
Clark, Master Yates, and DIR. James
Suddard, 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
supply of air was once choked for an in
stant | reached the deck Of the Oneida
lust astern of the mizzen-mast, and close
by the messroom hatch the tide was eb-
bing quite strong and | was compelled TO
hold to lines from the rigging to keep
from being swept forward.
II first examined the side of the ship
she was cut from the mizzen-rigging lat
an angle of about forty-6ve degrees) across
the whole stern Of the ship, her timbers,
far below the water line, being crushed
and broken, the Captains cabin cut il