The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-02


get below with the apparatus before the
storm again burst over the trembling ship.
The cause of this apparent kindness was
made known to US the following day by a
deserter from Fort Sumter.
''As the picket steamer approached the
monitor, the enemy imagined that mes
sage from the Yankee commander was
about to be received, looking to an armis-
tlce or surrender, SO slackened fire. After
waiting few moments, and the expected
flag OF truce not making It's appearance,
the enemy saw that somehow they had
been outwitted, and the shower Of shot
and shell seemed TO increase in ferceness
as they reopened fire.
''ln short time | saw how matters
stood, and succeeded in finding a place
! on the lee side of the turret, where, if the
ship could be kept in one position, no shot
could reach me. Carefully instructing 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 tLrodgh one of the ports, l se>
cured 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 diver.
"The position of the turret favored my
request, and placing its back to the onemy
enabled me to use the gun port as | have
described AS my life would hang upon
a thread at best, | made every arrange~
ment for safety that experience could
suggest, even gclng myself into the engine
room and enjoinlng upon the engineer of
the watch not 10 allow the engines to be
started upon any consideration until my
return from the perlous undertaking, the
success OF 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
sheath, and discarded entirely the usual
signal line.
''All being in readiness, after personal
ly inspecting all Of the apparatus, eau
tiously made my way to 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 that purpose, began my slow descent.
"Fortunately, the wafer was quite clear
and free from mud, s. l had no difficulty
in seeing everything with perfect distinct~
ness. Gradually nearing the bottom, for
the depth of water exceeded the draught
of vessels of less Than four feet, | became
aware of strong current setting me
against the ship, which, while lessening
tue fear of being swept out of reach of
my ladder, rendered working more diff
cult. 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 inteAt ON other prey,
leaving me in peace.
s'Once or twice | was somewhat startled
by heavy splash overhead, and a dull
thud, followed by the rapid descent of a
shot or shell within easy view, and as it
would settle into the soft, oozy bottom, a
tiny cloud of mud would for moment
obscure it from view. ] felt a constant
fear from these oft recurring clouds, lest
some of them might be the splut;ering fuse
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 she'll exploding on the bot
tom. l was not long waiting, and found
out to my entire satisfaction, as l will
presently tell you.
Ill 1or,tL 7 roooIo.1 Jo41o., i
slowly trod my way along the bends of
the ship to the base Of operations, the
disabled screw, sometimes stepping On
rusty shot, and once | nearly tripped over
the stock Of some old rustworn anchor
But being fifteen or sixteen feet below the
surface, bad no difficulty in perceiving
the trouble with the propeller, which was
this: piece of chain attached to the
floating Instructions had beet me so wound
about the propeller shaft, between the
blades and the sternpost, as to become
perfectly rigid.
''Aly tools being prepared for just such
work, l began operations at once, and
soon had two or three of the links, which
were quite small, severed, and as AFTER
wards learned, released the strain SO sud>
denly that the engine gave one quick, short,
partial revolution. 'on vacuum one oil
The engineer told me afterwa:d, and one oi
the blades striking my expiration tube,
threw me from my feet, and for moment
it seemed that my fate was sealed.
"fhe screw stopped as suddenly as il
had started, and somehow l struggled tc
my feet agaiu. Seeing but few more
strokes were needed 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
.,.al nl,1,,,t mount q thc