Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-07-03


the object of their attack engages in
fruitless efforts for their exterm;nation.
Not the least interesting of the very
few sights to 10 seen about our city; is
the "diving apparatus" now used IN
the harbor by Professor Maillefert, f5r
the recovery Of iron, and other valuable
stuff from the wrecks of boats sunk,
mostly during the war: portions of the
"Hoosatonic," the "Keokuk," and the
Confederate gunboats, have already been
obtained, the Professor possesses a diver
among his employees who almost rivals
"Nicolo Pesce," in boldness and intrs-
pidity, for costume; he wears suit: Of
rubber, fitting very close, and perfectly
watertight, covering his head and part
of the shoulders, is q kind of metal he'll
met, having in front piecoe of glass
through which to see, tubes attachedto
this contriyance supply tho driver WITH
air, and large leaden weights are attach
ed to different portions of his person; ar
rayed in this fashion the diver can WORK
very long time under the water. Some
time since, shark of the largest kind
was seen playing around the boat from
which our diver launches down how
ever he went as unconcernedly, MS if the
fish had been in the middle of the Attain
tic ocean. On comingup he was asked
whether he had seen the fish, "No,p
wns the reply, "but 1 felt him, as he
dashed passed, and I Judge from his be!
havior he was very hungry" 1t would
appear that the shark, who is veritable.
coward among fishes, although the most,
blood-thirsty, is frightened by the strange
dress of the diver, and fails to recognize
the "nicc morsel" when put up in COW
ering of rubber and metal.
Having spoken of "Nicolo Pesce," it
may be not uninteresting, to give short
account of this very remarkable person
age. He lived in the times of Freder-
ick King of Sicily, and was from his
amazing powers in swimming, sur
named "the fish = from his infancy he
had supported himselfby the oysters and
coral, which he dove for, and then sold
to the villagers on the coast. He was
frequently known to spend five days at
time in the midst of the waves, living on
the fish which he caught, Uthis we con-
slider ms fishy.) He often swan over
from Sicily into Calabria, carrying the
letters of the King, (there were no pos
tai cards cards in those days). Some
mariners, once out Mt sea, observed what
they took to be "Sea Monster" but on
drawipo nea,. IL ,,,....e.l..- L. isN1:.1..i.ee5
the Sen was very high, and the weather
tempestuous but "Nicola" was carving
correspondence as usual, and showed the
sailors the waterproof bag containing his
mail. This wonderful parsonage how
ever possessed q great advantage over
ordinary swimmers, the spaces between
his fingers and toes being webbcd like
goose, and his chest was so spacious, that
one inhalation, would serve him the en-
tire day. For a man of such rare powers
his end cxcites our pity-at the sug-
gestion ofthe King. ne dove down to dis
cover if possible, what was at the bottom
of the gulf of Charybdis, being further
induced by q gold cup the monarch had
ordered to be flung in, Nicholas was snc-
cessiul and brought up the cup, but in a
second attempt, in search of another cup
and purse, neither Nicholas, or the arti-
cles were ever heard of again, and he
perished; if not in the service of his
country, at least in THAT of his King.
Our Postal Card arrangements COM
menccd on the 1st. IF fany any set of men
deserve the compassion of their race, on
account Of the trying nature of their du-
ties, we commend to the public sympathy
the mail cerryers. The patience exhibit
ed by job, was trihing in comparison to
what these gentlemen will be called on
to display; we suppose, at least one fifth
of tho houses here nave neither bells or
knockers-at these the post.man will be
obliged to try various little devices to
make himself heard-and when there arc
bells or knockers, the usual delay of our
servants will cause him, if hc.is Dious. to