The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-24
THE DIVERS STORY.

THE DIVERS STORY.
Few readers, perhaps, have ever seen
the name Of Simon Weaver in print, and
fewer still would know who the man was
should il be seen.
Divers, AS a class, and in spite Of all
the safeguards afforded them hy modern
scieRcs, pass most precarious existence,
and each time a descent IN made, be the
water deep or shallow, the praetieed diver
feels that perhaps bis last glimpse OF sun,
sky and friends has been taken. Those ol
the most experience feel this the more
keenly.
One night while the snow drove like
lail against the only window in the house,
facing the sea, found myself one of q
party OF divers, wreckers and contractors
ior such work.
| had asked many questions OF the sew
cral takers forming the circle, as 10 the
life, incidents aud dangers of the profession,
when CaptSin Stephen l.. an old gray
beard ansossg divers and such ilk, Rudged
me. and whispered that II could get old
Simon Weaver into the talking humor my
desire for stirring incident would be fully
gFatitied.
Cautiously approaching the subject Of
personal adventure under water, for Weaver
proved little shy, by lew well-timed
questions, succeeded in " bringing him
out to my entire satisfaction.
As write the words Of the old man, /
seem TO see the earnest glance, the erect
figure, and the almost snow-white head
shaking and nodding as the memory Of his
exploits came before his mind.
Taxing a fresh attitude in his chair, and
casting his eyes from one 20 the ether Of
us boys as he called the younger mem
bers Of the party, the old diver began.
Few of our officers on duty OF Charles
ton in lS6- will forget when the news
came cut 10 the wooden fleet that a mOni-
tor had been partially disabled, and that
until something could be done her situation
was extremely critical. She lay quite near
the batteries, and rs though dIyining her
danger, their guns were plunging their
shot and shell against her with the fierccst
energy.
at was soon known that diver would
be called into requiSition 70 do the work
under water, while the guns Of Sumter
hade tair 20 demolish the whole ship in 4
few hours.
Being the most experienced Of the div
ing corps on duty at that time, the Admiral
sent for me without delay, and laying the
difficulty before me, asked il | would un-
dcrtake the job. By few judiciously put
questions | was soon placed in possession
OF all the facts, the work 10 be done, and
the results to be expected from success.
The propeller of the vessel had been
fouled by some OF the numerous obstruc-
tiORs set afoat by the enemy, and not
wishing 10 eDdanger any other vessel in
the same manner, the Admiral desired 10
send me alongside in steam picket boat
with my best diving gear, and try to maze
a successful descent.
In due time we, that Is, myself and
four more whom | could trust under all
peril, arrived at the place Of operations
And now, before going further with my
story, let me try to give an idea Of the
situation, and its cause. A vessel had
been sent in TO reconnoiter, and, if neces-
sary, to fire On the batteries TO ascertain
their force and strength.
Proceeding cautiously until within a
few hundred yards q Sumter, she had
unconsciously drifted too close to the line
Of distractions defending the entrance To
the harbor, and in turning 10 come out,
her propeller, as | said before, had become
entangled among ropes and chains. All
efforts to release the ship from her Perilous
position had failed, hence the cal for
a diver. Immediately on perceiving the
state OF affairs, no hard task, the enemy
had opened a fearful fire from all guns
within range on the single craft, and
seemed bent ON her destruction before as
sistance could reach her.
The shot fell fast ard furious against
the iron Of her turret and side armos,
while the water on all sides fairly boiled
from the frequent shot striking its surface.
1t seemed veritable iron hail.
As our little picket boat approached
the scene Of conflict, the firing suddenly
ceased, and we were fortunate enough TO
get below with the apparatus before the
storm again burst over the trembling ship.
The cause of this apparent kindness was
made known 10 US the following day by a
deserter from Fort Sumter.
As the picket steamer approached the
monitor, the enemy imagined tnat a message
from the Yankee commander was about to
be received, looking to an armistice or
surrender, so slackened fire. After wait
ing a few moments, and the expected flag
OF truce not making its appearance, the
enemy saw that somehow they had been
outwitted, and the shower Of shot and
shell seemed to increase in fierceness as
they reopened fire.
"In a short time / saw how matters
stood, and succeeded in finding place on
the Ice side of the turret, where, il the
ship could be kept in one position, no shot
could reach me- Carefully InstructiDg my
men as to their duties, / at length got my
ladder overheard on the safe side, and made
it fast in such a manner that should the
wind change or rise during my absence
under water, my means Of escape should
not be entirely cut off. Leading my air
pipe up through the turret and out through
0ne of the ports, | secured them to my
helmet, and requested that all firing from
the ship be suspended during my absence,
for experience had taught me the danger
of heavy discharge directly overhead Of a
diver.
"The position of the turret favored my
request, and placing its back to the enemy
enabled me TO use the gun port as / have
described. As my life would hang upon a
thread at best, made every arrangement
for safety that experience could suggest,
even going myself into the engine-room
and enjoining upon the engineer Of the
watch not To allow the engines to be
started upon any consideration until my
return from the perilous undertaking, the
success or failure of which assured the
safety or loss of the vessel. The pump for
supplying me with air was fixed in the
turret-chamber, and as the fragments of
shot, which still poured in from Sumter,
might cut the air tube as it crossed the
deck, / had arranged a stout iron pipe as a
sheath, and discarded entirely the usual
signal-line.
"An being in readiness. after personally
inspecting all Of the apparatus, I cautiously
made my way to the ladder, and having
fixed my helmet firmly in its place, and
secured my kit Of tools, hammer, saw,