New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-05
DEATH UNDER THE WATER.

Submarine Diver Goes 20 the Bottom
of the Willamette, and Meets His
Dealh.
From the Portland (OregOn) Bulletin, April 49,
About noon to-day George Carroll, sub
marine diver, well known in this city, met
his death beneath the waters of the Villa
mette river while diving about the wreck
of the tugbOat ResOlute. The deceased has
been a resident of Portland for several
years, and has frequently gone to the bot
tom of the Willamette riYerin bis submarine
armor, but like the great majority who fol
low his perilOus calling, he made one voyage
too many, and while beneath the waves was
summoned to make the voyage to that I'M
discovered country from whose bourne no
traveller returns.
This morning he made a successful de-
scent, and renamed below somewhere near
all hour and twenty minutes, and upon COM
ing to the surface reported the condition of
the engine and machinery. At seventeen
minutes past ten o'clock he made a second
trip to the bottom of the river.
For nearly an hour after he went down
he gave repeated signals. and everything
seemed to be progressing excellentIy WELL
but at the end of that time he ceased to give
signals, and when an hour and a quarter
had elapsed, the signals, which had gradual
~ become fainter, ceased altogether then
fears began to be entertained chat some ac-
cident had happened to the diver. The re
port spread quickly, and in a short time
quite crowd had collected on the shore
and intense excitement ensued. The person
attending the ropes attempted to pull the
diver to the surface, but could not do 50.
His trembling hands and blanched face re-
vealed the terrible belief that had taken
possession of his mind, and that was that
the diver had got fast among the ma
chinery.
He called for assistance and number of
willing hands were lent him; but their
united efforts were UnaVailing to raise the
diver from his waterv death bed. They
continued, by moving from point to point,
to try and get the man loose, but without
success. Suddenly faint pull at the signal
rope was felt, aud then hope revived for a
moment, but only for a moment, because
very quickly bubbles began to come to the
surface, and they continued to come up for
fifteen or twenty minutes. Three-quarters
of an hour passed away without a signal
from beneath the water, when a man named
Kanaka George announced his intention of
going down to see what was the cause Of
the detention. While he was preparing
himself for the task the rope and air pipe
became slack, and the men began hauling
them up. The dead, heavy weight which
hung at the end of the rope confirmed their
they pulled up with as much speed as posi-
pie On getting the armor which inclosed
the unfortunate diver to the surface the sig
nal or lifeline was found wound around the
left hand. The armOr was at once removed,
and, it appearing that there was life still in
the body, 1t was carried into the cabin of
scOw lying at the wharf. where everything
that could be was dObe to bring about a re-
action and restore the man, but without
avail. Stlmulants were administered and a
galvanic battery used, but after while the
doctors announced that their efforts were
without success, and that the vital spark
had fed. The cause of death, from the APP
pearance of the deceased, was doubtless
congestion of the brain, caused by the
stOppage of the supply of atmospheric air
furnished him through the supply pipe.
About two years ago the partner of the
deceased met his death in a similar manner |
while employed in scraping the bottom of
one Of the ocean steamers lying in the har-
Dor, and by singular coincidence while |
wearing the same armor which enclosed |
Carroll to-day
The drowned man was a native of |
Sweden, aged about thirty years, and was
unmarried. The coroner was notified and
will hold an inquest II