South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-11-17

ni,ht cut the air tube as it crossed the
deck, had arranged stout iron pipe as a
sheath, and discarded entirely the usual
signal-line.
An being in readiness, after personally
inspecting ali Of the apparatus, cautiously
made my way te the ladder, and having
fixed my helmet firmly in its place, and
secured my kit of tools, hammer, saw,
chisels, ETC., to the strong belt attached
for the purpose, began my slow descent.
Fortunately, the water was quite clear
and free from mud, SO / had no Difficult. Y
in seeing erything with perfect distinct
ness. Or sdually nearing the bottom, for
the depth of water exceeded the draught
Of vessels Of less than four feet, became
aware Of quite strong current setting me
against the ship, which, while lessening
my fear of being swept out of reach of my
ladder, rendered working more difficult.
As usual, my progress was attended by
numbers of curious fish, and as | neared
the bottom one or two huge fellows passed
close by, but seemed intent on other prey,
leaving me in peace.
"Once or twice / was somewhat startled
by heavy splash overhead, and dull
tn I'D, followed by the rapid descent Of a
shot or shell within e e'sy view, and as it
would settle into the soft, coy bottom, a
tiny cloud of mud would for a moment
obscure it from view. felt a constant
fear from seeing these oft recurring clouds,
lest some of them might be the spluttering
(uze of an unexploded shell.
Although an old hand at the diving
business, it had never before been my for
tune to operate in action, so | was not a
little anxious, as You may imagine, as to
the effect of a shell exploding on the
bottom. 1 was not long waiting, and found
out to my ,nt;re satisfaction i, as I will
presently tell you.
swell, at length reached bottom, and
slowly trod my way along tne bends of
the ship TO the base of operations, tie
disabled screw, sometimes stepping on
rusty shot, and once nearly tripped over
the stock of some old rust-worn anchor.
Being but fifteen or sixteen feet below the
surface, 1 had no difficulty in perceiving
the trouble with the propeller, which was
this: +: a piece of chain attached to the
floating distractions had become so wound
about the propeller-shaft, between the
blades and ste. n-post, as to become per
fectly rigid.
my 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 vacum,' Ine OF
the engineers told me afterward, and one
Of the blades striking ms expiration tube,
threw me from my feet, and for a moment
it seemed tina: my fate was sealed
"The screw stopped as suddenly as it
had started, and somehow / struggled to
my feet again. Seeing ut few strokes
more were reeded to 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 to return, eau
tiously retraced my steps to where the
ladder hung idly swinging to and fro in
the water, and was about to mount to the
surface, when with crash and roar Of ten
thousand shots, big shell fell apparently
right over my head, and after W at seemed
but the fraction of second, settled, as
thought, directly upon me. Passing but a
few .eet distant, it had scarcely reached
the bottom when the very earth and sea
seemed shattered to atoms.
"Tne shell had exploded almost beside
me By me means tie hooks provided
in the breast Of my armor had become
fastened to rung OF my ladder, else this
tale had never been told. Stunned and
racked as it was, tue instinct OF self-pres-
ervation urged re to attempt the ascent
of my only road to safety, the ladder,
when, to my horror, the current began
sway ing me back and forth in such a man.
ner that ! found it impossible to do aught
but bold on and trust to the chapter of
ecidents for rrelief.
ain an instant after 1 became aware of
the current, dull, regular beat, united to
a seeming trcmor of the ship, convinced
me that the ship was under way, and
probably steaming out to the feet. A
glimpse or two at the bottom assured me
of this, for [ could plainly see it gliding
past Until the shoals deepenel and nothing
could be seen underneath me but water.
Imagine my situation, you youngsters who
think you have seen danger-towed to sea
under monitori
"The motion rapidly grew more violent,
and had it not been for the hooks l have
spoken of. death would have been inevi-
table, for my strength would not have
enabled me to 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 bad not ceaset
20 give me plentiful supply Of air, so my
only danger lay in being swept away.
After what seemed miles of glound 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
seixed me, and for hours l lay without
life, vibrating between this world and the
one beyond. Returning senses revealed
my four men around me, OR the wardroom
table, doing their utmost in my behalf,
and only gave way to the surgeon when a
ASdNg EiOch diiA cIOni1 Op[bihS y % WIN
that my life was safe.
81 speedily resovered, and for the first
time learned the details of my great peril
and marvellous escape.
Immediately on the strain being taken
off of the propeller by the chains being
cut, the engines gave the quick partial
revolution which | have mentioned, snd
the engineer, as in duty bound, of course,
reported thit the disability to the machin-
cry being removed he was prepared to 60
ahead at any moment.
/" 1t was but few minutes after this
hat the tide began to flow, causing the
current I have spoken OF, and the devoted
vessel bade fair to be again drifted among
the dreaded Instructions ard still nearer
to Sumter, whose guns never ceased their
roar all this time.
Captain -, to prevent this threat
ened catastrophe, and feeling certain that
was clear of danger from the propeller,
determined to go ahead short distance
to clear all danger from the distractions,
and then to await my return to the surface
before proceeding farther.
"Carcfully watching the air-Ppe leading
nvorhoard the onoiYaas xrra<-a ste rod eioxrfr