The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-30
nuls 8a 4. From the New York Sun,
AN AMATEUR DIVERS PERIL.

FIFTY FEET UNDER WATER IN THE NORTH
RIvER-AN ENTANGLED LIFE CORD.
Some time ago canal boat laden with
steel rails was sunk off Tivoli, Hudson river
and the services of submarine diver was
required. During his operations he wa
watched with the deepest interest by the
villagers, and few days since the telegraph
operator expressed desire to don the sub
marine armor and go below to explore the
mysterious depths. The owner of the armor,
who is an old hand at the business, acceded
to the operators request, and arrangements
were at once made to ''send him down.
What followed is best described by himself:
SLOWLY sank out of sight, and during
the first twenty feet of my descent the water
was plainly visible, and I could also see
inside the helmet could see all of foo.
off outside. Gradually darkness came. and
slowly increased in intensity until my eyes
were useless, and I could almost feel the
gloom. 1t was then that began to feel
uncomfortable. The pressure of the water
as I kept going down was tremendous. and
my head felt bad, and now and then there
was sharp pain in my ears. Had also a
great desne to reach bottom, for it seemed
as though was poised in dull, heavy air.
Suddenly bottom was reached, when expes
rienced great sense of relief, and cons
menced to group about me. All was still
except the roaring of the pump above. every
stroke of which could distinctly hear.
The air was escaping from my helmet fast,
and it sounded like the boiling of large
pot of water. This noise was all at once
interrupted by sharp. swapping snnnd and
felt for the life>cord fearing something
had happened; but | could not find it. In
coming down carried with me some tack..
ling to fasten to stump in the bottom of
the river. In my descent the current turned
me round and round, and much of the gear.
ing, including the life,cord and tackline
became entangIea, so that when I felt for
the cord, which I ought to have found in
stantly, 1t could not be quickly separated so
tion then ceased, and sense of drowsiness
came over me. [knew that the escape valve
had closed and was breathing foul air
FINALLY securing the life cord, sgnalled for
more air, and could hear the pump run at an
increased speed, but it was to no purpose
as by constant use the pistons had become
worn so that they could not give the requi-
site pressure. became alarmed, and it was
hard TO breathe ;and my strength commence
ed total me. could do nothing to help
myself. seemed to increase in size, until
my head felt as though it must burst and
the foul gas breathed seemed as If il had
Deen heated IN furnace. thought should
die. The most horrible sensations came
over me. Finally exhausted all the air
from the suit, and then came tremendous
pressure upon my body on all sides. tt was
terrible. My eyes felt as though they Uould
burst from their sockets. Ny legs expanded,
and 50 did my arms anc body, till it seemed
as If they too would burst, and then cam g
unconsciousness. When reason returned a
soft light seemed to steal over me. and i
began to awake, and after time opened nv
eyes and found myself on the surface of the
water. could see the boat on which were
my friends. bat all OF them had a .wierd
look and their proportions were gigantic.
the smallest boy among them surprising ia
size the famous Cardiff giant. fg ..u
AS quickly as possible | was hauled on
board the vessel aad the helmet was removed.
The sensation produced by the admission of
the cold air was the same as that produced
by the sudden drenching of sleeper with
Ice water However, soon recovered nv
strength and congratulated myself on nv
very narrow escape from death.n
1t seems that after he was let down, the
| diver who owned the armor was some What
doubtful In regard to the power Of the air
pump, and finding from the sense Of feeling
| that he was doing nothing on the bed of the
river, signaled several times bnt got no
answer. Those on the vessel saw his conn
tenance change to ashy white. Then the
alarm became general, and all possible haste
was made to get the diver to the surface.
" FOR THE FARMERS. W. I.