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

/ the object Of their attack engages in
fruitless efforts for their extermination.
Not the least interesting of the very
few sights to be seen about our city; is
the diving apparatus now used in
the harbor by Professor Maillefert, for
j the recovery of iron, and other valuable
stuff from the wrecks of boats sunk,
mostly during the war; portions Of the
tHiioosatonic," the "Keokuk," and the
Confederate gunboats, have already been
obtained, the Professor possesses diver
among his employees who almost rivals.
"Nic0lo 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 kind of metal he'll
met, having in front piece of glass
through which to see, tubes attaehedto
this contrivance supply the driver with
air, and large leaden weights are attach
ed to different portions of his person; al
rayed in this fashion the diver can Work
a 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 aaconcernediy, us if if i tnu
fish had been in the middle of the Atlan7
tic ocean. On coming up he was asked
whether he had seen the fish, "No,a
was the reply, "but felt him, as he
dashed Bassed, and i judge from his be-
havior he was very hungry" 1t would
appear that the shark, who is q veritable.
coward among fishes, although the most,
blood-thirsty, is frightened by the strange
dress of the diver, and fails to recognize
the "nice morsel" when put up in COW
ering ofrubber 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 himself by 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 a
time in the midst of the waves, living on
the fish which he caught, (this we con-
slider rs fishy.) He often swan over
from Sicily into Calabria, carrying the
letters of the King, (thefe were no pos
tai cards cards in those days).. Some
mariners, once out Mt sea, observed what
they took to be "Sca Monster" but on
dFsYhs fhs si was nsas very i. 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 great advantage over
ordinary swimmers, the spaces between
his fingers and toes being webbed like
goose, and his chest was so spacious, that
one Inhalation, would serve him the en-
tire day. For man of such rare powers
his end cxcites our pity-at the sug-
gestion ofthe King. he dove down to dis
cover if possible, what was at the bottom
of the gulf of Charybdis, being further
induced by gold cup the monarch had
ordered to be flung in, Nicholas was snc-
ccssful and brought up the cup, but in q
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 any 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, Mt least one fifth
of the houses here have neither bells or
knockers at these the post-man will be
obliged to try various little devices to
make himself heard-and when there are
bells or knockers, the usual delay Of our
servants will cause him, if hc.is pious, to