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

Fortunately, the water was quite clear
and FRYE from mud, SO had no Difficult, Y
IN seeing everything with perfect distinct
ness. Gradually nearing the bottom, for
the depth ot water exceeded the draught
ot vessels Of less than four feet, | became
aware OF quite a strong current setting me
against the ship which, while leSSening
my fear Of being swept out OF rcaeh rG my
ladder, rendered workirg more difficult,
As usual, my rtNlgfSSs was attecled by
numbers Of curious tish, and a. neared
The bottom one Gr two huge fellows passed
close by. out seemed ntcnt ON otheT prey,
leaGng me i'm peace.
"Once or twice was somewhat startled
by heavy splash overhead, and 4 dull
Oh I'd, allowed BY tho rapid descent Of a
shot or slFcll within sy view, aud as il
would settle into the soft, eo2y bottom, a
tiny cloud Of mud would for q moment
obscure il from view. | felt n constant
fear from seeing these oft recurring clouds,
lest s0me OF them might be the spluttering
luEe OF an unexploded shcll.
Although An old hand at the diving
hussncss, II had never before been my for
tune to operate in action, so | was not a
little anxious, as YOU NAY imagine, as to
the effect ci she'll exploding ON the
bottom. was not long waiting, and found
cut 20 my ,ntire satisfaction, as l Will
presently tell you.
"Wen, at length | reached bottom, and
slowly trod my way along tae bends a
the ship 20 the "a c OF operations, the
disabled screw, sometimes stepping Nn
rusty shot, and once neatly tripped over
the stock ot SOme old rust-wurn anchor.
Being bur fifteen or sixteen feet below the
surface, had no difficulty in perceiying
the trouble with the propeller, which was
this : a piece of chain attached 10 the
floating distractions had become so wound
about the propellershatt, between the
blades and ste.n-Post, as TO become per
fectly rigid.
any tools being prepared for just such
work, | began operations at once, and soon
had two or three of the links which were
quite small, severed, and as ] afterward
learned, released the strain so suddenly
that the engines gave one quick, short,
partial revolution, 'on n vacuum enc of
the engineers told me afterward, and one
Of the blades striking. .mr expiration tube,
threw me from my feet, and for moment
il seemed that my fate was scaled.
"The screw stopped A. suddenly As il
had started, and somehow | struggled 20
NY feet again. Seeing rut few strokes
more were needed 20 complete my job,
soon had the good old-ship in fighting
trim again, so far at least as her propeller
was concerned.
Being now at liberty 20 return, | eau
tlously retraoed my steps 10 where the
ladder hung idly swinging to aud fro in
the water, and was about 20 mount 10 the
surface, when with crash and roar Of ten
thousand shots, big shell fell apparently
right over my head, and after what seemed
but the fraction Of a second, settled, rs /
thought, directly upon me. Passing but a
few ;eet distant, il had scarcely reached
the bottom when the very earth and sea
seemed shattered 10 atoms.
4" The shell had exploded almost beside
me BY sIme means tie hooks provided
in the breast OF my armor had become
fastened 70 q rung of my ladder. else tins
tale had never been told. StunRed and
racked as il was, tue instinct OF self-pres-
eryation urged e 10 attempt the ascent
OF my only road 10 safety, the ladder,
when, TO my horror, the current began
swayIng me back and forth in such a man
ner that found il impossible 20 do aught
but bold on and trust TO the chapter Of
ccidents for relief
In an instant after became aware Of
the current, n dull, regular beat, united 90
seeming trcmor OF the ship, convinced
me that the ship was under way, and
probably steaming out TO the feet. 4
glimpse or two at the bottom assured me
Of this, for | could plainly see il gliding
past I'll the shoals deepenel and nothing
could be seen underneath me but water.
Imagine my situation, you youngsters who
think you have seen danger-towed 20 sea
under n monitor!
"The motion rapidly grew more violent,
and had il not been for the hooks | have
spoken Of, death would have been inevi-
table, for my strength would not have
enabled me 70 retain my hold on the lad
der, and should have drowned, my body
weighed down by armor beyond recovery.
All Of this time, in reality minutes,
but seemingly hours, my faithful men
within the turret chamber had not ceased
10 give me plentiful supply Of air, SO my
only danger lay in being swept away.
After what seemed miles OF gIound passed
over, and hours OF time, the beat Of the
engine grew gradually slower, then stopped.
and no sooner did feel the pressure Of
the current relax, than prepared to make
the best Of way to the surface.
remember no more A deadly faint
seized me, and for hours | lay without
life, vibrating between this world and the
one beyond. Returning senses revealed
my four men around me, ON the wardroOm
table, doing their utmost in my behalf,
and only gave way 10 the surgeon when a
heavy groan and slowly opening eyes told
that my life was safe.
81 speedily recovered, and for the first
time learned the details Of my great peril
and marvellous escape.
Immediately on the strain being taken
of Of the propeller by the chains being
cut, the engines gave the quick partial
revolution which have mentioned, nd
the engineer, as in duty bound, Of course,
reported thlt the disability 10 the machin-
cry being removed he was prepared 10 60
ahead at any moment.
at was but few minutes after this
that the tide began TO flow, causing the
current have spoken OF, and the deYoted
vessel bade fair to be again drifted among
the dreaded distractions and still nearer
to Sumter, whose guns never ceased their
roar all this time.
Captain -, to prevent this threat
ened catastrophe, and feeling certain that
I was clear Of danger from the propeller,
determined TO go ahead n short distance
to clear all danger from the distractions,
and then TO await my return 10 the surface
before proceeding farther.
Carefully watching the air pipe leading
overheard, the engines were started slowly,
and MS the ship gathered headway, and
the pipe remained without visible strain,
il was concluded that my ascent had begun,
as in truth was the fact; so instead of
coming TO after steaming a short distance,
the ship was headed for the feet, and
only came to anchor when within hail Of
the flagship. The rest have told you.
GAS cne result Of that days work,
was sent home, on the sick list, and from
that day to this, young man." turning to
me as he spoke, 81 have never been inside
divers dress, and never intend to be
again"
As the old man approached the conclu-
sion, he grew quite excited, as indeed had
his listeners, and as the tones Of his voice
died away, the wind outside, gathering
fresh fury, seemed to shake the old house
to its very foundation.