Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1871-11-17
gelecteh Misrellany.
AN ITALIAN DIVING BELL.
The Inventor Writing Letters at the
Bottom of the Sea.


a recent invention of Signor Toselli. of
Naples. by which he descends into the sea
with plenty of air and plenty of room, and
is enabled to continue, for four hours, bis
minute scientific observations on surround
ing submarine life at depth Of 81 fathoms
086 feet) under water.
This wonderful machine has been built
at Sestri de Ponente. near Geneva, after
Signor Toselli's plans. and the inventor
made his first experiment in the Bay of
Naples. on the 26th of August, in the
presence of the local authorities and seve-
raj officers of the Royal Navy. We give
a translation of description of the appa-
ratus as printed in an Italian periodical,
ENalia Nouva:: 1T is 4 yards 8 inches
long. cylindrical in form. and made en-
tirely of iron and bronze Its diameter is
about l yard 4 inches. 1t is divided into
four superposed compartments or dia-
phragms. the central one being. reserved
for the divers. The upper chamber con-
tains the compressed air necessary for re-
spiration during immersion The lower
chamber acts like the air bladder of fishes,
as it increases or diminishes the weight OF
the machine proportionably to the quanti-
ty of water it displaces. Finally. the last
compartment. which is at the end of the
cylinder, is filled with the necessary quan.
tity of lead to keep the machine in ver-
tical position, like an aerometer. Several
holes, fitted with bronze round the surface.
admit of various contrivances, without
which it would be incomprehensible how
a man. hermetically shut up in what may
be called an iron castle, could catch exter-
nal objects, secure them by the means Of
ropes, and collect them"
The same paper. in its following num-
ber (August 28) adds: 1--WE have receiv-
ed letters from Naples, which coDfrm the
reported success of Signor Tosclli's first
descent into the Bay Of Naples, by means
of bis diving apparatus, at depth Of IS
fathomsA- namely under pressure Of six
atmospheres. ;. The weather could
not have been lovelier. nor the sea more
calm. As soon as the crowd of distin-
guished invited witnesses had arrived at
Baja-the chosen place for the experiment
they :: were met by Admiral de viry and
his staff. -
1.-The experimenttbegan about noon.-
After soundings had been taken, the ma
chine. then empty, was sunk into the sea,
aud left for some tune at the depth of 30
fathoms, to try if it would bear that pres
sure without being smashed as soon how
ever, as it was again seen floating upon
the surface of the water without having
received the slightest injury. the bystand-
ers ceased to entertain doubts of Signor
Tosellis safety. whilst he. perfectly calm,
got into his marine mole, and descended
slowly to the bottom Of the sea. The low
erlng of the machine through 80 fathoms
of water took three and one-half minutes
When, after while, it was seen foaring
again, and when the lid opened. and Sig
nor Toselli came out smiling and serene,
cheering burst out on every side.
During bis sojourn at the bottom of
the sea Signor Toselli wrote the follow
ing report of his experiment to the we'll
known director Of the Royal Observatory
OF the Vesuvium, Signor Palmieri, who
was witness Of the experiment, and ex-
pressed himself highly satisfied with it:
''&r:-The sensations l experience at
this moment are SO strange and numer-
Gus, that, should I wait to write them
down, l am sure they would slip my me-
mory
First of all I must tell you that the
water here does not look like itself any
longer, but seems really to be notion
less mass Of transparent glass, quite lumi-
nous to allow of reading and writing.
The bottom of the sea seemed at first
to hurry towards me; then saw it stop,
and after while glide away from me.
was quite astonished at this, and almost
feared lest my eyes should be diseased !;
but by observing that the movements of
the monometer kept in direct communica-
tion with the sea, felt reassured, having
at once surmised the cause of the appar-
ent movement. When fancied the bot
tom of the sea was running towards me, it
was proof that | was sinking with GER
tain speed; when the bottom seemed to
have stopped moving, it was myself in
fact who did not move; and when the bot
tom sunk rapidly as if running away from
me, l was then ascending towards the sur
face.
1T is very amusing to see SO many
fishes swimming to and fro on all sides,
and to te able to enjoy curious speota-